Honoured guests
The Mayors, Ms Judy Mouton and Mr. Patrick Bok
Members of different provincial departments
Members of Matzikama and Cederberg
Rev. Prins and other church leaders
Principals of schools
Members from the business fraternity
I would like to thank the committee for inviting me as the minister of Community Safety to address the Crime Summit today on the serious issues of crime. It is also a great honour and privilege to share with you, as the major role players in the communities of Matzikama and Cederberg, some ideas on this burning issue that confronts our province and our country.
In a policing career spanning more than 25 years I have gained extensive experience in crime fighting. During this time I have seen the devastating effects of violence and contact crime on the communities and especially families all too often.
Two months ago, as I entered the chair as provincial minister, I spoke out on corruption within the Western Cape police force, specifically on the manipulation of crime statistics at various police stations in the Western Cape. The truth is that in order to turn the tide of crime in our province and communities we need to join forces to strong partnerships against crime. No law enforcement agency can successfully and effectively fight crime without the support and help of the community. Therefore any action against crime needs to be a coordinated effort by the police together with the community.
Dames en here, ek het met ‘n blye hart verneem dat verskeie gemeenskapsorganisasies in die Matzikama en Cederberg-gebiede al verskeie werkswinkels gehou het om veral die oorsake van misdaad in hierdie gebied te identifiseer. Dit sê vir ons dat hierdie gemeenskappe uiters besorg is oor misdaad en daar ernstig en met groot ywer na die wortel van dié kwaad gesoek word.
Mettertyd behoort gemeenskappe begin te verstaan dat goed georganiseerde en kollektiewe aksies suksesse kán bewerkstellig. ‘n Organiseerder van vandag se verrigtinge, Mnr. Randall Swarts, het aan my kantoor geskryf dat misdaad in die Matzikama en die Cederberg-gebied “onuithoudbaar” geword het. Ek het hierdie hulproep gehoor. Maar, geagte vriende, dit is u hulproep ook, want misdaad kan ‘n gemeenskap se denke só verlam dat mense nie eens hul daaglikse take kan verrig, sónder om aan die donker en duiwelse dimensies van misdaad te dink nie. Ja, die misdaadvrese het die vermoë om die mense van die Matzikama en Cederberg in ‘n greep van magteloosheid te hou. Sommige van u het miskien al gewonder of u ooit iets aan dié oormag kan doen en of u beskeie bydrae tog enigsins sal baat.
Ladies and gentlemen, the hard fact which no one can ignore is that crime is our common enemy and presents an enormous challenge. Crime does not distinguish between rich and the poor, the colour of your skin, your affiliation to a political party, your gender, religious affiliation or education level. It is a common enemy affecting us equally. We worry so much about crime that it takes over our lives, we live in fear and it renders us helpless. We lose all hope and fail to reach one’s full potential.
What we have to do is face the harsh reality of crime, address our fears and then take strong action, by taking back our lives and not accepting crime as an inescapable reality. Our province has the unfortunately reputation as being one of the most violent provinces in our beautiful country.
Die misdaadprentjie lyk beslis baie donker indien ons na die hoë misdaadsyfersyfers van veral dwelmverwante misdaad kyk.
Dames en here, dit is skokkend dat die Wes-Kaap die hoogste syfers in moord, onsedelike aanrandings, dwelmverwante misdaad, aangemelde verkragtings, roof met verswarende omstandighede, huisrooftogte en motorkapings het. Dit terwyl die Wes-Kaap een van die rykste provinsies is en met die hoogste indiensnemingssyfers spog. Die moordsyfers hier is skrikwekkend hoog en veral dwelmverwante misdaad vier hoogty.
Aanrandingsgevalle, met die doel om ernstig te beseer, klim die hoogte in, terwyl inbrake uit motors en wonings kommerwekkend styg. Voeg daarby dat die provinsie met die hoogste voorkoms van fetale alkohol-sindroom in veral sy landelike gebiede sit en jy het ‘n resep vir totale katastrofes. Ons platteland word nou die stortplek vir dwelms en waarsku misdaadkenners dat die verskaffers van dwelms soos die tik-dwelm hul aktiwiteite uit stedelike gebiede verskuif namate die market daar versadig raak.
As ons net na die jongste misdaadsyfers hier in Matzikama en Cederberg kyk, moet ons beslis bekommerd raak. Volgens die SAPS se misdaadsyfers is dwelmverwante misdaad in Citrusdal (die hoogste in die streek), Clanwilliam en buurdorpe ‘n enorme uitdaging.
Geagte gaste, hiervoor moet ons ons koppe in skaamte laat hang.
Die wrede gesig van veral geweldsmisdaad in u woonbuurte behoort u te motiveer vir daadwerklike optrede. Hoeveel meer wil ons eers van die misdaadmonster sien vóór ons tot aksie oorgaan? Intussen beroof misdaad ons kinders van hul drome.
