Ladies and gentlemen
Thank you all for this wonderful opportunity that we have to communicate government's service delivery milestones.
As we have just yesterday seen the end of women's month, I will first discuss the work that we have done, and will continue to do, to protect and assist women and children who are survivors of abuse.
You will perhaps recall that, during a media briefing session held on 23 February 2010, I committed to increase assistance that we provide to victims of domestic violence. Yes, it is a terrible indictment against our society that we still have women and children who are battered by those that they consider close and dear to them. The reality is that we still have many sadists who have no qualms about battering women and children.
During the past quarter alone (July, August and September), we admitted 140 women victims of abuse into our Ikhaya leThemba shelter. We also took in 69 children. 132 survivors were provided with pre-court appearance services and 64 received post court appearance assistance whilst another 35 were assisted to obtain protection orders against their abusers.
Our Safety Promotion Directorate also developed 171 School Safety plans, launched a child safety DVD, re-established seven youth desks and conducted over 14 substance abuse workshop targeting the youth.
During the 2010 FIFA soccer festival, we deployed over 1 213 patrollers to various Public Viewing Areas and to about 200 training facilities of teams that participated in the games. We also assessed, for compliance to the set minimum standards, 43 community policing forums. Another four community policing forums were established during the quarter under discussion. Those of our communities who reside in hostels were also mobilised, through a minimum of inter-active 5 meetings, to also participate in identifying, isolating and helping with the arrest of criminals.
You would probably recall that the first FIFA soccer match was marred by road traffic congestion. Working in close collaboration with the South African Police Services (SAPS), Metro Police and the local traffic police, we managed to quickly turn the tide. The FIFA family and scores of other dignitaries, including Heads of States, were provided with world class escorts on our roads and first-class security in their temporary residential and meeting places.
Motivated by the Gauteng Road Safety Strategy, our Traffic Police Directorate checked over 28 750 vehicles during the numerous stop and check operations that were conducted during the outgoing quarter.
Vehicles which transported scholars were also placed under the spotlight with 68 operations, focusing on this mode of transport, were conducted.
Overloading of vehicles is one apparently violation which is perceived to be insignificant. The reality, however, is that overloading, especially by heavy duty vehicles, not only speeds up infrastructural damage. This violation also contributes to road accidents.
In accordance with our oversight mandate, we received and intervened in 118 complaints that we received, 42 percent of these complaints revolved around unprofessional conduct whilst 20 percent were related to poor communication, 15 percent were of allegations of poor service delivery and 10 percent for poor investigation of reported cases.
The other 13 percent were miscellaneous complaints against members of South African police Services (SAPS). My department is also charged with the tasks of promoting police accountability, monitoring of police performance and overseeing implementation of certain policies, the Gauteng Aggravated Robbery Strategy in particular.
With regard to these tasks, we attended 125 cluster police meetings to monitor implementation of the Aggravated Robbery Strategy.We also inspected, during the outgoing quarter, percent police stations.
We hold dear government's perspective on communication. Understanding that communications provides members of the public with relevant information that enables citizens to partake in social transformation processes, we published and distributed over 40 060 communication products, mostly pamphlets. These included material on children's rights, on gun amnesty, road safety and on substance abuse and on how ordinary citizens can participate in the departments take charge programme.
For more information contact:
Sizwe Matshikiza
Cell: 082 778 9996
