fight against crime
4 October 2006
Six government Departments of the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security
(JCPS) Cluster, represented by Ministers, Deputy Ministers and
Directors-General, met with Business Leadership/the Big Business Working Group
and Business Against Crime South Africa today.
This meeting follows an initial meeting held in Cape Town on 25 August 2006
between the President and the Big Business Working Group, which resolved to
re-energise the partnership between business and government in the fight
against crime.
Today's meeting took the process further. A number of important decisions
were taken to deal with the current crime wave, and to set in motion a series
of interventions which collectively will represent a step change in the
management and implementation of policing, justice and correctional
services.
The meeting agreed to the creation of a Leadership Forum, composed of
leaders of the JCPS Cluster and business. This Leadership Forum will meet
bi-monthly and will focus specifically on identifying and mobilizing 'step
change' interventions necessary to turn around the crime situation in the
country. This Forum will be performance-driven and will, for the first time,
pool the strategic and leadership resources of business and government towards
a common goal.
A number of specific initiatives were prioritised for immediate attention.
These include the following:
* An immediate review and improvement of the Criminal Justice System. This
initiative will fast track the review of the CJS with a view to identifying and
implementing improvements to the System for short, medium and long term impact.
Both business and government will second senior executives to this initiative
on a full time basis. The longer-term objective of this intervention is to
strengthen the CJS in order to achieve effective and efficient justice.
* Current crime prevention and combating initiatives undertaken by government
Departments will be reviewed to enhance performance.
* Focused attention will be devoted to enhancing the capacity of government in
dealing with crime challenges. A range of interventions were discussed,
including the provision of specialist training and the re-deployment of experts
who had retired or joined the private sector.
The meeting agreed that the above-mentioned initiatives will be planned in
greater detail over the next month including the mobilization of resources from
existing budgets and the assessment of requirements for budget
supplementation.
The meeting represents a new level of commitment and determination in the
fight against crime. Although there are no silver bullets or quick fixes in
this complex field, it is believed that these and other initiatives will make a
substantial difference to the levels of crime and the performance of the
Criminal Justice System. The Leadership Forum will provide quarterly updates on
progress.
For further information contact:
Siphiwe Nzimande, CEO: Business Against Crime South Africa
Tel: (011) 883 1679
Cell: 083 633 8681
E-mail: Siphiwe@bac.org.za
Hangwani Mulaudzi, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Safety and
Security
Tel: (012) 393 2553
Cell: 082 555 3505
E-mail: mulaudzih@saps.org.za
Issued by: Ministry of Safety and Security
4 October 2006
