By MEC Nkosi-Malobane
As we continue to observe the Safety month, an annual month-long observance in South Africa each February aimed at promoting safety within communities and enhance community participation in addressing issues of crime and strengthen law enforcement operations and police monitoring. It is very disturbing that when we continue to observe safety month, an upsurge in crime committed against innocent citizens escalates. Why should women, children, the elderly, working class, the business community and the police themselves continue being victims of crime committed by callous criminals?
Recently the country celebrated and observed the police day in honour of the men and women in blue uniform for their selfless service after perishing in the line of duty. These police officers died in the hands of senseless criminals. The solutions to the above questions are in our hands as law abiding citizens.
The safety of citizens is a constitutional right and should be enjoyed by everyone in our country as its part of democratic rights. We must never allow criminals to terrorize community members in the comfort of their homes, workplaces, taxi ranks etc. Fighting crime is a collective effort, crime knows no race, tribe nor class. I was recently disturbed by the senseless killing of Mbalenhle Ngwenya in Duduza, Ekurhuleni. The seven month old baby was supposed to be protected by someone very close to her family. What kind of man subjects an innocent child to the most barbaric murder? To kill a child using a garden hoe is the worst barbaric and satanic form the province has experienced in recent times.
It is no secret that the year 2018 had flooded our screens and newspapers with the high disgraceful murder stories of our women and children. The Vlakfontein mass murder case which resulted in the killing of seven family members belonging to the Khoza family is the most bizarre murder the province has experienced. The Ndibi siblings killing in Tshepisong apparently by their step father as well as that one of Viwe Dalingozi who was doused in petrol and set light by the boyfriend left a bitter taste. This raises a question of safety in and around Gauteng communities.
While the crime patterns do not look good, we will not deter in our quest to create safer spaces within our communities. I will continue to encourage our communities to join volunteer programmes in the fight against crime, strengthen positive relations between the police and the communities, encourage our citizens to report all forms of crime without fear or favour thereby taking charge of their safety and improve community perceptions about our law enforcement agencies.
As Gauteng Community Safety, we also used this month to celebrate service excellence within law enforcement agencies by hosting Community Safety Awards to recognise the law enforcement officers for going beyond the call of duty during the past financial year.
Traditionally, the maintenance of law and order in any society has usually been the exclusive role of conventional police and other law enforcement agents in the absence of active participation of the wider members of the community. Safety month is established to form friendly relations between Law enforcements and the publics. It has a purpose of educating communities about our mandate, structures, unity and safety measures they should find themselves in compromising situation.
According to the latest crime statistics announced last year, 11 September 2018, by Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, the murder rate increased with 6,9% in comparison with the previous financial year, carjacking decreased with 2,3% and robberies at residential premises decreased with 0,4%. These three crimes are known as the trio crimes. These results are shockingly high and as a department we have found it challenging to deal with these issues alone. The fight is not only ours but for the communities to get involved in ensuring that we make it hard for common criminals to practice these unlawful acts.
I call upon community members to join our structures at their nearest police station, Community Police Forum (CPF), Youth Crime Prevention Desk, Victim Empowerment Centres, Men as Safety Promoters (MASP) and Women as Safety Promotors (WSP), Elderly Desks. All these above-mentioned Structures serve a specific and essential purpose of support and enhancing the living conditions in our society through community mobilisation.
We urge publics to be “whistle blowers” against corrupt officials who undermines and compromise citizen safety by taking bribe and involving themselves in corrupt activities.
Indeed, together we can move Gauteng City Region forward. As Gauteng Community Safety, we are resolute and firm in doubling our efforts in the mobilisation of community participation and involvement in the war against crime particularly against those perpetrated against our vulnerable groups. The need to join the social movement in the fight against crime cannot be stressed enough. #Sekwanele #ENOUGHISENOUGH
