CEO of SABRIC, Ms Kalyani Pillay
Invited dignitaries and guests
Members of the news media
The South African Police Service (SAPS) congratulates the South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC) on this outstanding initiative to proactively educate our mutual clients on the risks attached to withdrawing and carrying large amounts of cash.
As the SAPS has a firm and flourishing partnership with SABRIC, we will be actively supporting them in this campaign which has appropriately been launched as the festive season draws ever-rapidly closer.
In just 10 days times, the SAPS will also be formally launching our annual festive season crime prevention campaign “Duty Calls”. Many of our Provincial Commissioners have already stepped up police visibility and launched crime prevention and combating operations aimed specifically at crime trends which rear their ugly heads at this time of the year. We will most certainly be working very closely with all our partners, including SABRIC, over this time when our communities are relaxing and thereby letting their guard down in terms of personal safety and security.
Unfortunately, as people relax, in certain communities the consumption of alcohol and drugs increases which results in an attendant increase in social contact crimes such as assault, sexual offences, domestic violence and even murder. We look to our partners, including community and religious leaders, to be ever vigilant and supportive in this regard and we also ask those who feel that they are at risk to reach out for help from the authorities or community-based organisations.
When the latest crime statistics were released a few weeks ago, I said the following:
“ We cannot over emphasize the importance of partnerships in our fight against crime. I am going to be meeting with community policing forums and many other policing partners as I believe that they have a key role to play going forward”.
I stand by that statement and fully intend to sustain the successful and thriving partnerships such as the one with SABRIC and revitalise others which may have floundered along the way.
You will have noted that in describing the relationship between SABRIC and SAPS, I use words such as flourishing, firm, successful and thriving. So, let me explain why I say so.
Cash-in-transit heists:
- Over the past four years there has been a 62,4% decrease in cash-in-transit heists;
- Over the past year there has been a 20,3% decrease from 182 to 145 incidents
Bank robberies:
- Over the past four years there has been a 93.1% decrease in bank robberies;
- Over the past year there has been an 80% decrease from 35 to just 7 incidents.
We note with great admiration and pride how the achievements of SABRIC are being recognised globally by other countries who seek to emulate this shining example. We recently hosted an International Conference for Women Police (IAWP) in which over 100 countries were represented.
The CEO of SABRIC, Ms Kalyani delivered an outstanding paper that left all delegates spellbound. A lot of inquiries and invitations are being received in this regard. As the SAPS we are also exploring how this successful case study can be transposed to other sectors with whom we collaborate.
I must at this point also take the opportunity to congratulate the banking industry for continuing to innovate and making it easier for consumers to carry less and less cash. All the diverse products and services introduced will significantly contribute towards understanding of the dangers of carrying too much cash and resultant exposure to potential criminality.
In conclusion ladies and gentlemen, that are the result from what we call a firm, flourishing, successful and thriving partnership. And we intend to keep it that way, including by fully supporting this worthy “Carrying Cash Safely” campaign.
