Chairperson, Minister of Police Comrade Nathi Mthethwa, National Commissioner of Police, Gen Bheki Cele, hon Members of Parliament, distinguished guests, comrades and compatriots, on an occasion like this it is always important to acknowledge the important role that is played in the advancement of safety and security of our country by our dedicated and supported human resources in blue.
The past year has been one of warning shots and, as President Jacob Zuma stated, we are about action more than anything else. The time to hug, kiss and massage crime has lapsed; a new calibre of police officer has arrived.
Minister and hon members, allow me to rewind to the crisis and low morale we experienced in our country in the year 2006, when every corner of our society was about crime reaching an unacceptable level. Criminals roamed our streets freely, without any fear of arrest. The nature of crime at the time was lethally dangerous and aggravated. That necessitated a call by members of society for the military to intervene. We refused because we believe in the utilisation of the police in the fight against crime.
When we started, we vocally said: "Washa Tsotsi, criminals must burn". And, indeed, we are still there. We said we would ensure that all the legislative loopholes were addressed. We also said we would strengthen and sharpen all the instruments that will help us to rid ourselves of this traitor in our midst.
We did say that the ICD should bite; the secretariat should assume shape; the Criminal Procedure Act should be attended to; and a single police force under one command centre should be ushered in - something which Minister Mthethwa has highlighted in his speech.
The SAPS currently employs 190 000 police personnel in the fight against crime. This places us in one of the leading labour-consuming departments. The kind of policeman and woman we had needed some serious attention to ensure that they were equal to the task. We needed personnel with integrity - a police officer who'll deliver us from these misbehaving amoebae going by the name of "tsotsis" [criminals].
From the 2006 crime backdrop, we furiously invaded the criminal space with the ferocity of a cornered bull and the agility of a cat. In doing so, we were mindful of the existing laws governing our country that needed our careful consideration in executing our task.
South Africa currently has fared well in terms of crime. This is showcased by the successful operations, especially during the peak of last year's festive season. It should be noted that fighting crime is a commitment and dedication on the part of all of us. Crime is not the friend of a man or a woman, but an enemy of life and success. It is therefore our dedication to reduce the cancer that has taken over our malls, streets and homes, and ensure that it is fought jointly by all of us.
This is the reason why the police, under the administration and leadership of President Jacob Zuma, introduced, for the first time, partnership as a stand-alone special programme. In this regard, the partnership will involve all the various stakeholders under one roof to design ways and means to reduce crime and its manifestations at local level. This is a structured and co-ordinated way under the auspices of the community safety forums, CSFs.
The CSFs bring together various government departments, NGOs, community- based organisations, business, youth, women, religious interfaith groups, etc. So far we have had successful engagements with various stakeholders to ensure that we are all showing our faces and standing up to be counted in the fight against crime in this country.
Former President Nelson Mandela, on the occasion of his inauguration, said and I quote:
A person who does what any other person does is an ordinary person. A person who does what no other person can do is an exception. But a person who has done what no other person has ever done is an institution, a national asset, a hero. This is a person of whom, when he or she dies, we will be able to say: Here lies a man or a woman who has played his or her role in the society.
This quote befitting today because we want national heroes and heroines. We want national assets and institutions in our country in the fight against crime. We need a cadre in the fight against crime. We said, and we are still saying, to all members of society: Stand up and be counted in the fight against crime. Sector policing is still the basis of our policy. As already alluded to, a national sector policing instruction and a revised implementation framework has been developed to fine-tune our sector policing approach. This will also ensure that, through our sector policing approach, we are able to unleash that well-deserved, much awaited, and fatal blow to crime in our society.
By November 2009, and in line with the revised implementation framework, sector policing had been implemented in all 169 high-contact crime stations. By the end of June 2010, sector policing would have been implemented in all police stations identified as provincial priority stations. Ladies and gentlemen, we are proud to say that together we really can do more in the fight against crime.
Vital tools that support the implementation of crime prevention strategies include sector policing, reservists and community mobilisation. These tools assist in the monitoring and assessment of the police officers. We are in the process to also assist with the issue of redefining and remodelling the role of community police forums so that they will be more than tea ladies and "stuur-boys" [gofers] at the police stations. A process for redefining their nature and character is in place, as per pronouncements made last year during the reservists' summit.
During this reservists' summit, a national task team was established to consider employment-related matters and facilitate the recruitment of qualifying reservists as permanent employees of the SAPS. We will not apply a pass-one, pass-all policy with regard to reservists. Each one of them will be considered according to his or her own status.
Recruitment drives were implemented in all nine provinces and a total of 2 733 reservists were recruited as SAPS members. Five hundred and thirty- two were recruited as Public Service Act members.
