The new proposal for a Bulletproof Park in Mitchells Plain has hopeful merit against the backdrop of a tough reality:
Mitchells Plain, South Africa (12 April 2024) — Earlier this month, non-profit organisation Gun Free SA shared a proposal for something that’s never been done before — a Bulletproof Park for children in Mitchells Plain.
At face value, the concept is bittersweet, with many South Africans openly acknowledging both sides of the coin.
As rapper Youngsta CPT shared:
“When I first heard the idea I was a bit shocked. I can’t believe this is where we are as a society, this is what we have to do to keep kids safe.”
Indeed, it is a hard pill to swallow that, this is how hectic the issue of shootings and stray bullets have gotten in parts of South Africa like Mitchells Plain. But it becomes an even harder pill to swallow when we consider that if nothing is done to at least try to protect the children who innocently end up in the crossfire of gang violence while simply trying to play, even more, young lives will be lost.
What is the Bulletproof Park Proposal?
In case you aren’t in the loop, the Bulletproof Park Proposal is a plan of action to give children on the Cape Flats a dose of hope that playing outside can be safe. Set to be fully encased in bullet-proof glass, the park would have all the amenities of traditional play space (slides, jungle gyms and monkey bars) with additional safety touches like a panic button and secure entrances as designed by experts, on top of 24/7 monitoring.
As Gun Free SA shares:
“Every day, 34 people are shot and killed in South Africa. Sadly, often the victims of this gun violence are children—simply playing in the wrong place at the wrong time. Research shows that children are disproportionately affected by stray bullets fired into the air or at missed targets.
“Over a 20-year period, nearly half of the children under 12 admitted to a Cape Town Children’s hospital were victims of cross fire.”
What Good Will Come About?
Children are going to be children. They are going to want to play outside, explore and follow their curiosities. If the risks that come with playing outside in dangerous areas can be mitigated even for a few, there exists one more light of hope than there might’ve been before.
Along the same thread, the idea of allocated safe play places could also help children stay children for longer, and enjoy healthier childhood habits instead of falling into early gangsterism.
Additionally, the Bulletproof Park could be seen as a symbol for gangs. A visual reminder of what has become necessary to keep innocent lives safe amid all the violence they live among. It many not put a stop to the violence, but it could make one person stop and think about the repercussions of violence before the fact.
While there are some concerns surrounding the safety of the kids in light of getting to and from the park (the proposal suggests bullet proof vests for little bodies) it’s possible that with some more thought and planning, the BulletProof Park idea could extend to other community spaces.
by 