Four high school students in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal, will join forces with the local South African Police Service (SAPS) management, gaining firsthand experience at the Newcastle Police Station.

Newcastle SAPS made the announcement on Wednesday morning, 28 June 2023, regarding the participation of these four learners in the Junior Leadership Project (JLP).
The JLP, an initiative by the South African Police Service (SAPS) aimed at preventing youth crime, not only helps learners develop resistance to engaging in criminal activities but also encourages them to become role models in their schools.
Participants in the project will compete across four levels of competition, beginning with the appointment of Junior Station Commanders and progressing to District and Provincial Commanders. The ultimate winner will be appointed as the Junior National Commissioner, with the announcement taking place towards the end of the year.
Acting Commander of the Visible Police Unit (VISPOL), Colonel NL Dlamini, discussed the initiative, explaining that it is based on a Memorandum of Understanding between the SAPS and the Department of Education.
Colonel Dlamini stated, “The selected learners will be appointed as the Junior Station Commander, Junior Detective Commander, Junior Support Commander, and Junior VISPOL Commander, working closely with the heads of the respective units.”
Before announcing the learners, each of the eight high schools in Newcastle nominated four students to participate.
These students engaged in a competitive debate at the end of May 2023, and after careful deliberation, the officials unveiled the four participants on Wednesday morning.
The selected learners and their respective positions are as follows:
– Phumelele Zulu from Hope High School – Junior Station Commander
– Joshua Fynn from Amajuba High School – Junior VISPOL Commander
– Sisanda Goba from Ferrum High School – Junior Support Commander
– Dlodlo Sboniso from Kadwa Secondary School – Junior Detective Commander
Colonel Dlamini remarked, “They will now be groomed by the heads of the units, learning how the respective units work and taking this knowledge back to their schools, where they can serve as role models for their peers. They will also be equipped to identify issues such as drugs, school violence, and bullying, and will know the necessary steps to address these problems.”
In an effort to enhance school safety by involving educational institutions and young learners, Colonel Dlamini emphasised that this initiative promises a unique method of cultivating responsible community members.
Acting Station Commander Colonel Vusumuzi Radebe congratulated the enthusiastic learners selected for the program, stating, “You will be working closely with the Commanders, and will start seeing things differently. You will then go out and start changing the mindset of others in how the police work and why the fight against crime is important.”
As the excited learners prepare for their first day at the Newcastle Police Station on Thursday, 29 June 2023, local police officers are determined to witness their positive influence on the younger generation.
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