Today we are here to make a clarion call to all South Africans to unite in their diversity in pursuit of building safer communities, where there is peace, security and comfort. We need to accept the fact that “crime knows no colour, gender, age, political affiliation or religion.”
The scourge of crime continues to bedevil our young democracy and impacts severely on the quality of life of our people.
This activity forms part of our decisive action to curb crime by government through law enforcement agencies in partnership with communities in order to ensure that our country is able to realise its social and economic potential.
We believe that through music, we can intensify our campaigns against drug abuse, drug trafficking, gangsterism and violence that has been ravaging the Northern Areas for some time.
We strongly believe that our response, as a collective, should to be well-considered, effectively coordinated, comprehensive and sustainable in order to make the envisaged impact.
At the core of our response is, amongst others, the:
* promotion of moral regeneration and Ubuntu (humanity)
* restoration of family and community values
* assistance of people who have been in conflict with the law, particularly the youth, within the context of restorative justice. Hence today we have a choir from the Department of Correctional Services
* promotion of multi-agency collaboration against crime.
In order to achieve this, we must build a united front against crime and further engage in a process of extensive mobilization of our communities against crime as instructed by the President of South Africa, Mr Jacob Zuma. Organs of civil society, which include churches, sport bodies, youth structures, women’s organisations, business, community-based organisation and non-governmental organisation (NGOs), must be united in an effort to build the first line of defence, especially for the vulnerable groups in our society, which include women, children, the elderly and the physically challenged.
I would like to commend the contribution of local churches to this glittering event, which clearly demonstrate your commitment to this national effort against crime, and to make the Eastern Cape a compelling place to live, work and invest in.
Local churches have a rich history of extraordinary contribution towards the emancipation of our people from the ills of apartheid. Today, we need to re-channel that spirit and determination to the fight against the social ills that frustrate our freedom and democracy.
Guided by the Provincial Crime Prevention Strategy (PCPS), government will play its role in providing safety and security for all citizens in this province in partnership with all relevant stakeholders and communities.
We must work together to strengthen community-based structures such as community police forums, sector crime forums, street committees and school safety committees. Where there are existing structures, let us work together to reposition these structures in order to respond promptly to the new social crime prevention approach.
I would like to make a call to all of you to support these structures and ensure that we win back our streets from the hands of criminals. The department is committed to provide the necessary support and training in order to ensure that CPFs are effective in their work.
I strongly believe that the intervention of local churches, business community and NGOs remains critical for all these structures to continue with their good work.
The Department of Safety and Liaison will embark on a process of engaging the business sector and sensitise them about the importance of their contribution in this “united front against crime.” Our mission is to bring on board all stakeholders that stand to gain out of our anti-crime strategy.
As we prepare for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which will take place in this country and Nelson Mandela Bay, we need to collectively attend to issues of safety and security today. We have to ensure that this metro is accessible to all visitors and create a crime-free environment for all our people.
The Department of Safety and Liaison will soon identify 500 volunteers to assist in crowd controlling in the public viewing areas during the tournament. In consultation with CPFs, municipalities and other relevant stakeholders, we will further mobilise the youth to participate in this initiative.
In conclusion
I would like to once more express my sincere gratitude to all local churches and their leaders for their support to this campaign. Let us work together in defence of peace, security and comfort in communities and make crime everybody’s business.
Thank you.
Enquiries:
Ncedo Kumbaca
Tel: 043 604 7584
Issued by: Department of Transport, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
25 July 2009
