The Minister of Police, Mr Nathi Mthethwa
Deputy Minister of Police, Ms Sotyu
Deputy National Commissioners,
Provincial and Divisional Commissioners present
The Presidents of the Labour unions POPCRU and SAPU
Cape Town Justice Cluster Heads
CPF National Chairperson and representatives
The serving and former Polmusca Presidents
All senior officers present
Sponsors Choristers, bands and conductors
Guest adjudicators Colleagues, ladies and gentlemen
It is a great honour to address you on the first day of competition of the musical festivities that is Police Music and Cultural Association (POLMUSCA).
The fair city of Cape Town is decidedly blue this long weekend, swarming with police officials of all ranks from all four corners of the country.
Over the past 24 hours we as the Department of Police have been very busy in Cape Town. Yesterday morning the Minister, the Honorable Mr Mthethwa, presented the 2011/12 crime statistics at a press conference in Parliament. I am pleased to say that we can view the latest crime statistics with pride - the figures speak to a motivated workforce, committed to ensuring that the people of South Africa are and feel safe.
Fortunately, we were pleased to report that all categories of contact crimes decreased over the reporting year. This is very important, for contact crimes, as the name implies means that there has been some form of physical and violent contact between perpetrator and victim. Although the news in general, in terms of the latest crime statistics, is positive and encouraging, we acknowledge that there is a lot of hard work ahead of us.
In particular, we will focus on the "trio crimes", as these are the crimes which affect individuals the most - car hijackings, house robberies and business robberies. There was a downward trend in both carjackings (-11.9%) and house robberies (-1.9%) but an increase in business robberies and every endeavour will be made to make further inroads in addressing these - and other - crime trends.
Well done to all our employees and thank you for the many, many sacrifices you have made and will undoubtedly make as we go forward. If I speak of sacrifices, it would be remiss of me not to pause and reflect on the men and women of the SAPS who have made that ultimate sacrifice - those who have given their lives to protect the people of South Africa. Let us, every day, pause to remember them and give thanks for their selfless sacrifice.
Last night at the Athlone Stadium we were treated to the splendor of a truly magnificent opening ceremony of the 20th National Polmusca Unity Festival. Having been in office as National Commissioner for just over 100 days, this is my first Polmusca Festival, but I can say with certainty that it definitely won't be my last!
To achieve 20 years of excellence is, in itself, a cause for celebration. Polmusca can no longer be referred to as a growing entity, but rather as a mature entity. It has matured in that it has reached a standard where it can compete with any external choral music festival; it has transformed to being more of a community project than a police-only project; and it also includes community outreach programs dependent on crime analysis patterns. This has entailed our band members visiting identified areas in and around Cape Town where they interact with the local communities.
This is proof positive that Polmusca is not just a "nice to have" project, but also a valuable tool for us to use to connect positively with all communities. After all, the love of music is something that we all share and can unite us in a way that few spoken words can.
I personally was very surprised to learn that in our midst, in the South African Police Service, we have artists with such inspiring talent. I am sure that most community members have been just as pleasantly surprised to encounter men and women in the blue uniform producing beautiful music and song on the street corners and shopping malls in Cape Town. Musicality is a God given gift, and that police officers share this gift to unite communities and prevent crime is truly admirable.
The vibrant atmosphere that embraces this Polmusca Unity Festival captures the spirit in which the persons responsible for its creation intended the festival to be held. We must acknowledge and pay tribute to the pioneers who recognised the power of music and song as a strategic tool to support crime prevention initiatives and to provide joy to our own workforce and to the community.
Three people from within our Organisation who have played pivotal roles in leading Polmusca with dignity and integrity are the two previous Presidents, retired Commissioner Willie Ngobeni and retired Commissioner Joseph Ngobeni, as well as Major General Ntombenhle Vuma, the serving President.
It is our responsibility to encourage and nurture this unique and invaluable activity to forge better relations with our clients, the community, as well as to affirm our own cultural diversity. The reputation and image of the SAPS, which has taken a battering of late, can only benefit from this project, as it facilitates healing and promotes unity, harmony and camaraderie.
As we enter the last phase of the competition tomorrow, let us remember that this is not an event which labels certain groups as worthy and others as unworthy, but one which applauds and encourages enthusiasm and team spirit. I have encountered a spirit of togetherness over the past 24 hours which I truly appreciate. I wish you God speed for the rest of the competition.
