Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Honourable Mr MJ Mahlangu, MP
Deputy Chairperson, Honourable Ms Thandi Memela, MP
Honourable Minister, Mr Nkosinathi Mthethwa, MP
Honourable Deputy Minister, Mr Fikile Mbalula, MP
Chairperson of the Select Committee on Security and Constitutional Development, Honourable Mr Tjhita Mofoke,MP
Honourable members
Honourable provincial delegates
National Deputy Commissioners
Provincial commissioners
Ladies and gentlemen
Chairperson, in supporting Budget Vote No.22, I wish to stress at the outset that the days for moaning, ivory tower and armchair criticism about high levels of crime instead of being actively involved in the fight against crime are over.
The mandate that our people bestowed on the African National Congress (ANC) on the 22nd April 2009 was for us to pursue their aspiration for security and comfort as envisaged by our revolutionary compass, i.e. the Freedom Charter adopted at Kliptown on the 26 July 1955.
The endorsement of our call, “Working together we can do better” through the ballot by an overwhelming majority of our people supported the notion of an active citizenry and not a passive citizenry. We are encouraged by the patriotism and selfless dedication of over 5 000 youth participating in our volunteer programme against crime as reservists. The enthusiasm of our youth, street committees and Community Policing Forums (CPFs) testifies that our people are yearning for effective, accountable and democratic policing.
It is in pursuit of this objective that we targeted seven municipalities for participation in our crime prevention through environmental design strategy pilot project that was launched in partnership with our Community Policing Forums in the past financial year. This initiative was part of our Letsema Campaign for the February Safety Month to eliminate crime hotspots by cutting overgrown vegetation along footpaths, demolishing disused houses used as hideouts to conduct criminal activities and installing of high mast lights.
We intend expanding the programme to all our municipalities for participation because our municipalities need to shed the notion that crime prevention is not their core business. They are critical partners that should be at the forefront of mobilising support within communities in order to intensify the fight against crime and its causes.
As the leading agency in the provincial joint operational and intelligence structure, supported by other government departments and stakeholders serving on the structure proudly demonstrated zero tolerance to criminal activities with the view to reduce the level of crime in and around the host city of Rustenburg during the FIFA Confederations games. Our crime prevention and traffic law enforcement operations were a resounding success with no major crime incidents reported during the games.
As a result of the support that we received from youth and Community Policing Forums in the Rustenburg area cluster, 216 people were arrested for various crimes and various suspected stolen properties, vehicles, illegal drugs, precious stones, firearms and ammunitions recovered.102 people were also issued with traffic fines for violation of road traffic regulations and undocumented foreigners arrested. We intend sustaining the onslaught against violent crime such as house robberies, business robberies, and vehicle/truck hijacking throughout the province until and beyond 2010.
We are strengthening our partnership with the provincial chapter of business against crime in the North West as they have embraced President Zuma’s clarion call to work together with government and our communities to advance the fight against the scourge of crime and its causes.
The automatic number plate recognition vehicle technology that the organisation had deployed during the FIFA Confederation Cup in support of our crime prevention and traffic law enforcement operations has assisted us in achieving the resounding success that we accomplished.
We value their partnership and realisation that fighting crime is not just the responsibility of the police but the responsibility of all citizens, our youth, our churches, faith based organisations, our traditional leaders, farmers, community based organisations, the non-governmental sector, stakeholders and all sections of our communities.
In line with our safety school programme, we have stepped up our collaborative efforts with the Department of Education and our respective school governing bodies for implementation of adopt a cop, little commissioner, operation naughty boy strategies to reclaim our schools from drug dealers that seek to destroy our valued future leaders, i.e. our children and our youth. This partnership is to be strengthened to ensure that there is no hole big enough for drug dealers to hide as we intensify our collaborative efforts to uproot them from our schools, our streets and our communities.
As part of our oversight, we will continue with our unannounced visits to police stations in order to check service delivery particularly at night and deal with challenges that are facing Community Policing Forums (CPFs) in our province so as to strengthen effective, accountable and democratic policing. Working together we can do more to ensure that our people enjoy the freedoms guaranteed by our constitution for peaceful and safe neighbourhoods that they deserve.
Ke a leboga.
Source: Department of Public Safety, North West Provincial Government
