Executive Council for Public Safety, Security and Liaison, Mr FK Morule, at the
Free State Legislature
16 March 2006
Honourable Speaker and Deputy Speaker
Premier of the Free State Provincial Government
Colleagues in the Provincial Executive Council
Honourable Members of the Provincial Legislature
Honourable mayors and councillors
Esteemed guests
Ladies and gentlemen
Honourable Speaker,
We present this budget vote barely 15 days after our people in their thousands
exercised their democratic right to elect their leaders at local government
level. In doing so the people of the Free State once more showed their
unwavering confidence and trust to their movement, to the peopleâs movement,
the African National Congress.
Most importantly, we meet on the occasion of the 94th anniversary of the
formation of the African National Congress (ANC); thanks to the living and
departed visionaries, revolutionaries, theoreticians and amadelakufa in whose
honour we held the said second democratic local government elections.
We managed to hold free and fair local government elections under conditions
of relative peace and stability created by our security forces. Accordingly, we
need to salute and thank them for such stunning performance.
Achievements for 2005/06
Honourable Speaker,
It is precisely because of the evolution of our well cherished democracy that
transparency and accountability call upon us today to reflect on what we have
achieved as a department and what we, all of us, will ceaselessly do to
discourage criminality, ensure change in peopleâs lives for the better,
particularly in an economically growing and developing province.
In the 2005/06 financial year, we committed the Department of Public Safety,
Security and Liaison to numerous deliverables, precisely in fulfilment of the
Contract we have with the people of the Free State province.
Commitment
We said the Department would support crime prevention initiatives of
municipalities; strengthen community participation in social crime prevention;
and establish, sustain and optimise the functional capacity of Community Police
Forums (CPFs) and Community Safety Forums (CSFs) in the province.
Achievement
In seeking to achieve the said commitments, the Department held two
Provincial Community Safety Forums (CSFs) seminars in June and September 2005.
Primary stakeholders were invited and the purpose of the seminars was mainly to
institutionalise the Community Safety Forum (CSF) concept in the province and
to position municipalities at the forefront of CSF programmes in the
province.
The seminars were then followed by the training of various municipal
officials and CPF members on the formulation of local crime prevention
strategies.
While we had committed ourselves to pilot the CSF concept in six
municipalities, the seventh municipality was added at the insistence by the
Mayor of Ngwathe.
The process of capacitating the municipal councillors and officials of all
seven identified pilot municipalities of Matjhabeng; Metsimaholo; Mangaung;
Moqhaka; Maluti-a-Phofung; Ngwathe and Kopanong will continue during the next
financial year.
While this is taking place, six more municipalities will be included in the
CSF pilot projects. This will bring the number of CSF pilot areas in the
province to 13 during the 2006/07 financial year.
The critical importance of the CSFs is their potential to effectively
promote an integrated, co-ordinated and multi-agency approach to crime
prevention and community safety in the province.
Honourable Speaker,
An audit was conducted to assess the functionality of the CPFs and sector
policing in the province. Although certain minor shortcomings were identified,
today we are delighted to report that most CPFs within our province are fully
functional.
This is indeed reflected in the decrease in the levels of crime within the
province. It is therefore our firm belief that the establishment of the CSFs
will surely catalyse the crime prevention approach of both community and
police-driven structures.
Furthermore, the Department managed to train all members of CPFs at 19
priority stations on project management. This training resulted in these CPFs
identifying and prioritising crime-prevention projects at various police
stations in the province.
The CPF projects focused on alcohol and substance induced crimes such as
domestic violence; rape; common robbery; common assault; housebreaking and
theft/burglary and gangsterism.
An annual conference of the CPF was held in Mangaung between 3 and 5
February 2006 to assess the performance of the CPFs and to strategise on
community safety issues. At that conference, delegates resolved, among others,
that collaborative and cooperative relations between the CPF structures and
various components of the criminal justice system should be developed and
strengthened.
Commitment
Honourable Speaker, we made an undertaking that the Department would support
crime prevention projects of the Social cluster.
Achievement
In order to create safe and effective teaching and learning environments in
the province, the Department maintained consultation with the provincial
Department of Education with the purpose of identifying 19 pilot schools at
which school safety programmes and projects would be implemented.
