launch of the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster in
Pietermaritzburg
23 June 2007
During the State of the Province Address on 14 February this year, we said
we had established political peace in KwaZulu-Natal. We, however, pointed out
that we were now challenged by crimes against the person and property. We noted
that our people are being killed for a different form of card; the credit card,
bank card and cell phone SIM cards.
Like all citizens of our country we believe that, like in every other
country in the world, there is crime in our province. But we are here today,
precisely, because we know that, working together in partnership, we are not
only capable of arresting crime but also that we will beat crime.
We know this is correct because last year KwaZulu-Natal had the highest
incidence of cash-in-transit heists. We shall remember that hardly a fortnight
went by without some incident being reported. As a result of a major crack down
by the South African Police Service (SAPS) a number of suspects involved in
motor vehicle hijackings and cash heists were arrested. As a result of this
intervention, the heists are down to almost zero in KwaZulu-Natal.
The SAPS in KwaZulu-Natal has also uncovered huge drug syndicates and
tracked down some of the most wanted criminals in the country. Organised and
sophisticated crimes are consistently being foiled and dealt decisive blows
through the combined efforts of the police services, traffic police and
financial institutions. We have taken 40 000 firearms out of circulation.
In KwaZulu-Natal we used to have faction fighting. Today we have moved away
from this, thanks to the efforts of the rural communities, the SAPS and the
traditional leaders. This year we called for the Popular Front against Crime.
We seek to inculcate in the consciousness of our people a new view of crime
(i.e.) that it is dastardly, shameful and against the values of democracy. We
are creating a new cadre of activists in the war against crime and criminality
in order to move towards the development of a secure future for all our
people.
Criminality is out of fashion! A criminal ain't my hero! This is the message
we want to send to our people. During the State of the Nation Address on 9
February this year President Thabo Mbeki called on government to ensure that
the decisions already taken about strengthening our fight against crime are
effectively implemented.
It is appropriate that we repeat his words and I quote:
"The challenge that we face in addressing this issue has little to do with
policies. Rather, what we require is effective organisation, mobilisation and
leadership of the mass law enforcement, intelligence and corrections officers
and functionaries of the justice system." We are here today to translate these
words into action as we launch the KZN JCPS. This is part of implementing the
decisions already taken and takes the fight against crime a step closer to
victory."
Through this launch we seek to improve the operation of the Criminal Justice
System and the Provincial Integrated Justice (PIJ) Forum. The PIJ Forum, which
is chaired by a judge, includes the SAPS, the Directorate of Public
Prosecutions, the Department of Correctional Services, the Department of
Community Safety and Liaison and the Department of Welfare. Through this Forum,
a mechanism exists for a comprehensive response to the strengthening of the
Criminal Justice System.
Legislative Environment
Chapter 11 of the Constitution entitles the Province through its Department
of Community Safety and Liaison to monitor and evaluate the efficiency and
effectiveness of policing. We are also charged with the promotion of good
relations between the police and communities.
The White Paper on Safety and Security, 1999 to 2004, indicates that the
Provincial responsibilities are:
a. initiating and co-ordinating social crime prevention programmes
b. mobilising resources for social crime range of provincial functions in order
to achieve more effective crime prevention
d. evaluating and supporting the social crime prevention programmes at local
government level
e. implementing and taking joint responsibilities for social crime
prevention
f. establishing crime prevention programmes in areas where local government is
poorly resourced or lacks capacity and the establishing of public and private
partnerships to support crime prevention.
According to The National Crime Prevention Strategy, 1996 (Revised 1999) the
department has a responsibility to in line with the National Crime Prevention
Strategy; establish a Provincial Crime Prevention Strategy for the province.
Today's activities are part of that process.
One of the challenges we face in dealing with crime is fractured
inter-governmental co-operation, collaboration and responses between and within
all spheres of government. In response to this, as government, we have taken
the decision to take urgent steps:
* to co-ordinate provincial and local implementation of the JCPS cluster
priorities
* to ensure alignment of activities between national and provincial/local
government
* to monitor and report on implementation progress and challenges at provincial
and local level.
The KZN JCPS is chaired by the MEC for Transport, Community Safety and
Liaison Bheki Cele. In part, we are seeking to ensure that strategic planners
from different spheres of government communicate and plan on common issues,
which affect our local communities.
