The Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison in the Northern Cape hit the ground running today, as it continued in its efforts to ensure safer communities in the Northern Cape. It successfully launched the Emthanjeni and Ubuntu Local Municipalities’ Community Safety Forums (CSF).
The launch was an initiative to further open the eyes of the local communities and the broader province in crime fighting efforts in the province.
A CSF is an integrated structure that has key functions which include coordinating, monitoring and evaluating the implementation of safety programmes or projects at a local level. They identify policing priorities with the police, join ownership of policing programmes and ensure police accountability to the community amongst other functions.
The launched at Victoria West’s community hall in Ubuntu Municipality was attended by various members of the community and stakeholders that included SAPS, Department of Social Development, Youth Groups, Women Groups, CPFs and Faith based organisations.
The Provincial Police Commissioner Lt Gen Basson also attended the launched and addressed the community on the importance of finding unity in such forums. She said not only where they important but create a great platform for communities to voice their concerns, be actively involved in fighting crime, finding solutions to challenges they face in their communities and also jointly fighting crime.
Acting HoD for the Department, Catherine Nomakwezi Jonkers, addressing the stakeholders said it was an exciting day for community members to be united to launch the CSFs. She said commitment of the various stakeholders made the launch possible and only unity and commitment will further its mandate.
She said the Forum provided an opportunity to empower communities on safety and security at a local level.
“As the various stakeholders, unity is very important because we have set one goal which is to fight crime. In the olden days, SAPS was responsible to fight crime but times have changed and now everyone needs to be involved in fighting crime.”
She said everyone needed to put themselves in the shoes of a victim of crime and realise that it is everyone’s fight and we all need to take ownership of fighting crime as one.
Jonkers said everyone needed to play a role not only to condemn crime but also to expose it and assist police fight crime. She added that there were members of communities and government institutions determined to fight crime and everyone needed to join in to win the fight so “we can all live in harmony.”
Captions: Provincial Police Commissioner Lt Gen Basson signing a pledge of commitment in terms of the Community Safety Forum and acting HoD Jonkers in Victoria West city hall.
Caption 2: Stakeholders at the launch of the Community Safety Forum in Victoria West.
Background
The department is tasked with monitoring the establishment of CSFs in the province. This launch is yet another milestone the department has reached in service delivery for the people of the Northern Cape and those visiting the province.
The Policy framework for the establishment of CSFs is based on the deliberations and resolutions of the Governing Party at its Stellenbosch 2002 and Polokwane 2007 conferences which proposed that CSFs should be established to play a more meaningful role in local crime prevention.
CSFs are established to promote the development of a community where citizens live in a safe environment and have access to high quality services at local level. This is achieved through integrated and coordinated multi-agency collaboration among organs of state and various communities.
The CSF’s are based on the foundation that increased cooperation and interaction would improve the functioning of the criminal justice system and the delivery of crime prevention projects. Therefore, the CSFs provide a means for sharing information, and coordinating inter-disciplinary approach to crime prevention.
Stakeholders include Saps, Correctional Services, Home Affairs, Department of Justice, Municipalities, Department of Social Development, Department of Education, NGOs, Community based organisations, youth and women groups amongst a variety of stakeholders and other social cluster departments.
CSFs are meant to harness the energies of JCPS departments and relevant organs of state with a view of realizing collaborations and better coordination.
For Enquiries contact:
Keitumetse Moticoe
Communication Officer
Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison
074 251 6567