T Mhlahlo: Eastern Cape Community Police Forum anniversary

20 September 2007

In the past 11 years, we have managed to lay a solid foundation for
co-operation between our law enforcement agencies and our people in pursuit of
peace and stability in our society.

Today we look with pride at the footsteps that we have made collectively
towards realisation of the aspirations of our people, which are highlighted in
the Freedom Charter that the "People Shall Govern" and that "There shall be
safety and security for all".

I would like to commend all those, who have participated in the Community
Police Forums (CPF) since their inception in 1996. This celebration takes place
in the month of September, which has been dedicated to remember Steve Bantu
Biko, one of our leaders who died at the hands of apartheid security forces 30
years ago. That shows the long and challenging road that we have collectively
traversed to build a police service that respects the human rights of all
citizens, irrespective of race, gender, religion etc.

As the nation commemorates the death of this gallant liberation fighter, we
can pay tribute to Biko by encouraging all those, who have information about
the disappearance and subsequent killing of political activists in the Eastern
Cape, to come forward and assist the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in
its investigation.

This call is further extended to people, who are still serving in the South
African Police Services (SAPS), South African National Defence Force (SANDF)
and other law enforcement agencies that support our democracy, to ensure that
we close this painful chapter and pave way for lasting peace and reconciliation
in our country.

I believe that we can further pay tribute to all those, who died at the
hands of security forces, through recommitting ourselves to the transformation
of the police from "agents of oppression" to "servants of the people".
Furthermore, we must continue to mobilise an army of volunteers, who selflessly
commit themselves to working with the police and promoting community-police
relations in the province.

Progress made

The SAPS Act of 1995 and the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa
provided the necessary space for CPFs to exercise their authority that has been
granted by the democratic state to ensure that SAPS members are accountable to
the communities they serve. Government's main objectives are to:

* deepen democracy, good governance and human rights
* consolidate people's safety and security.

Since the inception of CPFs, visible and decisive advances have been made in
building good working relations between the Police and Communities and further
to oversee the Police Service in relation to carrying out its mandate of
service delivery to its Communities.

The introduction of CPFs was further supported by a major policy and
paradigm shift in Policing and the Criminal Justice System in South Africa
through the development and the adoption of the National Crime Prevention
Strategy in 1996.

This strategy recognised that law enforcement was just one aspect of crime
prevention and all citizens of South Africa have a role in addressing
crime.

The Eastern Cape has adopted a Provincial Crime Prevention Strategy (PCPS),
which encourages a multi-agency collaboration and massive community
participation in dealing with crime.

I am happy with the activeness of CPFs in all 190 police stations in the
province, which will ensure effective implementation of the PCPS and enable our
communities to respond to the challenges that continue to confront our people
on the ground, especially the endemic violence faced by women and children.

Safety and Liaison Department Commitment:

Since last year, the Department of Safety and Liaison has allocated money,
R1 million, for training of CPFs members on how to effectively and efficiently
deal with crime, with a particular focus on the development of local crime
prevention plans.

This year, we have doubled this allocation to R2 million in an effort to
reposition CPFs to respond promptly to the new social crime prevention
strategies.

Strategic tasks for the second decade of CPFs:

We have observed with dismay that there are still certain elements within
the SAPS, which are not supporting our transformation project. This
transformation process is further frustrated by lack of resources for CPFs to
undertake their tasks. Despite these challenges, CPF members have always
demonstrated a great zeal to ensure that SAPS members are accountable to the
people.

As we march together in this second decade of community policing, we are
further charged with a responsibility to ensure that:

* there is promotion of moral regeneration, ubuntu and restoration of
community values through a multi-agency collaboration
* CPFs are integrated into the work of all Criminal Justice System Departments
to enhance the forums' oversight role
* CPFs are at the fore-front of the fight against the abuse of women and
children, guided by the PCPS and resolutions of the Provincial Summit to Stop
Violence Against Women and Children, which we held in 2005
* there is extensive mobilisation of young people to participate in crime
prevention programmes in line with the resolutions that we have collectively
adopted at the Provincial Youth Summit Against Crime for Peace in 2006.

School Safety

I am convinced that the resolutions adopted at the Provincial School Safety
Summit last month, pose a challenge to CPFs to provide a solution to the
prevailing challenge of violence in our schools and restore the culture of
learning and teaching.

I expect CPFs to take lead in the establishment of School Safety Committees,
especially in the first 40 schools that have been identified here in the King
Sabata Dalindyebo, Buffalo City, Umzimvubu and Nelson Mandela Metro
municipalities.

We must lead a massive campaign, where we will go out and search for stolen
school property together with members of the SAPS.

Mass mobilisation against crime for 2010

The PCPS lays a fertile ground for crime prevention initiatives in the build
up towards the 2010 Federation International Football Association World Cup and
CPFs are expect to assist in mobilising 5 000 volunteers to provide security
during the tournament.

The department is currently engaged in discussions with the Department of
Labour and the Security Sector Education and Training Authority (Seta) for this
project.

Further details about this project will be given at the Provincial Safety
and Security Summit for 2010 that we are going to host in Port Elizabeth on 1
and 2 November 2007.

In conclusion, I strongly believe that together we can make the necessary
difference in this province and ensure we create conducive conditions for peace
and prosperity.

I thank you.

Issued by: Department of Safety, Liaison, Roads and Transport, Eastern Cape
Provincial Government
20 September 2007