The engagement with the youth as the major generation that is under the spotlight, especially with regard to wrongdoing and choices of role models in our society, is going to be one of the major highlights of the year. Working with the National Youth Development Agency and other relevant stakeholders, we will be able to win the fight to release our youth from getting motivated by opulence that cannot be accounted for.
Through pen and paper, we will have an engagement with media, sports, music, and business organisations to ensure our young minds are part and parcel of the solution for the future betterment of South Africa.
As has been stated, credit should be given where credit is due, and I am humbled to stand here today and congratulate the efforts employed during the 2009 festive season launch of Operation Duty Calls. The police embarked on various visible policing operations countrywide, interacting with communities, businesses and various organised structures, with the objective of intensifying our struggle against crime.
When we started with our crime-combating strategies, our message to the gun- toting, merciless criminals was clear: "You owned our streets, now let's help you to be rehabilitated or face the wrath of the law". That meant going to jail. The resounding success of the operations brought us positive feedback from business and communities.
Re ipela ka digatlhamelamasisi tsa rona. [We are proud of our heroes.]
Our tactical response teams exist in cluster police stations as well as at the international airports. Currently, there are 711 members trained and deployed in various clusters and airports. They have shown clear visibility in high-crime spots too, especially at shopping malls where these criminals have been mercilessly opening fire on innocent people causing loss of life, and so on. Firearms and their availability have been the bane of innocent South Africans, lives as there are firearms in the wrong hands.
Amasi abekw' elangeni! [The irrevocable decision has been taken!]
The jig is up! This necessitated our urgent attention, informed by the fact that 70% of aggravated robberies are committed with firearms. Firearms have become the weapons of choice. We then adopted a comprehensive strategy to address the circulation and easy availability of firearms and ammunition. This is also thanks to the support Parliament gave to police last year by declaring a firearms amnesty period, through the constitutional powers vested in and accorded to the Minister of Police, from 11 January 2010 to 11 April 2010.
South Africa has a significant pool of illegal firearms in circulation, which contributes to the high rate of serious and violent crime. The sources of these illegal firearms range from firearms stolen from members of the public to firearms illegally smuggled into the country across our borders.
A lot was achieved during this process. Members of the community voluntarily surrendered their licensed firearms for destruction through the process prescribed in the firearms control regulations. Assistance was also provided by allowing those who missed the cut-off date for renewing their licences to license their weapons in terms of the Firearms Control Act. For those who still have illegal firearms, the time is over.
Die poppe sal dans! [The sparks are going to fly!]
We are encouraged and happy that 46 262 weapons were received at our police stations as a result of the amnesty period. [Applause.] Twelve thousand one hundred and seventy-nine of these were illegal and 27 119 were legal firearms voluntarily surrendered. During this period again, 6 964 were confiscated by the police. It should also be noted that the society we live in raised negative sentiments about this amnesty process, with others encouraging people not to heed the call. But we are happy that South Africans are responsible and cannot be dragged back by those with evil intentions.
In order to achieve our goals for the transformation of the police service, especially focusing on leadership, gender parity, representativeness and personnel, the existing affirmative action programmes will be continued. We are closing all the gaps and loopholes in this programme. What we are clearly saying is that, when necessary and when the need arises, additional programmes will be instituted.
A thorough and intensive effort will also take centre stage in promoting gender equity within the department, thus developing and appointing deserving women in decision-making positions. People with disabilities will not be left behind as the required 2% target achievement will be enhanced.
The leadership of police has identified command and control as one of the major problems experienced in the management of the personnel, especially at police station level. Through this finding, an essential training tool kit for commanders at station level is needed, not only to provide them with operational and tactical skills relevant to their jobs, but also to upskill them for their daily operations. The department will be creating various pools of skilled staff who will in future be competent station commanders.
Through police-community partnerships, and an increase in media and public confidence in the police, the fight against crime will be enhanced. In relation to contact crimes, serious crimes and organised syndicates, the success which will be achieved through arrests, seizures and convictions lies in communication by the SAPS. Furthermore, an opportunity for communication exists through the marketing of the SAPS capacity-building programmes. We will arrest more criminals through enhanced communication.
In conclusion, allow me to make special mention of and send my gratitude to the women in the SAPS Air Wing and on peacekeeping missions. These are women who have shown that they are as strong and able as their male counterparts. Gone are the days when we used to place women on the other side, for example, in the client service centres.
We also would like to congratulate all those recipients of SAPS Service Awards from various provinces. We are proud of you and, as former President Mandela said, we believe that you are national assets, the heroes and heroines of the nation. You are the institution which the SAPS, South Africa and South Africans need. Thank you very much. [Applause.]