Youth in Conflict with the Law - a Study of South African Youth in Detention at the Westville Youth Centre Durban , South Arica

“The government must stop focusing on building a future for the youth but start to build the youth for the future” The history of South African youth especially those from disenfranchised backgrounds has been characterised by a struggle to become meaningful social actors. Many sacrificed their lives as foot soldiers of the liberation struggle so that the generation to follow will be contributing members of society so they may reap the benefits of their ultimate sacrifice for freedom. In recognition of the youth contribution to liberation in the country, South Africa earmarked a public holiday called the National Youth Day. As part of its post-apartheid reconstruction policy, a National Youth Development plan is in place to further their aspirations and social mobility in a rapidly transforming country. Despite such socio-historical context and policy initiatives for youth development, a large section of the populace are marginalised and excluded by a myriad number of socio-political and economic factors placing them at risk. This paper attempts to investigate the underlying nature and causes of South African youth who have come into conflict with the law. It draws from a situational analysis of 77 youth who are incarcerated at a youth detention centre in the Metropolitan Area of Durban for various forms of crime. The paper seeks to provide possible proactive measures drawn from the social reality of incarcerated youth on how intervention at a micro, meso and macro level can serve as a safety net preventing youth coming into conflict with the law.