MEC for Transport and Public Works, Mr Robin Carlisle
MEC for Social Development, Dr Ivan Meyer
MEC for Cultural Affairs and Sport, Mr Sakkie Jenner
DA Councillors
Senior Management for:
Province
City of Cape Town
SAPS
Provincial Traffic
Emergency Services
Families of uniform officers and public members
Today, the Department of Community Safety, together with major role players in Transport, Law Enforcement and Emergency Services come together to pay homage to fallen members in uniform as well as members of the public who, lost their lives by criminal incidents and road accidents.
Though these loved appreciated members are gone forever, they will never be forgotten.
Ladies and gentlemen,
This ceremony comes at the opportune time when all law enforcement agencies have experienced the lost of officers in the line of duty and therefore want to commemorate their fallen heroes.
But this ceremony also comes amidst an unacceptable killing spree by criminals on officers and innocent members of the public as well as a high death rate on our roads.
Though these losses are counted in the number of lives lost, the burden of decease are huge and in effect multiply in various costs.
- Traffic accidents cost South Africa nearly R43 million annually. Currently the national fatality figures are on 5248.
- In 2008 it was 9368, and in 2007 it was 12001 fatalities.
- Road fatalities in the Western Cape averages 1 500. It is currently at 495. In 2008 it was 1 053 and in 2007 it was 1 571.
- In the Western Cape between April 2008 to March 2009, 2 346 persons were murdered.
- According to the recently released crime statistics, an average of 2 647 murders were committed over the last six (6) years! The National murder rate for the same period is 18 833!
- Since December 2008, seven (7) Western Cape police officers were killed during service (according SAPS info 26/8/09).
- Between 1999 and 2009, 36 traffic officers died during service.
Law enforcement members have paid the highest price in defending one specific constitutional right of our citizens, namely to live, work and play in a safer society.
Through their deaths officers have symbolically stated that the safety of all citizens is not negotiable and that in protecting that right, they are prepared to pay the highest price.
But I want to state this emphatically: One life lost is one too many.
Though many of these fallen heroes and heroines have lost their lives as the result of many criminal acts, the fight against crime, is never lost.
Ladies and gentlemen,
We also commemorate the lives of many ordinary citizens who have perished, most of them by callous acts of crime or by road accidents.
When someone is suddenly taken away by death, it impacts not only on the immediate family, but the loss reverberate into the deceased’s circle of friends, place of work as well as the community.
Though the further contribution of productive persons is stolen by death, the fine legacy of the fallen remains and can act as a motivation to many.
But a valuable life sacrificed in protecting our society and constitution is also a sacrifice made by the immediate family as a breadwinner is permanently taken from them. This loss is felt by them for years to come.
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is however important to note that though the death of a person is a crisis point in a household, organization and the affected community it has the potential to bring certain changes to the benefit of the group.
At this cross road, death may motivate people to rethink their habits and sometimes altering their ways to the better.
Ladies and gentlemen,
At the death of a loved one, we continue our lives especially in faith.
But faith exhibited is not good enough.
To proceed in faith, but to do nothing to commemorate the life of the deceased, nullifies the potential benefits any death can have.
We can fill those “empty spaces” with productive and meaningful deeds. Some, as a meaning of closure, plant a peace garden, other write poems, some may decide to join the police, traffic or emergency services, while others may start a driving school.
Today, we also need to ask the question:
What can we learn and use from the death of a fallen uniform member or a citizen? OR What can we make of his or her work or the energy of that dream that was being pursued?
Ladies and gentlemen,
Though we will never get accustomed to death, we must grow accustomed to the fact that the work done and the fertile ideas of the fallen should live on in those staying behind.
Let us be more caring to the bereaved, but also most caring to our fellow officers and citizens while we still can.
Let us endeavour to get the maximum output from all the right opportunities.
Employers must recommit themselves to improve the working conditions of its employees.
I want to thank and encourage the families of all serving law enforcement officers to continue with their support, in love and empathy.
We need motivated officers on our roads, in our streets and communities, but the officers tend to be more motivated if their households and families stand firmly behind them.
I want to thank every household for the sacrifices made through the work and duty of a breadwinning family member.
The government is continuously busy in monitoring and identifying ways in improving the working conditions of all its Law Enforcing Officials.
Challenges of raising the standards across the board and erasing the past inequalities still remain and will be addressed with vigour and determination.
The Department of Community Safety have partnered with the Department of Transport and Public Works through a joint Safely Home Campaign, to secure safer roads for all our road users in the Province.
The December holidays are upon us and integrated plans are ready to keep our communities and our roads safe.
We will not compromise the safety of our officers in our pursuance of keeping our people of the Western Cape safe.
Let us all rededicate our lives and commit ourselves to take up the many challenges that lie before us in making this Province a safer place for all its citizens.
Ladies and gentlemen, let us go and arrive, safely home!
I thank you
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