Minister of Police, Mr Nathi Mthethwa,
Executive Mayor of Vhembe District Municipality, Cllr Tshitereke Matibe,
Mayor of Musina Local Municipality, Cllr Carol Phiri,
Generals and Commissioned officers from the South African Police Service Headquarters,
Acting Head of Department of Safety, Security and Liaison, Me Nchabeng Tsebe,
Provincial Commissioner of SAPS Limpopo, Lt-Gen T.S Mpembe,
Chairperson of the Provincial CPF Board, Mr Mafune,
Representatives of the Media,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Comrades and Friends.
Good Morning.
It is always an honour to play host to the Minister on his tours of the province in the discharge of his mandate on the policing function of the democratic government. I must say that all the visits of the Minister to our province have been quite distinguished in the past, but nothing comes closer to this encounter which coincides with a very important calendar month in our country – the women’s month – that time of the year in our country when we reflect on the successes and challenges faced by women in the fight against gender based oppression and family violence.
Limpopo is today truly blessed and honoured to have you honorable Minister and your entourage as guests to the province known for peace and beauty of the environment and the people.
Our Minister is in the province on a dual mission:
- Firstly it is to meet with members of the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit in the province. This has already happened before we came to this ground.
- Secondly it is to engage in a public participation programme with the community of Musina.
With the escalation of family violence related crimes in our communities, you will all agree that the significance and centrality of the FCS Units has become very crucial in the prevention and fight against these crimes. FCS units are manned by well trained, well-resourced and passionate members of SAPS who are willing and most ready to assist any member of the community who fall victim to family violence, sexual offences and child abuse.
The services of FCS units are at your doorstep, they are for free! When you are under attack don’t hesitate to call them. As government we are confident that the route we have chosen in establishing these units will have a long lasting impact in the reduction of family violence, sexual offences and child abuse.
Speaking ahead of Women’s Day on 9 August 2012 the Minister of Women, Children and People With Disabilities, Lulu Xingwana, had this to say: “As government, we are painfully aware that women’s dependence on husbands, fathers, partners and family members has increased women’s vulnerability to domestic violence, rape, incest, abuse and murder. With regard to violence against women, we remain concerned that the combined figures of sexual offences, including rape and indecent assault, indicate an upward trend of 2, 1% in 2010/11 compared to 2009/10. Cases of murder of women increased by 5, 6% and sexual offences against children increased by 2, 6% during this period.”
Minister Xingwana also had the following to say: “We are also confident that the strengthening of law enforcement measures, particularly the re-establishment of Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) units within the SAPS will assist in turning the tide against these crimes. As government, we are taking the war against gender-based violence to a higher level.”
The statistics I have quoted are only tip of an iceberg at a national level; the provincial figures could even be much worse compared this. The Minister of Police has upon arrival in the province met the FCS Unit with the aim of gaining first hand exposure to the challenges this crucial Unit is facing on a daily basis as they execute their duties. Such exposure will obviously inform any possible government intervention to make the Unit even more effective and efficient.
The second leg of the Minister’s visit to the province is to participate in a Public Participation Programme with the community of Musina. This is part of the Minister’s national programme to visit crime flash points throughout the country to engage with communities who have to bear the brunt of escalations of criminal incidents.
With the Minister in our midst, the communities of Musina and all of us have the opportunity to table our concerns and proposals of how the province can roll back and eventually defeat the tide of crime and corruption. Let us avail ourselves to the opportunity presented to us to play our role in the relentless fight against crime and corruption.
This brings me to the presentation of the Minister of Police, Mr Nathi Mthethwa:
- Born 23 January 1967
- Became Minister of Police of the Republic of South Africa since 11 May 2009
- He is a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the African National Congress (ANC)
- Member of the ANC National Working Committee
- Active Member of King Dingiswayo branch of the ANC in Kwa-Zulu/Natal
- Minister Mthethwa holds a Diploma in Community Development from the University of Natal; Mining Engineering Certificate from the University of Johannesburg, and a Certificate in Communications and Leadership from Rhodes University.
- Minister Mthethwa’s activism first found expression at the tender age of 15 years through the Klaarwater Youth Organisation in KZN
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He has also served in the National Executive of the African National Congress Youth League from (1990-1992)
In 2008 he was the Chief Whip of the ANC in the National Assembly - He has been Minister of Police of the Republic of South Africa since 25 September 2008.
Ladies and gentlemen, comrades and friends I present to you the Minister of Police of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Nathi Mthethwa.
Thank you.
