Budget Speech by MEC Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane on the Occasion of the Debate on Vote 10: Community Safety
Speaker
Deputy Speaker
Premier
Members of the Executive Council
Members of the Provincial Legislature
Members of the Mayoral Committees responsible for Safety
Head of Department and Senior Management
Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service and the Management Team
Chiefs of Metropolitan Police Departments
Chiefs of Local Traffic Departments
Ladies and gentlemen and the People of Gauteng
The creation of a safe and prosperous City Region remains the central goal of this department and administration. We have already made strides in improving policing and transform the criminal justice system. We however continue to be confronted by a number of challenges.
Today I stand before the house with a cry for a battle to be waged on violence against women and children. In the recent past we have witnessed an escalation in incidents of gender based violence. The United Nations (UN Women) has identified that violence against women happens in three forms i.e. physical, sexual and psychological. Around the world one in three women have experienced physical or sexual violence mostly by a person they know or an intimate partner. The UN Women reports that in 2012 one in two women killed worldwide, were slain by their partners or family member while only one out of twenty of all men killed were killed in such circumstances.
In the Ready to Govern document of the ANC we declared that: “Women should be able to walk in the streets freely without fear of assault and should be able to feel safe and free from violence in their own homes”. In the national development plan we said “All vulnerable groups including women, children and rural communities should enjoy equal protection and their fear of crime should be eradicated through effective coordinated responses of the police, business, community and civil society.
Yet one April (2017) morning we woke up to the News that a body of a woman was found by a passerby in the open field in Bramley. Details would emerge that the body of a burned woman was that of Karabo Mokoena who was allegedly last seen in a Sandton Club with his boyfriend Sandile Mantsoe. Further reports suggested that they left the club together. The case is now with the courts. A mother lost a child, a brother lost a sister and the community lost a servant. One youth is on trial for a murder of another young person.
In May two young men appeared in court for the rape and murder of Lerato Moloi. The deceased was one of four women who were found dead that weekend and all the women had been violently killed. The two men who appeared in court apparently knew Lerato Moloi. Again the case is with the courts.
We need to mobilise young men in our society to display the courage of the 1976 generation by uprooting this scourge in our communities. This is the courage of Khotso Seatlholo, Vincent Tshabala, Tsietsi Mashini, Andrew Radebe, Solomon Mahlangu and many more who sacrificed their lives for us and the youth of today.
The fight against drugs and alcohol abuse must be intensified as these are normally at the centre of these crimes.
We are extremely concerned about the decline in humanity (ubuntu), asisaqondisisi ukuthi ubulwane buphi lobu obungene abafana abancane namadoda amadala. Ikhona inkinga enkulu emphakathini wethu, futhi singuhhulumeni sithatha izinyathelo eziqinile.
Madam speaker, we visited and provided the necessary support to most victims’ families including Karabo Mokwena and Lerato Moloi.
Our communication line remains open where families with similar horrendous experiences, continue to engage with us.
The challenge has also been exacerbated by incidents involving public transport vehicles, especially taxis. We are engaging with the leadership of the industry as we believe they also have a responsibility in this regard. The industry must rid itself of this “bad boy” image.
The recent blockade of major roads in the province will certainly not help the cause and image of the industry.
Madam Speaker if real men in our communities are doing nothing and expect things to automatically change, gender violence will not stop and I quote: Simon Wiesenthal - ‘For evil to prosper and flourish, it only requires good men to do nothing’. Ngesintu izinkinga zomphakathi zixazululeka kahle uma obaba bangempela bephakama beshaya unyawo phansi bathi sekwanele!
Madam Speaker, our obligation also seeks to restore African values defining who we are as Africans. “Ligojwa Lisemanzi which simply means kids should be groomed and disciplined at a young age.
Through Gauteng Province’s ten pillar programme of Transformation, Modernization and Re-industrialization, we continue to roll out innovative programmes and interventions to ensure a safe province.
Madam Speaker, we are delighted that there is now a collective commitment by the Provincial Government, law enforcement agencies led by the South African Police Service and Community Police Forums to reduce crime in the province by 50% in 2019. This is an important commitment to inspire our communities to action and restore confidence.
The department is adamant that criminals must be squeezed out of Gauteng.
It is time we claim our streets back and allow Gauteng citizens to walk the streets without fear.
