The North West Department of Human Settlements, Public Safety and Liaison to host a stakeholders workshop on Thursday, 3 March 2011 in an effort to empower rural communities about crime prevention through elimination of environmental factors that contribute towards crime and raise awareness on sexual offences or gender based violence. The one day workshop is to be held at the Motelele Community Hall in Mathibestad as from 09:00.
According to the acting MEC for the provincial department, Dr Magome Masike, the objective of the crime prevention workshop is to promote Crime Prevention Through Environment Design (CPTED) and the Integrated Provincial Strategy to Prevent and Combat Sexual Offences to stakeholders within the Moretele Local Municipality for adoption and implementation.
The 2009/10 crime statistics have revealed that Mmakau Cluster under which Moretele and Makapastadt falls had recorded a 15 percent decrease in rape and a 6 percent decrease in total sexual offences during the past financial year.
The crime prevention directorate of the Department of Human Settlements, Public Safety and Liaison, the South African Police Service, National Prosecuting Authority and Ex Prisoners against Crime and Abuse (EPACAA) will make presentations on the integrated provincial strategy to prevent and combat sexual offences, programmes and projects regarding prevention and combating of sexual offences, Thuthuzela Care Centre Models and ex offenders sexually abused children.
Stakeholder who have confirmed participation include Moretele Local Municipality councillors and officials, traditional leaders, representatives of the Makapanstadt Community Policing Forum, Departments of Correctional Service, Home Affairs, Agriculture, Labour, provincial Departments of Health and Social Development, Basic Education, Moretele Local AIDS Council, community development workers (CDWs), non-governmental organisations (NGOs) like Life Line, New Start, Gogo Getters, Churches, Home Based Cares and other faith based organisations.
Moretele Local Municipality has already embraced elements of the CPTED strategy. Last week the municipality partnered the provincial Department of Human Settlements, Public Safety and Liaison, South African Police Service and Makapanstad CPF for the house numbering project in Ramabele RDP Section.
The provincial Department of Human Settlements, Public Safety and Liaison is the lead department that has driven the process towards the adoption of the CPTED Strategy and Integrated Provincial Strategy to Prevent and Combat Sexual Offences. The initiative is a sequel to the National Anti-Rape Strategy, strategy adopted by Cabinet in 2000 in response to the alarming rate of rape in the country.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 381 9171
Cell: 083 629 1987
E-mail: LKgwele@nwpg.gov.za
