Programme Director,
HoD and Provincial Commissioner,
Senior Managers from the Office of the Honourable Premier, the department and SAPS,
Our esteemed guests of honour,
Representative of various media houses,
Ladies and gentlemen.
Programme Director, we are indeed honoured and humbled by the presence of representatives from different Media Houses this morning. Journalists are very important people in our society in terms of educating and passing information to the general populace.
Hence we have decided to place the media in the forefront as we prepare for the Hallmark Provincial Crime Prevention Summit scheduled for 11 – 12 April 2013 at Phillip Saunders (Thursday and Friday). People in South Africa and in particular this Province are very concerned and worried about the scourge of crime prevailing in our communities.
The summit is intended to provide the much needed platform so that Free Staters can deliberate and adopt appropriate strategies to curb crime. 58 years ago our forebears regarded the issue of security to be very crucial when they crafted the Freedom Charter at the Congress of People in Kliptown and dedicated two clauses in this regard, and I quote:
- There shall be work and security
- There shall be houses, security and comfort.
In their wisdom these leaders understood that the issue of security is not an isolated matter, but is integral to other matters that form the livelihood of the nation. Following from the Freedom Charter, our Pledge in the 2009 African National Congress (ANC) Manifesto to the people of this country identified 5 key priorities in these five years.
These are:
- the fight against crime and corruption
- creation of decent work and Sustainable Livelihoods
- education
- health
- rural development, food security and land reform.
It is against this backdrop that the President of the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency President Jacob Zuma said when he addressed the nation on 14 February 2013:
“[the] brutality and cruelty meted out to defenceless women is unacceptable and has no place in our country… (we therefore urge for) the campaign of fighting violence against women to be an everyday campaign.”
Following from the President, the Premier of the Free State, Honourable Ace Magashule expressed great concern about the increasing problem with gangs and gang related activities, including drug abuse in certain parts of the province.
Further on, the premier promised that:
“Through the Crime Prevention Summit, [we will identify] …specific sector strategies to address root causes of crime and to formalize the multi-agency approach that will join the forces of all spheres of government.”
During our Budget Speech at Ventersburg on 25 March 2013, we consolidated both the President and Premier’s injunctions by announcing that we are going to hold the Provincial Crime Prevention Summit on 11 to 12 April 2013.
Indeed the summit is the actualisation of our vision and that of our forebears… for a safe and secure society… Free from crime!
The outcome of this summit is to develop the Provincial Crime Prevention Strategy which will formalise the multi-agency approach and align the National Crime Prevention Strategy to our unique crime situation and challenges.
The summit must clarify the roles and responsibilities of all role players (including community structures and members. Resources will have to be re-prioritised and planning integrated (the concept of Fusion as articulated by the Provincial Commissioner).
One other area which we must touch on is how do we strengthen the community policing structures in the province and intervene where there are problems.
Indeed as the Premier has indicated in the State of the Province Address:
“Our approach to the fight against crime is premised on the community policing philosophy… criminals stay within [our] communities.”
We request the Media to assist us in soliciting ideas from members of the public, what can we do as a united front to prevent and fight crime. We regard the media to be constructive partners in our crusade to fight crime and corruption. We must respond appropriately to pockets of violent crime mostly directed to women, children, persons with disabilities, elderly people etc.
To put the summit in further perspective: It is important to note that whilst crimes such as assault (GBH), common robbery, theft of motor vehicles etc decreased, we are greatly worried that crimes such as sexual offences, attempted murder, aggravated robbery, malicious damage to property, stock-theft etc., increased during 2011/12 reporting year.
It is for this reason that we are convening this important summit. We have invited various stakeholders with the hope that they will provide wisdom to the development of a comprehensive strategy to prevent and fight all forms of crime.
Together, we can do more in the fight against crime and corruption. We request the media to run with the campaign against crime and corruption.
We thank you!