Police visibility will be enhanced to improve, amongst others, tourist safety. The number of incidences emanating from point of entries, particularly OR Tambo airport, is concerning. I am engaging with the national office of the SAPS to address this matter. I am of the view that the provincial SAPS should have a role in policing the airport.
Policing visibility through roll out of kiosks around tourists’ destination areas such as Maboneng pricinct, Vilakazi street in Soweto and Tertiary institutions including Melville, Soweto and Auckland Park will be increased.
We also continue to do work in former coloured communities besieged by criminals and gangsterism. We are encouraged by the recent convictions of two feared gang leaders in the Sophiatown area.
On the 01st of June 2017 I met Gauteng former coloured community leaders and extensively discussed crime generators and challenges encountered within their communities. Subsequent to that meeting a collective decision was taken to hold a Summit of all leaders in July 2017, to address these challenges.
We recently held an illegal mining roundtable with all stakeholders from mining houses, law enforcement agencies and government departments. We will ensure that mine owners of non-trading mines secure them to prevent access by illegal miners.
We will ensure no girl child in this province will ever be abducted, trafficked or abused ezandleni zamaphoyisa ethu! Abadlwenguli bazoboshwa bagwetshwe!!
The Department will in this current financial year appropriate R678 465 000 (six hundred and seventy eight million, four hundred and sixty five rands)
Civilian oversight
R 76 291 000 (seventy six million, two hundred and one rands)
Improving Policing
The Provincial Secretariat, empowered by both Section 206 of the Constitution of the Republic and the Civilian Secretariat for Police service Act 2/2011 have a duty to monitor police conduct, build relationships between the SAPS and the community as well as handle complaints against the police.
During the 2016/17 financial year, the department developed and completed an Integrated Information Management System to house all of our data and analysis. We are currently in the process of automating the dashboard used to capture information on stations that make appearances to GIPPS.
Since the reintroduction of the Gauteng Information on Police Performance System (GIPPS) a total of 7 sessions have been held, covering 32 stations drawn from high crime precincts. These sessions have proven very useful as they provide an on the ground perspective from station management and commanders. These stations are currently implementing recommendation emanating from the sessions and some are showing improvements.
Also where provincial SAPS management has intervened through leadership changes in stations we have seen dramatic improvements. There is strong participation by the Metropolitan Police Departments in these sessions, thus offering us an opportunity to challenge non co-operation between the different agencies.
Our daily oversight work regularly reveals glaring gaps in how communities are policed, and more importantly, the much inefficiency in the law enforcement agencies. Deliberations around these resulted in the Executive Council directing that an Integrated Policing Plan for the province be developed. The plan was tabled at and adopted by the Executive Council during November 2016.
Ladies and gentleman, the key elements of the plan are around concentrating our resources on key crime generators such as alcohol outlets, illegal firearms, illegal mining, informal settlements, hostels, spaza shops. Not forgetting how alcohol outlets particularly contribute to road accidents and fatalities.
We are also pleased, Madam Speaker, at the decision by the South African Police Service in the province to reintroduce specialised units. These refer to:
- Murder & robbery squads.
- Narcotics unit
- Anti-crime /corruption unit
Other interventions being implemented as part of the plan include:
- High police visibility
- Liquor License’s monitoring and regulation by the Department of Economic Development in support of effective policing and crime prevention
- The Department of Home Affairs to effectively manage Illegal immigration in support of effective policing and crime prevention
Also our complaints management system has yielded positive outcomes for complainants and Departmental intervention and pressure, has seen closed dockets reopened and suspects arrested. Some of the outcomes of our investigation of complaints are the following:
Further, Detectives and Victims communication strategy, has significantly improved. Thus instituting disciplinary action against law enforcement officers in the wrong.
Our resolve to enhance community policing initiatives constantly challenges us to innovate our plans in preventing and fighting crime through community involvement. The Department, in partnership with the Department of Rural Development and the South African National Defence Force, trained 500 community patrollers and 50 military veterans on a peace officers’ course.
These individuals were deployed as part of the province’s festive season operations in shopping malls, parks, taxi ranks and other public spaces. They contributed immensely to a safer Gauteng over the festive season.
2017/18 Priorities of the Provincial Secretariat
Crime statistics released by the Minister of Police early this year have once more in the Province, proven an upward battle in certain categories of crime.
Despite trio crimes continuing to haunt us, we remain confident that our recently adopted Integrated Policing Plan, which has been infused into the Premier’s Safety Deliverology Project, will realize significant decreases.
