Commissioner Mzwandile Petros
Director Robbie Roberts
Senior South African Police Service (SAPS) Officers
Alderman Gisela Jesperson
Councillor Stuart Pringle
Helderberg Chamber of Commerce
Helderberg Crime Watch
Members of the community
I want to thank the Helderberg Crime Watch for inviting me to address the business fraternity and the Helderberg community on important issues of crime in the Western Cape.
The release of the much awaited crime statistics by the national Minister of Police, Nathi Mthethwa, was most welcomed. The break down of the statistics pertinently emphasised the many challenges that communities in this country face.
Whilst the provincial government spoke out on the way in which the national statistics were made public, I informed the, then acting police commissioner, Tim Williams, about the possible manipulation of crime statistics at the Paarl police stations. Whilst the higher figures in various categories reflect the increasing threats to our country, it is the bitter dividends of increased criminal activities that enhance the disintegration of communities and weaken the confidence by investors.
For the period April 2008 to March 2009, the statistics for the Western Cape show a decrease in murder (-23,9%), attempted murder (-11,8%), common robbery (-9,5%).
However, increases in robbery at business premises (+.6%), robbery at residential premises (+2.4%) and commercial crime (+.2%) and drug related crime (+.6%) is alarming and unacceptable.
In the line of the approaching 2010 Soccer World Cup Tournament, coupled with the positive expectations of a huge influx of foreign visitors and millions in revenue being generated this statistics bode nothing well for all of us.
This, while the SAGoodNews website states that: "The hosting of the 2010 Soccer World Cup will have a huge economic impact …that the event will lead to direct expenditure of R12,7 billion and will contribute R21,3 billion to gross domestic product (GDP). It will also generate the equivalent of 159 000 annual jobs and an additional R7,2 billion will be paid to the Government in taxes.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Whilst the 2010 soccer tournament will improve the image of South Africa overseas, crime has the single most demeaning capacity to tarnish this image, cancel out most of the economic spin-offs and diminish the opportunities for our citizens.
As the Minister for Community Safety in the Western Cape, I have to ensure that every citizen in the province's right to work, play and live in a safe environment is assured and protected.
According my constitutional mandate, I will continue to monitor police conduct; oversee the effectiveness and efficiency of the police service, including receiving reports on the police service; promote good relations between the police and the community; assess the effectiveness of visible policing; and liaise with the Cabinet member responsible for policing with respect to crime and policing in the province.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Crime is still a burning issue and will be a fiery challenge long after the 2010 soccer tournament. Crime is the main thief that robs communities of their spirit and it proceeds to reduce the pioneering work and the legacy of the Helderberg's forefathers to a zero balance.
The Western Cape is not escaping crime's evil deeds as the higher crime statistics demonstrate that especially organised crime are adapting their plans in response to their "business" opportunities.
Criminals sow fear and uncertainty amongst business and citizens. Not even the global economic downturn can abate their thirst for evil acts.
This is not good for securing investments.
Ladies and gentlemen,
I am not here to massage the crime statistics of the Western Cape, but close scrutiny of the latest crime statistics for the various towns in the Helderberg, show that certain crimes present huge threats and challenges to law enforcement here as well.
I am concerned about the high crime statistics for the Strand area it has the highest incidences of nearly all the categories ranging from contact crime, drug-related crime to commercial crime. Minister, please see attached crime stats for Strand, Somerset West, Macassar, Gordon's Bay and Lwandle. The Strand has the highest crime rate by far in the Helderberg Area.)
Provincial Police will have to tell us the exact reasons behind these numbers as well as what is being done to effectively bring crime down. My questions to you as business are: How will you react to these crime statistics and what is your individual contribution towards crime fighting in the Helderberg?
I don’t have all the answers, but what I know is that crime cannot be fought alone by the police or the Department of Community Safety.
I also know that a safer province will generate greater confidence and in turn will mean increased and much needed investments. To achieve this, we need strong and sustainable partnerships with business.
The solution in crime fighting lies in a combined effort of government departments, the SAPS and the community, which include business and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), schools, neighbourhood watches and community policing forums, which are proving successful.
But, if the police are not doing their work, I want to hear from you.
If the police do not attend to your concerns in an effective manner, then I want to hear from you. Business must come to and stay at the party.
I want to congratulate the Helderberg Crime Watch (HCW) who, as a community-driven initiative, addresses crime in a certain wards in Somerset West. We definitely need more of these initiatives in the Helderberg. The well-known saying goes: Charity begins at home.
But, I have two major concerns, pleads:
Firstly, improved assistance by business to the police must also and always incorporate the poorer communities in the Helderberg, because it is mostly the poor that are hardest hit by crime. Crime usually robs these victims of their only livelihood, dignity and future.
The Helderberg need the same effective anti-crime structures that exist in the more affluent areas, in the less affluent communities. The end goal has to be that a resident from Lwandle will experience the same feeling of safety as a resident from Parel Valley.
In Cape Town, crime was reduced by a considerable margin through effective programmes like the central improvement district (CID). SAPS, Metro police CID and traffic worked together to great success. Clamping down on minor crimes the occurrence of bigger crimes has been reduced.
I am of a strong believer that education is one of our strongest weapons against crime. You will recognise the saying: If you give someone a fish, you will feed him for a day. But if you show him how to fish, you will give him food for a lifetime.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Effective crime prevention is economically speaking cheaper in the long run, because it saves community from the loss of hard earned capital, valuable and sentimental assets, as well as valuable human capital.
Educating our youth is our biggest investment, but changing perceptions on crime and sensitising people in living safely, remains a huge challenge. The police, you as business, the community, can only work that harder in our fight against crime. Ladies and Gentlemen, we have to go back to the drawing board and start to work smarter.
In ending:
Though it may seem that crime threatens to paralyse your defences, you have to lift our spirit, by actively and strategically counter crime as an integrated team. Business must make crime prevention their business and help to rekindle the flame of hope in their communities.
It is a business practice that you acquaint yourself with the weak as well as the strong points of your competitor. Crime is that competitor. I want to encourage Business to persevere in this fight where the good defeats all evil, where the gallantry of good men and women still prevails and our faith in a better Western Cape, a safer South Africa withstands the tests of time.
I thank you.
Julian Jansen
Media Liaison Officer
Tel: 021 483 3873
Fax: 021 483 3874
Cell: 082 726 9334