The focus of the said programmes and projects is on the causes of youth
violence, such as bullying, gangs, alcohol and drug abuse, guns, weapons and
the sexual abuse of learners.
We have already installed billboards at 19 schools in the Province as part
of governmentâs crime prevention drive while at the same time popularising the
departmentâs toll-free number.
Furthermore, the Department in collaboration with the CPF and the South
African Police Service (SAPS) intervened and assisted in normalising the
situation in Meloding where schooling was disrupted by gangsterism.
Commitment
Honourable Speaker,
We said the Department would, as an integral part of its oversight
responsibility, work closely with the South African Police management to ensure
the effective transformation of the police service.
Achievement
We managed to conduct four inspection visits to each of the 19 high crime
police stations in the province.
The main purpose of these police station visits was to monitor the
implementation of sound employment polices; responsive and equitable police
service delivery; transparent police decision making; efficient utilisation and
distribution of police resources; and public complaints against and compliments
for the police.
Where necessary, police personnel was increased, additional resources
provided and senior officers from Area Management allocated to these stations
as care-takers to assist Station Commissioners. Such intervention measures have
yielded positive results where statistics indicate a decrease in levels of
crime.
Commitment
Honourable Speaker, we stressed that the Department would promote factual
communication and dialoguing with communities and individuals on matters of
crime prevention and community safety in the province.
Achievement
The Department disseminated information to communities through the
electronic and print media. A total of 48 radio slots (10 to 15 minute spots
each) were used to communicate government strategies on crime prevention to a
very wide listenership.
The Department received free radio airtime through the generosity of both
Lesedi FM and Vodacom whom we would like to thank quite profusely.
Additionally, daily newspapers carried our safety and security messages to a
variety of target audiences and theme related pamphlets were designed to
communicate messages to our communities.
Furthermore, we held 10 public education meetings to raise public awareness
and mobilise communities against crime.
Honourable Speaker,
As a component of government that ceaselessly consults and communicates with
communities on the ground, the Department of Public Safety, Security and
Liaison participated in various national and provincial events during the
2005/06 financial year.
These included 16 Days of Activism Against Violence and Abuse of Women and
Children which was celebrated in Bethlehem from 24 to 26 October 2005; at JB
Mafora in Mangaung on 3 December 2005 and, lastly, at Edenburg on 8 December
2005.
These events were preceded by the Provincial Anti Rape Summit on 18 and 19
August 2005. The purpose of the Summit was to gather information by which to
develop an effective anti-rape strategy that would focus on improving the
reporting of rape cases to the police.
The World AIDS Day was honoured on 6 December 2005 through a visit to the
âWe Care Day Centreâ at Allanridge in the Matjhabeng municipality, to offer
support to the HIV and AIDS infected children.
The celebrations of the Safety and Security Month from 13 to 28 February
2006 to mobilise communities against crime in the province were staged at
Dewetsdorp in the Motheo District; Smithfield, in the Xhariep District;
Meloding in the Lejweleputswa District and Warden in the Thabo Mofutsanyane
District.
All 109 Community Police Forums (CPFs) located at different police stations
interacted meaningfully with communities and sectoral organisations in
February, which is our Safety and Security Month.
The interaction stressed the need for people to accept personal
responsibility for tackling crime; mobilise communities to report all criminal
or suspicious activities to the police; and strengthen relations between the
police and the public.
Honourable Speaker,
We managed to establish a specialised unit in our department which will
primarily focus, among others, on:
* Conducting research on the policing needs and priorities of the Free State
communities with specific reference to community-based police structures;
* Participating and contributing on policy development issues at national,
provincial, local government level; and
* Conducting research on the effectiveness and impact of the national,
provincial and local policies on the safety and security of communities in the
Free State province.
Impact of interventions on criminality in the Province
Honourable Speaker,
Resultant of the effective fulfilment of our commitments as mentioned above,
especially in partnership with communities, the South African Police Service,
the National Intelligence Agency, the Department of Correctional Services and
other primary stakeholders; we are in a position to proudly report to the House
today that the levels of crime in the Free State decreased quite significantly
during the 2005/06 financial year as compared to the 2004/05 financial
year.