As part of the metropolitan police departments’ triple mandate, this programme particularly tracks police visibility and reduce fatalities.
To enhance and monitor performance of law enforcement agencies, the Provincial Secretariat has prioritized the following activities:
Station Visits:
The purpose of these visits is to evaluate monthly performance of all 142 police stations in the province in all components related to service delivery, DVA audits and Front line Service Delivery.
For the first time in the history of the department, the department is now visiting facilities belonging to Metro Police Departments as part of oversight. We are particularly interested in how they are carrying out the triple mandate.
Safety Kiosks:
As part of improving visibility and community involvement in the 40 high crime areas, the department will procure and deploy safety kiosks in the 40 high crime deliverology police stations’ precincts. This will be done at a cost of R 9 000 000 (nine million rands).
Scrap Metal Indaba: Engagement with scrap metal dealers on appropriate legislation and curbing illicit trading.
Quarterly Review Sessions (QRS)
Analysing the impact of the Provincial Integrated Policing Plan across all LEAs and developing necessary intervention measures and strengthening the coordination of resources in the Province.
The department is currently finalizing the development of our Policing Index. This customized tool we will use to track and rate performance of different police stations and metropolitan police departments from an oversight perspective. Currently we rely on data from law enforcement and we want to be able to independently generate our own data.
Intesifying oversight
These priorities will find expression and delivery through the corridor approach model. One service delivery officer will be allocated and monitored monthly to an average of 8 police stations. Furthermore, this approach will allow the Provincial Secretariat with early warning signals and Departmental immediate intervention where necessary.
Further, during the current financial year, the Department will complete its roll out of the enhanced oversight model and capacity for the monitoring of specialized units in the Province will be deployed.
Promotion of good relations between communities and police
As part of building a Social Movement against Crime, the Department intends to position CPF structures as necessary vehicles that will assist with the coordination of Social Crime Prevention and policing oversight at a local level.
The responsibility for the functioning and performance of CPFs is now with the Provincial and Cluster Boards. The Department will now assume its rightful role of providing all logistical support required for CPFs to function optimally.
This, amongst others, includes assigning full time capacity to co-ordinate the work and activities of the Board. We are also rolling out capacity to support Cluster Boards through the provision of Cluster Administrators.
① As part of improving the effectiveness and efficiency of these structures, The Department will assess CPF’s individual performance and review existing CPF standards.
A CPF Performance Index as a tool will also be developed.
It is the Department’s considered view that the promotion of accountability cannot only be limited to Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs). In fact, CPF structures given their role in the safety fraternity and the financial support they receive, should account on their performance.
In ensuring that this is realized, the Department will henceforth, convene CPF performance review sessions on a quarterly basis. This will form part of interventions that are carried by the Department, which are geared towards improving the performance of these structures and timeously identifying gaps.
The Department remains committed to building the capacity of CPF structures and continuous provision of training programmes and allocation of CPF booklets to members will assist.
Research has also shown that where CPFs and their leaders are known in communities their performance tends to be better than where they are unknown.
Publicising local and cluster CPF leadership is an area that the Department will be prioritising in this financial year. This will be realised through erecting CPF Bill Boards at strategic points. It is envisaged that these efforts will greatly contribute in ensuring that leadership teams of these structures are known by ordinary people they serve.
The Department will in this financial year, continue to engage relevant role-players as part of fast tracking the establishment of CSFs. These structures remain an important vehicle required to support coordination of social crime prevention efforts.The table below provides details with respect to the allocated budget for support of CPFs, Patrollers, Youth Desks and MASP.
|
Strategic areas of focus |
Budgeted amounts |
|
CPF Capacity building |
R 1,452 000.00 |
|
Support for Provincial Board and local CPF structures’ POA |
R 1, 196 000.00 |
|
Provision of Administrative support at cluster level |
R 540 000.00 |
|
QRS sessions to improve accountability |
R 400 000.00 |
|
Patroller uniform |
R 2, 055 000.00 |
|
Patroller training |
R 2, 119 500.00 |
|
Support for CSFs |
R 780 000.00 |
Promotion of Safety
R 109 846 000 (one hundred and nine million, eight hundred and forty six thousand rands)
Youth Safety
The department is armed with a number of fighting tools to combat crime amongst our youth. Programme such as Tertiary Institution Safety Indaba with 150 student leaders geared towards addressing challenges encountered by students in and outside campuses with a special focus on gender based violence, substances abuse, safety and security in all Gauteng Institutions of Higher Learning will be intensified.
