Programme director, Mr Koos Radebe
CEO of Tracker Network, Mr Alan Hutcheson
Member of Tracker Network Board, Mr Paul Nkuna
Management of tracker network
Distinguished Guests
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen
I am honoured to address the tenth 2009 Tracker National Awards Ceremony Awards, one of the shining examples of the multi-stakeholder initiatives geared towards combating crime in our country.
When government made a call to business, communities, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and civil society to join hands with us in developing various strategic approaches in fighting and curbing crime, we made the plea fully aware that together, we can do more. The Ministry has met with a number of business groupings and associations to discuss the role business can specifically play in supporting government in the fight against crime. We are now in the process of finalising a document for presentation to the criminal justice cluster which will address the formalisation of relations with and support from business. We need to emphasise therefore that, although such an approach is focused on business, it does also recognise the important role by other stakeholders.
We see this approach as fundamentally important in our quest towards crime-fighting. The 2009 Tracker/South African Police Service (SAPS) partnership is further testimony that when government and private sector work together, success is inevitable. The challenges faced but both are not only common, but also achievable. While government, as the custodian on the Constitutional legislation has an oversight function in terms of the Constitutional protection our citizens, it also needs to put in place operational mechanisms in combating crime. This we cannot achieve alone, but we require the intervention and role playing of business and communities. It is for this reason that we are proud to be associated with Tracker; while at the same time appeal to other business players to join us in similar initiatives.
We are told, programme director, that Tracker/SAPS partnership has to date resulted in succeeded in recovering more than 47 000 stolen vehicles, with over 8000 arrests including some of the most dangerous criminals, more than 300 chop shops were shut down. We would like to therefore commend members from both organisations for this sterling performance. However, as the old saying goes ‘you are as good as your last project’ therefore let us not lie on our laurels and believe our work has been completed. There is still more to be and together, we can do more in creating safer communities, business and our country.
Yet, in spite of these successes in combating vehicle crime to date, there is something very important to bear in mind: vehicle crime remains a despicable and unacceptable scourge in our country and we would like to impress upon each of you here today that you utilise your vast experience and considerable resources to intensify the fight against vehicle crime. Citizens of this country need not live in the shadow of fear of purchasing vehicle nor driving at night as a result of being hijacked by criminals. They need to enjoy their democratic and Constitutional rights irrespective of where they are travelling, at any time.
Government remains unshaken in its commitment to securing a better life for all and, the fight against crime is an integral part of ensuring this better life. High levels of crime and in particular violent crime remains a serious concern. However, we are encouraged by some of the advances that have been made within the department in nabbing these criminals. Programme director, in instances where there's been a decline in crime, be it serious crime, carjacking or violence against women and children these were not as a result of natural occurrences. The reduction in these acts of crime, were as a result of committed men and women who worked tirelessly with only one goal: to create safer communities for our citizens.
We need more of such heroes within our ranks. As a matter of fact, we are now looking into various programmes in relation to new recruitment into the police force, in an effort to address the aspects that will ensure we produce men and women who are committed to fighting crime. We need to have officers who do not only perceive joining the force as career advancement. We need a new kind of officer who, first and foremost, puts his or her personal interest behind those of the betterment of our country. To this end, we have established a national task team to consider employment related matters, and that this task team interfaces with provinces in facilitating the recruitment of qualifying Reservists as permanent employees of the SAPS. The enlistment requirements have been finalized and are being implemented within the provinces.
As a Ministry, we are looking at new ways of doing things. The old approaches and techniques may have worked for in the past, but we need to begin to ask if they are still relevant? Are there not more effective things we could be doing in our day-to-day operations? Are there any new approaches we can learn from business and perhaps, even from global practices? Of course we can. It is through partnerships like this (Tracker/SAPS) that we can draw positive lessons in our crime-fighting strategies. We continue to invest our energies because our focus remains undeterred.
Our message is clear: Let the criminals feel the heat. Let them know that their days are numbered and that there is no future for them in this great nation of ours. Again, as you will note, we will ensure that where we achieve successes, we continue to inform our communities with a view of ensuring that the message that government is serious about crime fighting is spread across. Accordingly, where there may be teething challenges, we will be honest enough to keep them informed while at the same time, doubling our efforts in the war against crime. We have noticed that crime in our country tends to take certain trends and patterns in different season for varying seasons. Among these, is the market for stolen goods from vehicles and household goods.
This market therefore fuels crime and there is a need for us to address this as part of our fight against crime. The Second Hand Goods Act was promulgated in April this year. The regulation that will accompany this Act were finalised in July 2009. The act places significant responsibility on businesses to regulate them. Government will need to engage business on the implementation of this legislation now that it has been finalised. The ministry is currently looking at a number of different approaches to address this problem, including working together with you (Tracker), other organizations such as South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC), Business against Crime (BAC) and Cash Risk Management (CRIM) forum. As government, we have a responsibility to lead the fight against crime. We do so cognisant of the fact that alone, we cannot attain success. We believe a multi-stakeholder approach is the most effective approach in tackling crime head-on.
We believe that together, we can do more. Partnerships such as this one are not strange phenomenon. As government, we strongly encourage such cooperation’s. Many businesses and households make use of private security companies to protect their homes and assets. The increasing number of private security guards poses two issues for government. The first issue involves greater cooperation between private security and SAPS. To address this we are piloting a private security alignment process in the Honeydew area. The lessons drawn from this process will then be used to develop a national approach to cooperation. The second involves ensuring that criminal elements are not able to infiltrate the private security industry. It's also a well known fact that vehicle crime is often at the centre of other violent crimes such as cash-in-transit heists, armed robberies, murder and so on.
So the importance of what Tracker is doing in recovering these hijacked vehicles, is commendable. Programme director, we are here this evening to commend brave men and women who unselfishly put their lives at risk, with only goal in mind: commitment to keep our communities safer against heartless criminals, criminals who not only aim to rob, but at times kill. Government cannot and will not tolerate this kind of conduct. Therefore tonight, we congratulate and recognise our unsung heroes for your bravery, commitment, passion and we say: keep up the good work! But I want you to do one very important thing for me: When you leave here today, take your learning’s and experience and pass them on to those colleagues of yours who can benefit from them.
To not share your knowledge and ability is almost a crime within itself. Alone, you are powerful at what you do, but if you can uplift even a handful of your colleagues how much more powerful have you become? How much better served is our country as a consequence of your generosity? I implore you to help teach and guide others. You are at the forefront of what you do, but please do not be afraid to share the stage. The establishment of the Tracker-SAPS bursary fund is but one of most commendable undertaking. We are pleased to learn that that the children of our fallen police officers are being provided with the most powerful weapon on earth: education. By providing these children with a tertiary education, you have created a lifelong legacy for their parents. I cannot imagine a better tribute to their sacrifice. Congratulations and may the project continue. I cannot begin to emphasise the importance of knowledge in this modern era.
While we encourage our officers to arm themselves against criminals, we equally encourage them to further develop themselves with education. By bestowing these funds on you, we believe that this will have a lasting impact in your futures and therefore urge you to focus on your studies to ensure you create a better South Africa. Crime in our country does not only require committed men and women, but also educated individuals. We commend Tracker for this remarkable initiative and we look forward to getting some progress reports on your development and progress in your studies. We take this opportunity to emphasise and acknowledge the important role members of the media play in helping government, civil society and business in the fight against crime in our country. We are here, not only to congratulate the recipients of these awards but further to assure you that government has, as one of its key priorities, the fight against crime and corruption.
I thank you.
Issued by: South African Police Service
21 September 2009
Source: South African Police Service (http://www.saps.gov.za/default.htm)