On 21 and 22 May 2007, we hosted a Provincial Crime Summit in Durban. The
Summit was aimed at promoting integration and an Interim Committee comprising
representatives from the SAPS, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Justice
and Community Safety and Liaison was established. This was in order to
co-ordinate the formation of the KwaZulu-Natal Justice, Crime Prevention and
Security Cabinet Cluster.
In line with resolutions taken at the Crime Summit, the KZN JCPS Cluster
will develop a Provincial Programme of Action for the cluster. This programme
will address priority crimes while strengthening relations with business and
the community. We need to be upfront with the role communities must play in the
fight against crime. While it is understandable to fear crime, we cannot be
paralysed by it. This is why the theme for the launch of the KZN JCPS Cluster
today is "Fighting crime, together with communities."
So what are some of the challenges we face in dealing with crime in our
province?
We have found that the increase in the fear of crime is out of proportion to
the actual increase of crimes. We have also realised that we do not have
sustained community participation in Anti-Crime activities. As we have said we
find fractured responses by government agencies and departments.
Current Programmes
We have already started the Volunteer Social Crime Prevention Programme
(VSCPP). It is envisaged that this programme will lead to a reduction in social
crime, a corresponding reduction in the fear of crime and the promotion of
KwaZulu-Natal as a safe place for communities, tourists and businesses. We
started with 1 000 volunteers. This will rise to 2 100 over the build up to
2010.
For this purpose an amount of R20 million has been allocated by the
Provincial Treasury over the 2007/08 financial year. This amount will rise to
R35 million for the 2008/09 financial year and R50 million for the 2009/10
financial year.
The Department of Community Safety and Liaison has already developed
Guidelines for the Integration of Safety Plans into Integrated Development
Plans (IDPs). This forms part of the department's Local Government Capacity
Building Programme which targets municipal officials who are involved in the
development of IDPs, Safety Plans and the integration process. This programme
supports municipalities in ensuring the participation of Local Government in
safety policy making processes. This includes the promotion of IDP Safety Plans
and the establishment of Community Safety Coning process. Community Safety
Forums initiated at district level will begin to design co-operation strategies
between law enforcement structures that will eventually lead to the overall
smooth functioning of the Criminal Justice System.
Role of Traditional Leaders
The department has to date trained 215 Amakhosi on a crime prevention module
developed in partnership with the University of Zululand. This year we intend
to continue cascading the same training to other levels of Traditional
Leadership and also extend it to various religious groupings.
Communities in Dialogue
In 2006 we announced the Communities in Dialogue Programme. We have ongoing
programmes in Ezakheni and Charlestown over land issues. It is our intention as
the government of KwaZulu-Natal to mobilise communities to assume
responsibility for peace, stability and safer places to live, through Proactive
Community Dialogue Sessions. We believe that the success of these dialogues
would ensure that peace is sustained and crime drastically reduced. This
programme has become an important resource for our local leadership to promote
peace and security and improve the "state of their villages."
Community Police Forums
The department oversees the establishment of Community Police Forums (CPFs),
structures that enhance capacity and supplements policing resources. CPFs are
pertinent in preventing, responding and providing lasting solutions to the
levels of social crime in our province. Last year CPFs benefited to the tune of
three million rands from the department.
Role of Youth
The department will continue to train youth at district level on social
crime prevention and release a Youth Crime Prevention music CD containing
various messages discouraging youth involvement in crime. The department will
also host the Annual International Youth Conference of the United Nations
Habitat in Durban next year.
We have specifically targeted the Youth in view of the importance of the
fact that many of them are victims of crime. Without the participation of the
Youth, programmes for moral regeneration, stolen goods and places of safety
would not have the desired impact.
In particular the Stolen Goods Market remains a challenge. We are already
doing the following to address this phenomenon:
* discouraging support of the stolen goods market
* canvassing the causes and impact of this type of crime on the economy,
primary and secondary victims as well as market participants
* emphasising the family as a unit to fight this type of crime
* reducing the strength and prevalence of the stolen goods market leading up to
the 2010 Soccer World Cup and beyond.
Programme Director, the war against crime is winnable. It is do-able. It is
now my singular honour and privilege to officially launch the KwaZulu-Natal
JCPS.
Masisikume Sakhe iKwaZulu Natal!
I thank you.
Issued by: Office of the Premier, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
23 June 2007