Young women leadership boot camp with 200 volunteers, which focused on empowerment, capacity building for young female volunteers assisted the Department in the reduction of crime and mobilization of communities to ensure a Safer Province. Provincial outreach campaigns targeting the youth and the use of social media to address social ills such as anti-substance, gangsterism and harmful religious practices proved to be a workable method to reach out to the youth.
Plans for 2017/2018 Financial Year
To continue strengthening the work done in tertiary institutions by conducting Students Safety Indaba with TVET in colleges across Gauteng and safety structures will be established and supported in Institutions of Higher Learning throughout Gauteng. Intensify the law enforcement operations targeting problematic schools; non compliant liquor outlets located next to schools and drug dens and lolly lounges which are abetting the scourge of substance abuse in communities.
To continue with the Leadership camps for youth at risk in the 40 priority areas.
To heighten awareness campaigns in the Sedibeng and City of Joburg areas by targeting the Initiation schools to focus on issues of gangsterism, abduction, sexual offences and assault (GBH/ Common)
To establish Men as Safety Promoter groups targeting 10 taxi associations, owners and drivers to address issues on Gender Based Violence and Sexual Assaults perpetrated to women and children commuters.
School Dafety Programme
There has been an expansion of the prison tour programme which involved ex parolees to enlighten youth on consequences of indulging on criminal activities. There have been about 657 searches conducted and linking to the raids of lolly lounges and drug dens in communities. About 350 correctional service visits were conducted targeting problematic learners.
Further, 300 schools were ring fenced and provided with the basket of services in an effort to ensure safer schools. About 103 arrests were made as a result of law enforcement operations targeting schools, liquor outlets and community raids.
Substance Abuse Prevention Programme
During the 16/17 Financial Year, focus of law enforcement raids was in areas where there is high rate of gangsterism, gender based violence and sexual assault incidents and domestic violence as part of the 40 problematic police stations in the province.
Prevention of Violence Against Women and Children (VAWAC Programme)
Currently the legislative framework on common assault is inadequate as it does not allow for the immediate arrest of a suspect unless the offence is committed in the presence of a police officer. We are already mooting for the amendment of the Criminal Procedure Act to deal with these gaps.
The establishment of the MASP groups in Groenpunt Prison programme will be expanded to all sections of the Prison. This programme is targeted at males who have been incarcerated for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assaults. In order to deal with the matter head-on, Liquor Compliance workshop was conducted in partnership with the Department of Economic Development targeting 300 Law Enforcement Agencies and 1000 Liquor traders during the 16 Days Campaign 2016 and Safety Month 2016.
A dialogue was held with interns from the various GPG departments and newly appointed professional young women entering the job market, focusing on issues of Gender Based Violence and Sexual Harassment in the workplace.
The Provincial Government has established an LGBTI Council in an effort to mainstream safety issues in the province. In this financial year, the LGBTI Ntirhisano Dialogue will continue to engage with LGBTI groups, civil society and organizations working with sectors to resolve issues they face in daily basis.
Ikhaya Lethemba (IKLT)
As noted above Gender Based Violence is rearing its ugly head once more in the province. One of the crucial intervention instruments at our disposal is Ikhaya Lethemba. Ikhaya Lethemba holistic psycho-social services continue to play a paramount role in supporting victims of gender based violence. Interventions such as skills development are linked to long term empowerment strategies that strengthen gender equality and respect women as active agents in the rebuilding of their own lives. Two anecdotes are as follows:
Rhodes Park crime that occurred on 17th October 2015, clients were admitted and the main witness (victim) had no biological or in-law family support. The 2nd witness (victim) mother from Eastern Cape was provided shelter during court hearings. During that residential care phase severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (as expected) occurred. Ikhaya Lethemba had to deal with two attempted suicides by clients. Clients had been admitted to psychiatric hospitals twice during their stay – supported by IKLT, MDT.
Support was extended to families of the deceased as well – intervention led to re-unification of victims with deceased’s family and the court found that victims will not have recovered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) had it not been for support from IKLT. The support from Ikhaya Lethemba played a pivotal role in ensuring that witnesses presented credible testimony in court. Ndlovu, Nkala & Lawrence were found guilty of robbery, 2 counts of rape and 2 counts of murder each.