Dit terwyl die land spog met een van die beste en mees progressiewe grondwet in die wêreld, waar die kinders se regte tot opvoeding, vryheid, lewe, waardigheid, skuiling, basiese gesondheid en voeding verseker word. Daarom moet ons voorkomend optree en aktiwiteite vir ons jeug aanbied, anti-misdaadveldtogte hou, rehabilitasien programme vir dwelm-verslaafdes, huwelikverrykingsprogramme aanbied.
Ladies and gentlemen, I want to share with you my dream for this province.
I dream that this beautiful province of ours can again be like the biblical Promised Land, where its citizens and its children can enjoy the freedom of safety and security, where each of us can be happy and productive and generously contribute to its growth and prosperity.
But, ladies and gentlemen, our dreams of a crime free Western Cape could very easily turn into a nightmare if we do not strategically work together. I want to ask you: What is your dream for this beautiful area known for its acres of sheer natural beauty, salt of the earth people, rooibos tee and rugged mountains?
Communities, the business sector and the police services must join hands to maintain law and order in a sustainable way. Your partnerships need to be strong, healthy and transparent as the changing face of crime will constantly challenge it. Communities need to work together as a strong team and be wary of the saying that states that a chain is as strong as its weakest link.
The great British statesman, Sir Winston Churchill once said: “The nose of the bulldog has been slanted backward so it can breathe without letting go”. It means that when it comes to pursuing your dreams, you need to be like the bulldog. You must NEVER surrender your dreams.
Ladies and Gentlemen, you have to assume responsibility for the solution. We can never turn a blind eye to any criminal activities, even if the perpetrator is you brother, niece or friend. You need to report it to the police, immediately.
As minister of Community Safety I will see to it that the police do their job effectively and properly, that they maintain law and order. I will make sure that the police force is well trained, equipped and committed to fulfil all its tasks.
I am a strong believer that police officials should take pride in their job, work with passion and be proud to wear the blue uniform. My department is actively involved in various projects in the communities in the Western Cape. I strongly believe in the saying which states that “prevention is better than cure”.
I urge each of you to become actively involved in your local community police forums (CPFs) and neighbourhood watches. We need your time, input and skills. Don’t use flimsy excuses like you do not have the time, make time! Make time for your community. Don’t turn a blind eye. You can see the effects of crime on your community, be an active member of your community and become part of the solution. Crime is everyone’s business, even if you’re selling roosterkoek in the main street of Clanwilliam, or if you are a cleric, banker, farm worker, plumber, a cashier or even unemployed. If we do nothing about the challenge of crime and just complain we are nothing more than making ourselves victims of crime by staying apathetic.
Dames en here, ons durf nie toelaat dat ons kinders deel word van die groeiende slagoffersyfer oor ons onvermoë om skouer aan skouer in die loopgrawe teen misdaad te veg nie. Die misdaadmonster is nie selektief nie en vra nie aan watter party jy behoort voor hy sy wrede kloue in jou en jou familie slaan nie.
Baie gemeenskappe is in bloedige gevegte met bendes gewikkel oor die beheer van strate, afsetgebiede en hul kinders.
Ek herinner u aan die tragiese verhaal van Mev. Ellen Pakkies van Hanoverpark wat so deur haar 20 jarige tikverslaafde seun getreiter is dat sy die hartverskeurende besluit gemaak het om liewer, in ‘n toestand van desperaatheid haar eie seun dood te wurg. Watter ondersteuning was daar vir Mev. Pakkeis voor sy daardie besluit geneem he tom haar eun te verwurg? Tans dreig bendegeweld op die Kaapse Vlakte om gemeenskappe daar gevangene te hou, hulle teister skole en blokkeer toegang vir openbare padvervoer na gemeenskappe.
We cannot afford to have the extreme situation that Mrs Pakkies found herself in here in the Matzikama en Cederberg. We need champions for effective programs and community projects to tackle every form of crime in this region. Yes, there will be many obstacles and other challenges in your countless endeavours to rid your communities of crime, but it must never deter you from your aims and common goal. History will judge if you, the people of the Matzikama and the Cederberg, accepted the challenge of crime and acted in strength on it.
I want to charge you today to take full ownership of your dream of a peaceful and prosperous region, province and country and diligently work towards that goal.
Dames en here, u is die beskermhere (the champions) van ‘n veiliger en vreedsamer Matzikama en Cederberg-gemeenskappe. Deur in hoop en geloof op te tree en nie uit vrees nie, kan wonders verrig word.
Ek wil vra dat u vir die persoon langs vra: Die droom van ‘n vreedsame en veilige gemeenskap is in jou en my hande. Wat gaan ons daarmee maak?
Ek dank u
I thank you.
Enquiries:
Julian Jansen
Cell: 082 726 9334
Fax: 021 483 3874
Email: Jjansen@pgwc.gov.za