For example, statistics indicate that, as compared to the last financial
year:
* Attempted murder decreased by 18.02% (1038 to 851);
* Common robbery decreased by 14.61% (3793 to 3239);
* Indecent assault decreased by 10.21% (519 to 466);
* Common assault decreased by 9.93% (18882 to 17007);
* Robbery with aggravating circumstances decreased by 8.70% (3506 to
3201);
* Murder decreased by 4.53% (685 to 654); and
* Rape decreased by 4.37% (2976 to 2846).
We take pride in reporting that between 1 April 2005 and 28 February 2006,
the police managed to collect and destroy quite a number of firearms in the
province. In fact:
* 12 329 firearms were confiscated;
* 31 624 firearms were voluntarily handed over to the police;
* 70 firearm parts were voluntarily handed over to the police;
* 6 248 firearms were destroyed; and
* 56 333 rounds of ammunition were confiscated;
The confiscation and destruction of such a huge quantity of firearms and
ammunition will most certainly go a long way in the prevention of
firearm-related crimes.
Although we allude to the commendable decrease of acts of criminality in the
province, non-reporting of crimes and the withdrawal of cases remain areas of
grave concern to us. The majority of crimes, such as domestic violence and
sexual assault, take place behind closed doors. They therefore become difficult
to police.
Victims of such crimes must report incidents of such nature to the police.
Furthermore, they must distance themselves from the temptation of withdrawing
criminal charges against the perpetrators.
Both the under-reporting of crimes and the withdrawal of reported cases pose
a serious threat to the efforts of government to develop effective preventive
strategies against those who disrespect and violate the constitutional rights
of others.
Honourable Speaker,
The reduction in the levels of crime undoubtedly contributes to accelerated
economic growth and development of the province. A safe and secure Free State
will be able to attract, retain and expand economic and business
opportunities.
Most importantly, it is through economic growth that we can realise economic
development which will inevitably lead to poverty alleviation, skills
development and job creation.
It is precisely for that reason that we, during the next financial year,
intend partnering with the Department of Tourism, Environmental and Economic
Affairs to develop a Provincial Tourism Safety Strategy because todayâs tourist
is likely to be tomorrowâs investor.
2006/07 financial year commitments
Honourable Speaker,
Let us sketch out some of our plans as well as those of the SAPS for the
2006/07 financial year. The forthcoming year will be grounded on community
participation, respect for human rights; police transformation; police service
delivery; efficient utilisation and distribution of police resources; social
crime prevention and public education.
The key operational thrust of the Department during the 2006/07 will be:
Firstly, to strengthen the ideal of the Freedom Charter that âThe People
Shall Governâ through various community platforms such as:
* The ceaseless mobilisation of communities in diverse community based
safety and security structures such as Community Police Forums (CPFs),
Community Safety Forums (CSFs), Victim Empowerment Committees, etc.
* The structured interface between the department and communities which is
intended to facilitate community input into policing policies and plans.
* The establishment of Safer School Committees to ensure security at school
through the participation of youth in crime prevention in full partnership with
the Department of Education and the SAPS.
Secondly, we intend to strengthen institutional structures and
intergovernmental relations on matters relating to crime prevention and
community safety at local government level.
This will be implemented with the continuation of the rollout of Community
Safety Forums (CSFs) in the province. The establishment of the CSFs will even
foster greater spherical interaction between and among national, provincial and
local units of government in terms of developing and coordinating integrated
safety and security plans.
Thirdly, we shall empower the Provincial Secretariat for Safety and
Security:
* by continuing to build a culture of human rights through an effective
investigative unit within the Call Centre for alleged policing transgressions
and formalised relationship with the Independent Complaints Directorate
(ICD);
* By continuing to deepen democratic accountability and police oversight;
Fourthly, we must promote communication between the department and
communities in the province through the use of electronic and print media,
public meetings, newsletters, theme-related pamphlets and posters.
The practical argument in favour of an effective government community
interaction is that there cannot be any measure of meaningful accountability
and responsiveness without an informed community.
Equally, a passive and complaisant community is a threat not only to
democracy, but to accountability, responsive public governance and effective
public administration.
Fifthly, the department will continue to monitor and evaluate the
transformation of the SAPS.