Secondly, a young adult (18 years) was admitted with suicidal inclinations, dissociation and extreme emotional numbness.
She has a child as a result of continuous sexual abuse. Due to the clients’ age and mental state, optimum holistic psycho- social care was needed to minimize the effects of long term consequences of sexual trauma. The client’s trauma manifested in continuous flashbacks and severe irresponsible parenting. Her baby of 6 months had endured overdosing and various other physical injuries. Prompt intervention saved the baby’s life.
The mother was young and disillusioned; through therapy she is assisted to learn parental care (reducing chance of statutory removal of her child), emotional recovery and coping skills to recover from most acute trauma impressions. This gave her a ‘fighting chance’ to embrace new healthy inter-personal relations and most importantly a sense of self-worth. Safety of her child was prioritized.
As part of responding to the recent Quantum rapes, the department has established a rapid response task team. These unfortunate happened in Soweto, Westrand (Onderkkers road), Mondeor and Naturena. This resulted in more than 12 women being affected by violent rape and robberies, 2 women experienced extreme aggravated robberies with no sexual violence.
The Rapid Response Task Team consists of SAPS:
National FCS, National Crime Intelligence, Provincial Serial Investigation Unit, All affected local SAPS stations
NPA: South Region Court Preparation Unit, Prosecutors on both rape & robbery matters
WITS Psychology Unit: Professional Psychological assessment and support.
IKLT: Multi-disciplinary team.
The victims are currently receiving holistic care in partnership with accredited CSO’s.
In the past financial year 1215 gender based violence dockets were audited.
Common findings of docket audits can be summarized as follows:
|
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE |
SEXUAL OFFENCES |
|
1. Cases withdrawn complainant and perpetrator reconciled and are related (i.e. siblings, marriage, courtship) |
1. Cases withdrawn at court due to insufficient evidence |
|
2. Family intervention (Trust on Family more that Family Justice) |
2. Family intervention (Trust on family more than Family Justice) |
|
3. Complainant withdrawn the cases because the perpetrators are the breadwinners in the household. |
3. Complainant lost of Interest |
|
4. Contribution Situational factors (alcohol- both parties were under the influence when the offence took place) |
4. Perpetrated undetected, and no witness |
|
5. 30% of the cases were of the violation of the protection orders, and no arrest made |
5. 10% cases withdrew by victim due to intimidation from the perpetrator |
Planned dockets audits for the 2017/18 financial year will include value-add services,
- to establish the extent of reported domestic violence and sexual offence cases,
- to establish the quality of investigations and what influences the withdrawal of cases
- Development of an intervention strategy to reduce the withdrawal of GBV cases
91 Social workers graduated over the last 4 years in Gauteng , 60 from the University of Cape Town and 31 form Wits University. Social workers that met statutory requirements to do FSW were sourced from the private sector, various NGO’s and government departments such as DSD, DOE, DOH, SAPS.
In addition 30 social workers employed at GDE, DOH were trained in basic Forensic Social Work so that they may recognize and refer minors for FSW services.
Monitoring of Forensic Social Workers trained within CJS to measure if challenges iro FSW are reduced such as:
- Less delay in CJS value chain – expedite trial phase
- % Contributing to Court Docket readiness
- Govt & CSO integrated response
- FSW’s staff ratio per precincts increased
- Access for poorer and vulnerable children and mentally disabled persons to FSW services in South and North Court Regions
- Measure impact of FSW on a sample of clients (children) that underwent FSW assessment and intervention.
- Impact of reduction in language barriers (trainees drawn from different language backgrounds )
- In support of FCS the department has established the Victim Identification Centre, Research Room, Operational Room.
This initiative assists in the effective detection of crimes against women and children including serial rape investigations, child pornography, human trafficking and DNA identification. The last phase to be rolled out in the 2nd quarter of 2017/18 financial year, will enable Serial and electronic FCS investigations to utilize technology to intensify investigation in cyber-crimes. The intelligent implementation innovation for police technology at Ikhaya Lethemba will also assist in data accuracy and analysis, enhanced information and security which will lead to faster prosecution and conviction.
Traffic management
R382 337 000 (three hundred and eighty two million, three hundred and thirty seven thousand rands)
Reducing accidents and road fatalities also remains at the top of our list as a Province.
