Welcoming and purpose of event: Address by the National Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola at the Ministerial Business Partnership Dinner

Emperors Palce, Kempton Park, Gauteng

The Minister of Police, Mr S Mchunu, MP
The Deputy Ministers of Police, Mr C Mathale and Ms S Boshielo, MPs
Deputy National Commissioners of the SAPS present
The National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation Lieutenant General (Dr/Adv) SG Lebeya
Provincial Commissioners present
Divisional Commissioners in attendance
The Chief executive Officer of the Institute for Security Studies, Mr G Newman
The Chief Executive Officer of Business Against Crime South Africa, Dr G Wright
Business Entities representatives in attendance
Director Generals of various Government Departments
CPF Chairperson, Ms F Lukas
Members of the SAPS present
All Stakeholders in attendance
Distinguished guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

Good evening!

It is my pleasure and honour to welcome you to this evening dedicated to fostering cooperation between the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the business entities in the fight against crime in our beloved country, South Africa.

A special welcome to our functionary, Minister Mchunu [Macingwane]. Thank you very much Minister for your presence at this important event and for your overall leadership of the SAPS.

We also welcome and appreciate the presence of your second in command, the Deputy Ministers of Police, Mr Mathale and Ms Boshielo.

General Lebeya, we appreciate your presence and your boundless support of the SAPS.

Our Deputy National Commissioners, Provincial Commissioners, Divisional Commissioners, and all other Generals, Brigadiers, Senior Officers of the SAPS and stakeholders in the private and public sector, you are all welcome. We highly acknowledge and deeply appreciate the presence of our strategic partners and stakeholders, the CEO of the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), Mr G Newman and the CEO of Business Against Crime South Africa (BACSA), Dr G Wright.

We extend our warmest welcome to you and we deeply value your support and cooperation. In the interest of time, allow me to say to all participants gathered here, you are all welcome and we are honoured by your presence at this important event.

Programme Director, Ladies and Gentlemen, looking around this room, I am filled with inspiration and hope. Yes, we face difficult situation of concerning criminal levels and evolving Modus Operandi but, with the calibre of people like you as allies I have no doubt that we are embarking on an age of unprecedented progress in the fight against criminals and criminality.

Tonight’s event is the outcome of an order by the President of the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency Mr Cyril Ramaphosa to me in my capacity as the National Commissioner of Police in the year 2023. Then, the President advised me to look into areas of cooperation for strategic partnership with the Business Fraternity to aid the SAPS in the fight against crime.

In response to that order, I assembled the best men and women in blue, most of whom are here with us tonight, to put together a concept which was later presented to President Ramaphosa and Business entities thatsame year (the year 2023).

Therefore, the Purpose of this event, Ladies and Gentlemen, is to proceed with the advancement of the said concept and give momentum to the strategic partnership and the implementation thereof, which Minister Mchunu will elaborate on tonight.

We are grateful to have entities outside of the public sector willing to cooperate with us in our strive to realise our organisation’s vision to create a safe and secure environment for all the people in South Africa.

Without further ado, I would like to reiterate that you are all welcome and it is our pleasure to host you. I hope you will enjoy the mouth-watering dinner we have prepared specially for you.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION.