Mayor Socikwa and Councilors of Mhlontlo Municipality
Representatives of the OR Tambo District Municipality
Traditional Leaders
Management of the South African Police Service (SAPS)
Community Police Forum (CPF) members
Village committees’ members
Government officials
Ladies and gentlemen
Let me first take this opportunity to congratulate the community of Caba village for your resilience, vigilance and commitment to the fight against crime.
Since the advent of our democracy, it has become evident that the fight against crime is not only the responsibility of law enforcement agencies. Hence today, we call upon communities to join forces with government to uproot crime and its causes in our society.
You know it better! Taking into consideration the history of the Mhlontlo area that is characterised by high levels of stock theft, which in the early 1990s led to the bloodiest loss of lives, it became evident that a community-based solution was needed.
We know that to the communities of Mhlontlo, any activity that is criminal in nature or form and with a potential of getting out of hand always raises serious concerns, which cause members of the community to stand on their toes.
Unfortunately, the processes that are being considered before a police station can be built seem to take a very long time, while the community of Caba continues to live in fear.
Indeed, a short term solutions, is required and I would like to salute the men and women, who are now participating in the eight village committees and sector policing activities.
On behalf of the Department of Safety and Liaison, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to the OR Tambo District Municipality, which donated reflector jackets, whistles and torches that we are going to hand over today.
Furthermore, I would like to salute the project team for the overall coordination of this work. This team comprised representatives from the Department of Safety and Liaison, Sulenkama Police Station, Sulenkama CPF, Caba ward committee and Caba traditional leadership.
We believe that it is when we work together that we can be able to ensure that we claim back this village from the hands of criminals.
As we celebrate Women’s Month, we have an obligation to embark on initiatives that seek to deal with the plight of women and children, especially in the rural areas. We know that rural women and children, especially in the eastern half of our province are now subjected to human trafficking, which has become predominant.
We believe that the intervention that we are launching today will contribute significantly in:
* the provision of a safe and secure environment through having vibrant community policing structures
* capacitating communities to deal with crime
* ensuring that there are good police and community relations
* making the provincial government’s rural development pilot project in the Mhlontlo Municipality a success.
Our main purpose is:
* to make sure that each and every small village enjoys a right to protection and secure environment through creating strategies that seek to change crime causing conditions
* to allow the villages as small as they are to work together to solve problems of crime and reduce fears of crime
* to improve the quality of life through committee members’ visibility
* to mobilise communities against crime.
Our objectives are to:
* promote proactiveness in the fight against crime
* ensure the active involvement and participation of youth and community at large in crime prevention initiatives
* promote neighbourhood watch.
As the Department of Safety and Liaison, we will constantly monitor your activities to ensure that we emerge with effective rural safety plans together with the necessary resources.
In conclusion, I would like to once more express my gratitude for your immediate response to government’s call for the establishment of these structures.
I strongly believe that working together we can defeat crime and provide a crime-free environment to our rural communities.
I thank you.
Enquiries:
Ncedo Kumbaca
Tel: 043 604 7584
E-mail: nossy.mzini@dot.ecprov.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Transport, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
6 August 2009