The recent horrific accident where 18 school children were burnt to death at the border of Gauteng and Mpumalanga, violent murders and violent assaults involving Uber passengers and taxi drivers are indeed of major concern for the department.
Statistics themselves show that road safety remains an uphill battle for the province.
Road safety and Crime prevention will be a special focus area during this financial year. Co-operation between all Law enforcement Agencies will be strengthened to enhance impact. There will be 24 hour deployments rolled out to address the weekend current gaps.
Bribery and corruption operations against unscrupulous officials in conjunction with the Hawks and the RTMC will ensure that the above efforts are not undermined.
Taxi conflicts interventions
Gauteng government held a Taxi Ntirhisano session that was championed by the Premier with MEC’s. In these engagement resolutions was adopted, one of them being the issuing of permits by DRT and prohibition of unroadworthy taxis or any other unworthy public transport on the roads. This resulted in 477 numbers of Taxis impounded and 1010 citations issued during “Operation Ke Molao.
During these operations it has come to light that a significant number of operators allow their vehicles to be operated on our roads unlicensed and unregistered with false license disks. In response to this criminality these operators will be charged for fraud along with their drivers. With regards to assaults at Park Station, Sandton station and the OR Tambo Airport, we will ensure Law Enforcement Officials are deployed daily to protect citizens of Gauteng.
The Taxi task team will also be strengthened to stop taxi violence and ensure that offenders are brought to book. In addition, the department has procured 2 additional breakdowns to address incidents of road blockage.
Roadworthiness interventions
Operations will be beefed up in townships transport hubs to ensure that our people are ferried in roadworthy taxis. Moreover there will be permanent daily deployment at identified arrears where incidents of reckless driving by public transport operators during peak hours. In this financial year the Department has procure 3 additional Mobile Vehicle Testing Stations and 2 drawing vehicles which will be used strictly for the daily testing of Public transport vehicles as well as Scholar transport vehicles.
Scholar Transport interventions
This financial year roadworthy testing for scholar transport will be undertaken every quarter. We will ensure that every school knows who transport their children and the roadworthy condition of the said vehicle. The department will also ensure that the new amendments to traffic legislation barring the transportation of school children in light delivery vehicles are clamped down. A series of stakeholder and affected bakkie owners are in progress in conjunction with the department of Education.
Road Traffic fatalities
Fatal crashes statistical analysis indicates that there is a sharp migration of fatalities from freeways To Urban arrears. Alcohol abuse coupled with excessive speeding and unroadworthy public transport vehicles have significantly contributed to the increase in fatalities during the year under review. This financial year as the department implements the Deliverology project the corporation with metros will be strengthened. To that end a number of interventions that prevented further fatalities over and above the recorded ones are reflected as follows:
Excessive speeding
The Department has further procured 20 cars (10Golf GTI’s and 10 Ford ST’s) equipped with the latest Number Plate Recognition as well as the Moving Violation Speed Recorder systems which will be deployed in all our corridors daily. There will be no room for speedsters to hide night and day.
Drinking and driving operations
The department will continue to intensify awareness campaigns to encourage motorists to use alternative transport forms and not drive.. This financial year the Department has planned to implement the procurement and usage of evidentiary alcohol equipment with the view to speed up the fast tracking of drinking and driving cases at our courts.
This will be amplified with the implementation of the Deliverology project with specific focus and priority on significant increase in drinking and driving targets particularly during weekends and at night across the province. The emphasis will be placed in and around liquor outlets such as shebeens, pubs and public parks. The use of billboards and mass media to send the message of road safety across the province will be implemented.
Reckless and negligent driving
Reckless and Negligent driving has been identified as the one of the main causes of fatal accident , this kind of offence manifest in various forms such as driving on a yellow line, shoulders of the road, in the face of incoming traffic etc. Several high impact operations were carried out to deal decisively with this offence e.g. Malibongwe Dr, Hendrick Potgieter, Mabopane Highway and the N12. For this financial year, the Department has planned to have permanent deployments at the identified locations across the Province.
Pedestrian safety project (Deliverology Focused Project)
Pedestrians are the most vulnerable road user group to road traffic fatal crashes and contribute more than 50% of the total fatalities recorded annually. The department held a Road Safety Youth Summit in Benoni where the Youth committed to partner with the Department to have Youth specific road safety projects going forward, these will be rolled out during this financial year. The department convened a consultation process for the National Road Safety Strategy with the specific focus to pedestrian fatalities.
In terms of Deliverology Project, the Department is expected to reduce pedestrian’s fatalities by 25% during the year in question and for that reason, the Department has planned to conduct 1512 operations in 132 pedestrian’s hazardous locations. The Metros, Districts and local Municipalities have already submitted their plans and work is already under way.
Crime prevention
To ensure that the citizens of Gauteng feel and are safe as a force multiplier, 220 Traffic officers will be deployed at the 40 identified underperforming police stations to assist with crime prevention, particular the routine stop and searches with the view to reduce crime and road traffic fatalities by 50 % . These officers have recently undergone a character building, discipline and advanced firearm training to ensure that they are equal to the task.
The department is piloting and soon will be implementing a crime prevention APP, Namola that will increase reaction time of law enforcement with a press of a cell phone button. This will be assisted by rolling out this year the monitoring of the departments vehicles. In this regard the Department has procured 75 VW high performance vehicles. Citizens can expect to be inconvenienced as the one traffic pull over will now include the prevention of crime activities 24/7.
Training
Contribution to Tshepo 1000 000 and increase in capacity
This financial year, 150 recruit Traffic officers will undergo the basic Traffic officers training diploma. These recruits are drawn from the current Traffic wardens, some are from the each family of the Traffic officers who died in the line of duty last financial year and the rest are from the internal patroller programme.
Female Bike Training
This financial year as part of the 50 % reduction in fatalities target and with the objective of gender balance in all units within the department 50 female Traffic officers will be trained to ride motor bikes to assist with the reduction in fatalities.
Charater Building, Discipline and Advanced Firearm Training
To address complaints of bribery and corruption , discipline and the lack of advanced firearm training and a new cadre in the armed traffic police , all Traffic officers will undergo a compulsory intensive 4 weeks Training to achieve the above mentioned objective .
Research
R8 943 000 (eight million, nine hundred and forty three thousand)
In the financial year 2017\18, the department will conduct evaluations on, the effectiveness of the substance abuse program in the City of Tshwane, evaluation of CCTV cameras in the metros and an evaluation of the youth desks.
Research instruments for the police integrity study, mid-term reviews of the Gauteng Safety Strategy and Policing Needs and Priorities have been developed. In addition, a Citizens Perception Survey will be undertaken pre and post Deliverology.
Corporate governance
R101 048 000 (one hundred and one million, forty eight thousand rands)
The department will continue to ensure responsible and prudent use of public resources entrusted to it. A key part is the achievement of a clean audit opinion for the financial year underway.
A skilled workforce is a crucial instrument for the achievement of our goals. Training initiatives to equip the workforce will be rolled out during the financial year. Through its Risk management and Governance Structures, the department instils financial discipline in the organisation.
Conclusion
Madam Speaker, we understand that it will take devoted men and women to achieve the plans mentioned above. Our unwavering faith is testament that we will ensure that the Province’s ten pillar programme of Transformation, Modernisation and Re-Industrialization come into fruition.
I would like to extend a deep sense of appreciation to Honourable Premier, the Executive Council for leadership and guidance. My sincere thanks to Members of Mayoral Committees for Public Safety in municipalities and to members of the Portfolio Committee.
I would also like to extend my appreciation to the HOD and her team, the SAPS Provincial Commissioner and team, MPD Chiefs, Chief of Traffic Police and all women and men in blue and brown uniform. Thanks also go to the CPF Board, Cluster Boards and all CPF’s, Community Patrollers, and Take Charge Sectors.
One Senegalese hip-hop singer Sister Far who uses her music to campaign for human rights says “ Once you know that everyone has the right to be free from all forms of violence, and that you yourself have a responsibility to help them achieve that right, you don’t look back.”
We do not have a choice but to fight against this scourge. We have to take the battle to the perpetrators of violence against women and children. The department of Community Safety will lead a spirited fight in partnership with stakeholders, communities and for families to educate their children about the safety, security and comfort for women and children. We should have sessions were we engage communities about proper parental responsibilities and the presence of both responsible parents to raise children. We should also encourage men to take responsibility in Protecting women and children in society.
Masiqhubeke sikhombise ukubambisana nokulwisa ubugebengu singumphakathi wase Gauteng.
On that note, I quote, Mattie Stepanek when he said, “Unity is strength...where there is teamwork and collaboration wonderful things can be achieved.”
NGIYABONGA!
