community outreach on safer communities and service delivery in Upington
25 August 2007
Programme Director,
The MEC for Safety and Security, T Madikani,
The Executive Mayor of Siyanda District, Ntuli,
The Provincial Commissioner of South African Police Service (SAPS),
Mbombo
The Assistant Commissioner, Sitole,
The Director, Crime Prevention,Director Tyutuza
Deputy Divisional Commissioner, Lamoer,
The Head of Department of Social Development, Yolanda Botha,
Deputy Director of Correctional Services, Makuzeni
All office bearers of the African National Congress (ANC) and Alliance
partners,
Councillors,
Distinguished guests,
Parents and youth present here today
I greet you all. Thank you for this opportunity to come and address this
important gathering on community outreach for safer communities and service
delivery, which are critical areas in building healthier communities. Some of
the factors that contribute to youth committing serious and violent crimes
include:
* substance abuse
* poor school performance
* high crime in neighbourhoods
* weak family attachments
* lack of consistent discipline
* physical or sexual abuse.
There is a possible link between childhood victimisation and difficult and
challenging behaviour. Youth are victimised by crime at alarmingly high rates �
they are twice as likely as adults to become victims of violent crime. They
need resources to help them respond to threats to their safety during dating
violence, bullying, hate crimes, sexual harassment, and assault.
As young people develop, they assert their independence from their families
and turn to their friends for acceptance, approval and advice. Because youth
are more attentive to messages and influence from their peers, one of the best
ways for them to learn of how to be safe is through peer learning. While youth
add passion, creativity, and knowledge to their discussion of safety issues,
they need the involvement of committed adults to increase the chances that
their messages will be heard
Community based programs are central for crime prevention. No longer can we
close our eyes or look the other way, and wait until our children and elderly
are raped and killed. Many of our youth who come into conflict with the law and
are successfully rehabilitated ask: where were you when we needed you in the
community? Families, schools, religious organisations, community based and
youth organisations, business sector, police, and other government departments,
including local government must all confront the consequences of community
life. High levels of unemployment, school dropout, alcohol and drug dependency,
risky sexual behaviour, violence against women and girls are elements of
poverty which cannot only be addressed through the allocation of grants.
The Department of Social Development has an obligation and mandate to
provide services to all vulnerable groups. This mandate emanates from
legislation and policies which maps a way forward of the kind of services to be
provided to our communities. To mention a few of the legislation that mandates
the Department of Social Development to render services:
* The Children's Act of 2005
* Probation Services Act (Act 116 of 1991) as amended
* The Child Care Act of 1983
* The Criminal Procedure Act, Act 51of 1977
* Domestic Violence Act
* Victim's Charter
* National Drug Master Plan of 2006, and above all
* The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.
The department is constantly engaged in vigorous and robust drives and
initiatives to provide services to the most vulnerable groups and poorest of
the poor in our communities. The department's responsibilities towards youth at
risk and in conflict with the law include amongst others the following:
Probation services, provision of diversion programmes, home based supervision,
and the provision of non-custodial alternatives to imprisonment.
As a way of strengthening, building the capacity and self reliance of a
child within the family, the department is providing public education and
awareness campaigns, strengthening community-based responses and family
preservation programmes. The Department of Social Development is making all
efforts to ensure that services to children are available and accessible,
including provision of social grants.
The department also provides Early Childhood Development (ECD) services as a
strategy for supporting children who are at risk. The department's policy is to
provide a range of services to meet different ECD needs of families, through
supporting and reinforcing programmes offered by existing stakeholders and
supporting community development interventions.
The department is engaged in youth and community initiatives, to enhance
youth development and entrepreneurship skills, ensuring that youth and
communities are informed about the dangers of substance abuse through awareness
programs such as 'Ke Moja' (No thanks I'm fine without drugs), and mentoring
programmes such as 'Big Brother Big Sister.'
The National Drug Master Plan further requires that local drug action
committees are formed in every municipal area, consisting of all role players
that may be involved in prevention and community based programmes so that these
may be consolidated into an integrated area plan. Prevention and early
intervention programs may include activities that involve arts and culture and
sport activities that may keep our children and youth busy with constructive
social activities, and help them to define themselves in more positive
ways.
As communities we can raise awareness about and prevent youth victimisation
by mobilising teams of youth and adults to create public awareness campaigns.
As government we can improve the quality and accessibility of services to help
youth victims of crime by providing resources to victim service providers and
encouraging the victims to get help.
The department, through its programmes are aiming at ensuring that
youth:
* develop key life skills and abilities
* explore new interests such as sports
* assist to set and reach their personal, educational, and career goals
* are encouraged to work in teams
* develop self confidence and leadership potential
* recognise the importance of services to others in the community
* contribute to and shape the society in which they live
* enhance their sense of self worth
* use music, drama, dance, and visual arts programmes to draw attention to
problems in their communities.
We must work together to improve the safety and security at our schools.
Public education campaigns must be developed that seeks to raise awareness of
school safety and security issues and provide concrete measures that parent,
community members, and educators can take to make schools safer.
Programme Director, our intervention strategies towards building safer
communities � will be most effective if we all work together to optimise public
safety. The police, municipality, community police forums, victim support
groups, local schools, college's local community and faith based groups, need
to co-operate to consolidate their programmes and ensure that resources are
most effectively used. The local press and community radio stations have a
powerful role to play, but also need to be sensitive in ensuring that the
messages they broadcast contribute to prevention and crime reduction rather
than sensationalising the issues. Business and private sector, including
commercial farmers have a crucial role to play in partnering with government
and community based organisations to provide the necessary resources through
corporate social investment.
In conclusion a connected community is a safer community. By reaching out to
one another we can help to make a difference in our communities. Building a
strong, caring community takes public investment, collective will, and above
all, a commitment to your community. Crime prevention is everyone's
responsibility. We each have a role to play and a responsibility in building a
safer community.
Through our everyday choices and actions we can help to make a difference
for someone else whether it is in our home, neighbourhood, school, workplace,
or broader community. By reaching out to neighbours and friends and even to
people you have never met before, you can help build a strong, healthy and
vibrant community, capable of benefiting from all the opportunities made
available by our thriving democracy.
I thank you
Issued by: Department of Social Development
25 August 2007
Source: Department of Social Development (http://www.dsd.gov.za)
