It is indeed a great honour for me to be part of this meeting of the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster. I am looking forward to work with all of you in pursuit of safety, security and comfort for all our people.
I will always be part of these meetings; because I am a hand on person and that the intensification of the fight against crime and corruption is one of government’s priorities for the next five years.
On behalf of the new executive council, particularly the Social Needs Cluster Cabinet Committee, I would like to firstly express our sincere gratitude for your attendance and show of commitment in this initiative, which seeks to close the gaps that undermined our contribution in the promotion of peace and stability in our society.
This co-ordinated approach in the fight against crime will go a long way in minimising challenges that have been haunting our criminal justice system.
Going forward, we are going to see a major overhaul of the Criminal Justice System to ensure that the levels of crime are drastically reduced.
This will be done through:
* establishment of a new modernised efficient and transformed criminal justice system, to develop capacity for fighting and reducing crime in real terms. Government is expected to review the functioning of the police, the judiciary and the correctional services to achieve integration and coordination. I am sure that signs are very clear to everybody about the new direction that we are pursuing, as we now have a Ministry of Police, instead of Safety and Security. This means greater support to the South African Police Service (SAPS), especially when it comes to resources and that we will be tougher on criminals and organised syndicates. In this province, I would like to have a task team approach between traffic and SAPS at local level and coordination at Provincial level.
* stepping up measures in the fight against corruption within society, the state and private sector. This includes measures to ensure that politicians do not tamper with the adjudication of tenders. There will measures to ensure transparent process of the tendering system as well as ensuring much stronger accountability of the public servants involved in the process.
The time has come for all of us to start talking to one another in an effort to restore public confidence in the criminal justice system. As we embark in this process of engagement, we need to emerge with one voice and one message that “crime does not pay.”
This cluster will co-ordinate and strengthen relationships between all law enforcement agencies in the province and further promote cooperative governance in the fight against crime in a quest to realise this assertion.
Dealing with gender based violence
The commencement of this engagement comes at a time when government is paying a particular attention to social crime, which frustrates our people’s freedom and democracy, especially women and children.
We believe that this is a meaningful solution in trying to restore the dignity of victims of abuse and rape, particularly our rural and poor communities.
I strongly believe that through working together we can permanently erode the bottlenecks, which have been compromising the integrity of the criminal system due to its unsatisfactory response to gender based violence.
There is an urgent need for this forum to discuss strategies of dealing with cases of women and child abuse. Furthermore, we need to emerge with strategies to:
* empower victims of crime and they must include an increase in the number of victim empowerment centres, especially in rural areas
* implement Special Crime Combating and security initiatives
* promote partnerships and communication of fighting crime
* reduce the number of cases pending trial.
Cascading to local level
In order to strengthen coordination of the criminal justice system activities at local level, the Department of Safety and Liaison has been giving “hands on support” to Community Safety Forums (CSFs).
I would like to appeal to this cluster to assist us in ensuring that these CSFs are active and vibrant. The success of Community Safety Forums is the central co-ordinating function played by local municipalities. It further assists in improving safety and security during big events.
We need to prioritise municipalities that will have Fan Parks (Metro) and public viewing sites. Furthermore, we need to fell the pulse of our community courts. Are they operating according to government expectations? That is a question that we need to collectively respond to.
Mass mobilisation against crime
As part of my first 100 days programme, I will be launching street and village committees in an effort to mobilise communities to be the cornerstone of our strategies.
I strongly believe that our mobilisation strategy must be inter-governmental, inter-sectoral and mass based in order to make the necessary impact.
Conclusion
I would like to commend the good work done by all individuals, who were actively involved in the establishment of this cluster and pledge my continuous support to its activities.
I thank you.
Enquries:
N Kumbaca
Tel: 043 604 7584
Fax: 086 532 4933
E-mail: ncedo.kumbaca@dot.ecprov.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Transport and Safety, Eastern Cape Provincial
20 May 2009