We will continue to monitor and evaluate such transformation because of our
firm belief that for our police to break with the apartheid past which, in its
exploitation of the police as a political instrument, created a militaristic,
secretive, unaccountable, racist, and violent institution; a new police
component can only be effective if established on the basis of the following
principles:
* It must be an impartial, well-trained and competent professional
service;
* It must be non-racial and non-sexist in practice and in structure;
* It must respect human dignity and uphold and protect human rights;
* It must be established on the ethics of public service and not view itself as
the âmastersâ of the public;
* Policing resources must be fairly distributed to all communities particularly
those which have been neglected under apartheid;
* The police must be subjected to an independent complaints and investigation
body to ensure that there is no corruption or bias;
* The police must be representative of the community drawing on those talented
individuals who have not enrolled in the police service because of its stigma
and historical role;
* Above all, the police must be accountable to the people whom they serve.
Unless the police are rooted in and are accountable to the communities in
whose name they police, they will not enjoy the support of these communities.
The police must establish its policing priorities in consultation with local
communities and be subject to the evaluation and control of such
communities.
Sixthly, uncompromising on the promotion of quality police service delivery,
the department will facilitate the signing of a Free State Provincial Police
Service Charter between the South African Police Service and the broader
community.
The signing of the Free State Provincial Police Service Charter will be a
significant milestone in the process of building and maintaining cooperative
and interactive relations between the communities and the police service in the
province. It will encourage and enhance a responsive, accountable, open,
respectful and high-quality police service in the province.
In essence, the Charter will tell communities the standards of service each
police station in the province will provide to them.
Honourable Speaker,
We need to mention that during the 2006/07, the police in the Free State
province will focus, among others, on the following operational priorities:
Priority one: To address Organised Crime by focusing on:
* Criminal organisations involved in crime relating to drugs, firearms,
vehicles, human trafficking, human organ trafficking, prostitution, endangered
species, precious metals and stones;
* Corruption; and
* Commercial crime.
Priority two: To address Serious and Violent Crime by focusing on:
* The proliferation of firearm and its impact on the incidents of murder, armed
robbery, and farm attacks, heists and vehicle hijacking;
* Crime combating strategies identified for high and contact crime areas;
Priority three: To address crimes against women and children by focusing
on:
* Rape;
* Domestic violence;
* Assault; and
* Child abuse.
Priority four: To improve basic service delivery to all communities by
focusing on:
* The implementation of the South African Police Service (SAPS), Service
Delivery Improvement Programme at all levels in the SAPS; including:
* The development of the Service Delivery Charters; and setting service
standards.
Conclusion
Honourable Speaker and Honourable Members,
I would like to conclude by sincerely thanking members of the portfolio
committee for Agriculture, Safety and Security for their political oversight
over provincial policing.
We also need to mention that the Provincial Commissioner and other members
of the police service deserve accolades for their cooperation and
collaboration.
The Head and staff of the Department of Public Safety, Security and Liaison
were equally selfless in their dedication to good public administration and
effective service delivery.
Our special words of gratitude are extended to members of the political and
technical clusters; various government departments; municipalities,
communities, CPF members and all the volunteers who supported the efforts of
our Department to address questions of safety and security in the province.
Again, we remain appreciative of the role played by Lesedi FM and Vodacom
for their unselfish contribution to crime prevention in the province.
Honourable Speaker and Honourable Members,
I wish to mention that the Premier, through her State of the Province Address,
continues to set our government to task on delivering to the people of the Free
State.
As African National Congress led government, particularly the Department of
Public Safety, Security and Liaison, we are resolved to build on the foundation
laid by the living and departed visionaries, revolutionaries, theoreticians and
amadelakufa that I mentioned earlier.
Our Contract with the people of the Free State is based on actual service
delivery and the betterment of their quality of life. Progress is indeed being
made in that regard.
Addressing the opening of Parliament in February 1998, President Rolihlahla
Mandela observed as follows:
âWe are at the beginning of an arduous and protracted struggle for a better
quality of life. In the course of this struggle, we shall have immediate
successes; we shall have setbacks; but we shall certainly progress, inch by
inch, towards our goal.â
Honourable Speaker
Let me therefore present the budget of R31.8 million for the Department of
Public Safety, Security and Liaison for the 2006/07 financial year to the
House. While acknowledging that the amount is not enough, it will however make
a meaningful contribution in the creation of safe environments in which all
communities and individuals can be able to live, work and play fearlessly.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Public Safety, Security and Liaison, Free State
Provincial government
16 March 2006
Source: Free State Provincial Government (http://www.fs.gov.za)
