The Tongaat Civic and Ratepayers Association (TCRA) marked a proud and defining moment for the organisation on Saturday 18 April as they officially launched their very first youth club, the Tongaat Civic and Ratepayers Association (TCRA) Youth.
TCRA Youth was formed in response to the growing challenges facing the community, particularly the lack of structured opportunities, guidance, and meaningful engagement for young people. In a town rich with cultural diversity and history, the TCRA recognised the need to unite youth across all backgrounds and create a platform where they can actively contribute to the future of Tongaat.
Open to Tongaat residents between the ages of 13 to 25 who are ready to make a difference in their community, the club offers youth the opportunity to build life and career skills, join sports, arts and tech initiatives, and stand against drugs and violence.
Chairperson of the TCRA Ikram Sahib said: “Our goal is to empower young people to become active citizens and leaders within their community. This includes involvement in service delivery initiatives, environmental clean-ups, skills development programmes, and creating safe spaces for dialogue and collaboration. We aim to bridge the gap between the youth and community leadership, ensuring their voices are heard and their ideas are translated into real action.”
Speaking on the formation of TCRA Youth, secretary of the TCRA Dinah Perumal explained: “she had previously launched the Plane Street Youth group after noticing the increasing in school dropouts and drug abuse in the community. After joining TCRA she saw the opportunity to continue this kind of work. When I joined the TCRA and saw the good work that was being carried out by this organisation, the idea of TCRA youth popped up. I saw it as an opportunity for the new generation to uplift our community and rise to be new energetic leaders.”
Sahib said: “The TCRA Youth is also focused on promoting unity across racial and social lines, encouraging a shared vision of progress, respect, and opportunity for all. Through sports, technology, education, and community outreach, we are building a generation that is not only aware of the challenges facing Tongaat, but is equipped and motivated to be part of the solution. Ultimately, the formation of the TCRA Youth is about hope, action, and building a stronger, more inclusive future for our town.”
Perumal added: “The TCRA is fully committed to supporting, guiding and investing in this youth structure. With funding avenues and sponsors already being secured, this enables us to move beyond ideas and actively implement projects that will have a tangible impact on our community. We are ready to help turn these young dreams into real opportunities.”
Sahib concluded: “We commend every young person who showed up, stepped forward and took charge. Your energy, commitment and willingness to lead are exactly what our community needs. This was more than a meeting, this was the start of something powerful.”
