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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND INTRODUCTION
Let me acknowledge:
The President of the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency Cyril Ramaphosa,
Deputy Minister Cassel Mathale, Deputy Minister Polly Boshielo (in absentia)
Premier of the Western Cape, Mr Alan Winde,
MEC: Police Oversight and Community Safety, Ms Marais,
Acting Executive Mayor of the City of Cape Town, Cllr AE Andrews,
National Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola,
Deputy National Commissioners present,
Director-General: Civillian Secretariat for Police Service, Mr Thulani Sibuyi,
Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General (Advocate) Patekile,
Deputy Provincial Commissioners,
Station Commanders,
Representatives of various CPF’s and organisations,
Community of Cape Town,
Members of the media,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good morning to you all.
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Today marks a significant milestone in our collective effort to ensure the safety and security of our communities. The signing of this Cooperation Agreement is a testament to our shared commitment to fighting crime and building a safer environment for all residents of Cape Town and the Western Cape.
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Our collaboration is grounded on several key objectives, each vital to achieving our vision of a safer city. Together, we will create a shared safer city and consequently, a safer South Africa vision, one that unites us in purpose and action. We will develop robust programs and infrastructure to support crime prevention and law enforcement, enhancing the economic performance of our communities and ensuring that safety and prosperity go hand in hand.
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It is important to remember that our efforts are not just guided by our shared vision but also by the constitutional framework that governs policing in our country. Section 206 (1) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, provides for a determination of a national policing policy by the Minister of Police, after consulting the provincial government and taking into account the policing needs and priorities of the provinces as determined by the provincial executive. This provision enables us to align our strategies across different spheres of government, ensuring that our actions are coordinated and consistent with national priorities.
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We recognise that effective governance is essential for achieving these goals. Therefore, we will work diligently to ensure a conducive governance platform, one that supports transparency, accountability, and responsiveness in all our actions. We will also focus on building internal capacity, ensuring that the SAPS, the provincial government through the Department of Police Oversight and Community Safety, the Metro Police and the City Law Enforcement Officers assisted by the CPFs and Neighbourhood Watches cooperate in action, coordinate efforts, collaborate in practice, within a framework of shared resources.
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In this digital age, we must also leverage technology and data to enhance our crime-fighting efforts. By aligning our strategies and coordinating the implementation of our initiatives, we will maximise our impact and ensure that our actions are both efficient and effective.
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This morning we released the crime statistics for the last quarter of the previous financial year and the first quarter of the current financial year. The Western Cape province recorded the highest increase in murder cases, putting the ratio of murders committed per capita, per province (that is, ratio per 100 000 of the population) at 15.3%. This is indeed a concern and we are confident that we will overcome it.
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In conclusion, today’s agreement is not just a document; it is an undertaking—no just a paper exercise but an undertaking to commit to an action plan towards establishing a safer city and province. I am confident that through our combined efforts, we will achieve great things and build a future where every resident of Cape Town and the Western Cape feels safe, protected, and valued.
At this point, ladies and gentlemen, it is my singular honour to call upon His Excellency, the President, to address us. Thank you.
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