Programme Director
Deputy Minister of Police, Mr Fikile Mbalula
National Police Commissioner, Mr Bheki Cele
Deputy Police Commissioner, Ms Magda Stander
KZN Provincial Commissioner, Ms Betty Ngobeni
Divisional Commissioner, Mr Arno Lamoer
Divisional Commissioner, Ms Manokwe Nchwe
Parade Commander, Captain Rajoo Ellapen
All members of the Tactical Response Team
All South African Police Service (SAPS) senior officers present, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Community Policing Forum (CPF) Board Chairperson, Mr Jerome Sibisi, distinguished guests
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen
Today marks another key milestone in the history of the force. We are here in Chatsworth not merely to congratulate and parade the members of the Tactical Response Team (TRT), but to emphasise and strengthen our message to all South Africans of our commitment and enhancement in the fight against crime. The TRT will provide tactical support and serve as additional arsenal to the members of the force at the various police stations. The kind of advanced training they received enables them to become tactically insightful yet forcefully encounter and deal with any criminality.
These men and women in front of you are not just adding to the force numbers, but represent the future foundation upon which we will strengthen our force. Amongst others they possess advanced training in crowd controlling, intelligence-driven operations, air and sea operations, hostage stabilisation as well as advanced driving techniques. This is the new kind of force we are building and transforming. A force that will have no mercy on criminal activity but one filled with passion in protecting the citizens of country.
The leadership is immensely proud of these 130 graduates. When the Deputy Minister, the National Commissioner and I visited them at their training base in Limpopo two months ago, we had indicated that our goal was to have by 12 December 2009; five TRT members placed at various police stations in the metros as a starting point. We are proud to indicate to South Africans that we have exceeded our target and will now have a team of eight at each police station of these various metros!
One of the fundamental focuses for TRT is rural operations. We know that our history is characterised among others, by deliberate neglect of rural areas. The birth of democracy saw a shift in approach. Government has now placed the issue of rural development high on the agenda. This needed also to find concrete expression in our policing strategy and thus we began the process of locating this as a key focal area in our crime-fighting strategy. As we indicated before that going forward we needed to ensure that our programmes speak adequately to this important issue. This was informed by our observation that some crime syndicates operate in rural areas, harassing and undermining the safety of poor communities. Equally the increase in incidents of stock theft continued to draw and required our urgent attention.
The good news we would like to share today is that one of key focus of advanced training for the TRT members was precisely around rural operations. We are assured that the members are intent on dealing with criminals more aggressively around such areas. If criminals thought they could still use rural areas as a hide-out, then they better know that we are right there; tactically, forcefully and with vengeance. Programme Director, often times, a question of police criminality is posed within the circles of our society. We would like to emphasise that as the leadership of police, we have full trust in members of our force. We are of a view that any member joins the force because they are responding to a calling, which encompasses putting their country’s interest first above their own personal interests. The conditions under which they perform their duties may not be pleasant at times, yet they remain committed.
Accordingly, we note that there might be few elements within our force who do not uphold such principles and discipline. Our suspicions are that such members might have joined the force for ulterior motives. Well, if any such member is still within us, let them voluntarily mend their wicked ways or face the full might of the law. If there is such a member who may be found to be collaborating with criminals, we wish to ascertain our society that we will uproot and punish them. The leadership will not tolerate a "few rotten officers" to negatively portray our force as reckless and irresponsible. Neither is our force a playground where criminals can come and befriend our members. There should never, ever be a cordial relationship between our members and criminals. The feelings must never be mutual. The mere sight of someone committing crime should instil anger and disgust in a police officer’s mind.
Programme Director, we are certain that today’s parade represents our pride and evolution in the force. We are impressed with the quality that is on display here because we wanted to ensure that the days of attracting quantity in the Force are over. The force is not a retirement village. We expect fit and strong officers who are capable of chasing and apprehending criminals. We require a new kind of image from all our officers. The leadership of police will continue to ensure that our members are properly trained, as we believe it is a fundamental element to helping us win the war against crime. We need to continuously sharpen our ammunition and arsenals, both tactically and strategically. This sort of training will go beyond just arresting a criminal but includes competency in weapon-handling, urban and rural operations.
We view training as vital if we are to defeat this scourge of crime. We continue to invest in training not for our members to display their certificates on the walls, but to apply the knowledge and skills gathered in defeating criminals. After all it is only in proper application of skills that we can measure the impact our force has on crime, otherwise they become fruitless exercises. This parade could not have come at a better time. Our country is on the threshold as criminals have for some time been waging the war against innocent citizens. We believe that the tide against crime has turned that government is now taking control and having an upper hand. We do not base this assertion on ignorance on our part, but through examining the crime situation holistically.
In recent months there have been numerous incidents of crime that have been foiled by police, mainly the drug busts, cash- in-transit and car hijackings. All these successes were not just as a result of police acting swiftly, but through valuable contribution from communities. The tip-offs to police play a critical role in helping our Intelligence to follow some of the leads and eventual arrests some of these dangerous criminals. We therefore continue to appeal and thank our communities for being co-partners with us.
Programme Director, the TRT unit gives us more confidence in winning the fight against crime because it is also internationally benchmarked. Our collaboration the French Police Department (Gendamarine) has helped us gain first-hand insights into their model, which we believe has been effective. We remain confident that their expertise will stand the country in good stead in the fight against crime.
South Africans today can feel safer knowing that the Force's team has been strengthened with quality and not just quantity. To the commander and all the TRT members: you have demonstrated your determination, tenacity, dedication and willingness to serve your country during training. Now it is the moment to be counted. There is nothing that can derail you going forward. You are the shields of this nation protect, serve, empower and excel!
As the force we are in full swing and there is nothing that can stop us, neither the criminals nor their actions. We are in charge, and gaining new ground every day.
I thank you.
Issued by: South African Police Service
9 December 2009
Source: South African Police Service (http://www.saps.gov.za/)
