Programme Director,
Deputy National Commissioner, Lt General Sitole,
Head: FCS Major General Botsheleng,
All members of the South African Police Service,
Ladies and gentlemen.
A very good morning to each and every one of you present here today. Let me start off by taking this opportunity to thank you for being part of this historic conference.
Since the formation of the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Investigations (FCS) Unit, this is the first time that we are gathered in this fashion to address operational issues affecting the unit, celebrate the successes achieved to date and develop a new strategy for the Unit going forward.
It is also an opportunity to address issues affecting the performance of the Unit countrywide, the root causes of not achieving the set targets for the different dimensions (detection rate, trial and conviction rate).
I am certain that the session will empower Provincial Commanders and Unit Commanders by imparting knowledge and skills to ensure quality service delivery and excellence in the execution of their duties.
The timing of this conference is excellent as it coincides with a very important time in our calendar. It is August, it is women's month and as Advocate Pertunia Seabi put it, and I quote: "It is a month where we are reminded of our inner strength and abilities, the courage and passion to fight against injustice, that we should emulate those legendary women that undertook the march against unfair discrimination and repression”.
But it is also a time when we, women police officers who are mothers especially, are once again reminded of the hardships faced by women and children. Today, we unfortunately still see the rights of women being violated in the most brutal and pitiless manner. These terrible crimes against women and children are a frequent occurrence. It is worrisome. We have even exhausted adjectives to describe these types of crimes.
Recently, we have witnessed shocking reports about the murder of our children. Three-year-old Luke Tibbetts was shot in the head in Westbury and four-year-old Taegrin Morris died after being dragged behind a hijacked vehicle.
There have been other incidents in this Province of Mpumalanga. A three-year old boy was found with body parts missing in Siyabuswa Township. Our investigation is at an advanced stage and we expect arrests soon.
Also, in Fernie village near Ermelo, we have a young child who has gone missing. We are still investigating. In Pongola, KZN, a four year old was found with body parts missing. A person has been arrested, bail denied and he still in custody.
Also last week, we heard of a woman who was killed by a mob who was alleging that she was a witch. The woman was unfortunately mentally disturbed. I can carry on and on but it is clear that these incidents are a stark reminder of some of the challenges that lies ahead for all of us.
We can also imagine the trauma the victims have to face after being raped, belittled and abused, the excruciating pain they have to endure when they go through horrific experiences. We have been reminded of how criminals have no regard whatsoever for the lives of young children. It is painful for us as police officers, for us as a society and devastating for the families affected.
I am certain that as you deliberate on these issues over the coming days, you will be brutally honest about the challenges we face as a country, as the SAPS and as the FCS. We need to make tough decisions to proactively respond to crimes affecting women and children.
Since the re-establishment of these FCS units four years ago, there were a combined 36 225 year imprisonments and 695 life imprisonments. But we can still do more though to protect the interests of young women who are the leaders of tomorrow.
I believe that you are here because of your determination to improve our overall performance and to win the battle against crime. We know there are far too many, in fact, thousands of vulnerable members of society who remain victims of such crimes. I trust that at the end of this conference, you will leave even more determined to get more of these criminals behind bars.
Women and men in blue, I understand the daunting tasks and challenges that you face daily in the fight against the ruthless criminals in our communities, who remain the enemy of all of us. FCS-related crimes require specialised skills and experience. If we are to save our children from abuse and even death at the hands of criminals who take advantage of them, our skills have to be sharpened at all times to stay ahead of them.
As we are gathered here today, we are reminded that nothing stops a person who desires to achieve. Every obstacle is simply a course to develop his or her achievement ‘muscles’. What drives this person is the need to accomplish. It is time for us all to cheer the doer, the achiever, the one who understands that he who gives up, is defeated, but he who perseveres and stays the course, become victorious.
I'm very much in favour of gatherings of this nature but if we do not take what we have learned here by doing thorough investigations, arresting suspects and ensuring convictions, then it would have been all in vain. That is why I was pleased when I heard that your programme this week includes going out there with local police officers to arrest wanted sexual offences suspects.
Ladies and gentlemen, I wish you success in your endeavours to exchange knowledge and information on dealing with crimes against women, children and vulnerable groups in society. Let this conference be an interactive platform for information-sharing between different experts in the criminal justice system and other law enforcement agencies.
Share best practices in order to enhance performance in dealing with this scourge of criminal activity which preys on the vulnerable. I am certain that you will leave this conference motivated and informed with refined objectives that will see us build not only a better SAPS, but also an improved response to the challenges we face.
I thank you!
Media enquiries:
Lieutenant General SM Makgale
Head: Corporate Communication
Cell: 082 781 8863
Tel: 012 393 2940/2630
E-mail: solomon.makgale@saps.gov.za
