P Vilakazi: Provincial Police Memorial Service

14 October 2007

Programme director
Honourable Premier Edna Molewa
Executive mayor of Bojanala Platinum District Municipality
Executive Mayor of Madibeng Councillors Present here
Provincial Commissioner Lesetja Beetha
Station Commissioners and the entire police management
Ministers from various denominations
Beloved families, friends and colleagues of our fallen heroes
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen:

On Sunday, 2 September 2007, the national annual police Commemoration
Service was held at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. On that sad occasion,
members of the South African Police Service who died whilst on duty during 2006
were honoured. Among the names of the heroes who were honoured on that day were
12 of our own heroes from this province, the North West province.

Today, I stand here to pay my tribute specifically to these heroes of our
police service. Naturally, this is a day which we must approach with great
sadness and respect. It is also the day on which all of us experience the grief
of police families first hand.

I want to assure the families of our fallen heroes present here today that
we have all experienced profound and deep grief and sadness for each member of
the police service who has passed away on duty.

Our hearts ache and go out for their loved ones, their parents, widows,
children, other family members and friends. And of course their colleagues in
the dignified uniform who have to perform their duties day after day through
their sorrow.

I know it has already been repeated over and over again in their memorial
services and funerals that these members were courageous heroes who were
determined to perform their duties against all odds.

Without hesitating or fearing for their own lives they were determined to
storm any activity that threatened to result in an element of crime. They
bravely fought to protect and serve the citizens of the North West. In the
process, they risked their own lives.

It is therefore worth repeating here today that these members have
demonstrated their courage to the bitter end. I have no doubt that all that was
in their minds when they passed away was apprehending any criminal they came
across with.

They aimed to protect their communities no matter what. And they had a
mission of making this province a better and safer province to live in.

We will forever honour and respect their memories and be ever grateful for
their unwavering commitment and the ultimate sacrifice they made in the name of
justice.

Although nothing positive can ever come out of a tragedy of losing a serving
member, something constructive must follow. Let each and every one of us in the
South African Police Service today make a solemn oath that we will dedicate the
rest of our careers in the police to ensuring that our fallen colleagues have
not died in vain.

Let us take the fight out there to the rogue elements of society; let us
fight the scourge of violent crime and evil with double the energy and renewed
commitment. Let us make the streets, banks, petrol stations rural villages and
shopping malls safe for women and children and all law-abiding community
members; let us make a difference and dedicate every success we register to
these fallen heroes for the sacrifice they have made.

To the families of these heroes, all I can say is that we share in your pain
and can only imagine the emptiness and void that has been created in your
lives. You have an extended family in the South African Police Service and
government in general and we will do all in our power to hold you close, to
comfort you and to help you wherever we can. The entire provincial government
is with you.

To Provincial Commissioner Beetha and all the men and women under your
command - we believe in you. You have shown that you are made of sterling stuff
and your strength must be the ultimate remembrance towards your colleagues.

On 25 June 1999, the President directed that steps be taken to review the
conditions of service of our members with a view to their improvement. He
correctly pointed out that our policewomen and men were the frontline
guarantors of our fundamental human rights to life, safety and security.

I can attest that since then, we have made great strides towards improving
the conditions of service of members of the South African Police Service and
this has had a positive impact on the morale of members of the Service and
enabled the South African Police Service to retain highly skilled
personnel.

Crime can never be neutralised without establishing close partnerships
between the police and communities. I am happy to say that all our Police
Stations have Community Police Forums which are functioning very well in many
areas. More practical crime prevention projects have already been implemented
as part of the Community Police Forums/Police partnership and we have
registered a lot of success in this regard.

In conclusion, I want to remind everybody that our members are our greatest
asset and we will always be behind them every time they carry out their
duties.
I therefore make an earnest plea to work together in a concerted effort to
eradicate the scourge of crime from the streets and homes of our wonderful
province.

The killing of police members must stop! All of us must do everything to
protect our men and women in uniform. Enough is enough. And I want to call upon
our people once again not to turn themselves into a lucrative market for
criminals by buying stolen goods. By joining hands and standing firm, we can
successfully defeat the aims of those who are determined to profit from
crime.

I therefore would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere
appreciation to each and every member of the Police Service for their tireless
efforts in serving the citizens of South Africa. We love you! We support you.
We are with you. Keep up the good work.

I thank you.

Enquiries:
Mandla Mathebula
Tel: 018 387 4810
Cell: 083 282 6133
E-mail: mmathebula@nwpg.gov.za

Issued by: Department of Transport, Roads and Community Safety, North West
Provincial Government
14 October 2007
Source: North West Provincial Government (http://www.nwpg.gov.za)