Address by Mpumalanga MEC for Safety, Security and Liaison,
Sibongile Manana, during the Service Excellence Awards, Witbank
12 November 2009
Programme director
Honourable executive mayor of Emalahleni municipality
Provincial Commissioner, Ntobela
Deputy Provincial Commissioner, Machabi
Head of Department, Mr IN Khoza
Mrs Venete Klein, Executive Director for Retail Banking of the Amalgamated Banks
of South Africa (ABSA)
Mr Jeff Gerard, Chief Operating Officer of Xstrata Coal
Officials from the department
Members of South African Police Service (SAPS)
Invited guests
Ladies and gentlemen
The last time I was in this kind of an event was when Captain Ronel Van
Lingen won the overall prize for the Women Network Excellence Award held in
Hazyview in October 2009 organised by provincial South African Police Service
(SAPS). It is encouraging to note that the same spirit is now being cascaded to
local police stations. We hope and believe that the rest of the police stations
in the province shall follow this example.
Two days ago the United Nations passed a resolution to declare 18 July
as Mandela Day. This alone means a lot to the people of the world in general and
to South Africans in particular. It is because of the leadership former
President Mandela demonstrated before South Africa was democratised, during the
transitional period after the democratic elections and thereafter. His
leadership attributes were instilling such that emulating them became a matter
of must.
The initiators of this noble idea, to have an International Mandela Day
declared by the African Union and United Nations, should be applauded. We are
gathered here today to celebrate the attributes of leadership. These are the
people within our service who have realised that to be of service to the nation
means to go beyond the call of duty. I am convinced programme director that
these officials are driven by the fact that what you do today impact to what
happens in the future.
Preparing for a brighter future start with the little this we do now.
Every step you take, every word you say and every decision you make contribute
to the legacy you going to live on this earth the day you pass on. So if you
make either a good and bad decision today, you must know that future generations
will know about it. It is important therefore, that we sober up with all things
we do.
Programme director, those to be honoured today surely have demonstrated
some leadership attributes. They have taken upon themselves the responsibility
to ensure that as they perform their daily duties they at the same time inspire
others. Leadership is not only by leading others but more about influencing
others to lead. These are the people who without doubt are driven by the fact
that you cannot conquer what you will not confront. They have confronted the
limited resources available in the police service, maximise them and ensured
that they achieve optimal results. They surely deserve to be honoured.
The public service including the police service has still a long way to
go in terms of transformation. We all agree that transformation cannot be an
event but a deliberate programme integrated to our normal working environment
aimed at achieving the bigger whole. Transformation in the police service should
be informed by realising the enormous responsibility the present generation has
in determining the future outcomes. What we decide and do now will determine
what kind of police service we will become.
I am inviting all of you to join the government endeavour to change our
society for better. This is all our responsibility, it is our burden.
Fortunately enough we have the private sector within our midst and their
presence today demonstrate their willingness and assurance that they are part of
us. We are trying all we can as government to make the environment conducive for
them to conduct their businesses, likewise we also expect them to plough back to
the communities and to government’s efforts to change our communities into safe
environments for our people, black and white, women and children, the rich and
poor.
I would like to challenge the house to go and read a book by Piet Human
called YENZA. Chapter two is about the strategy of the goat. The strategy of the
goat is to tether oneself to a lucrative eating place and then to consume as
much as possible. What the goat is eating is from the organisation; actually it
is the organisation itself. Programme director we have practical examples in the
police service.
This year alone, drugs just decided to disappear at the Nelspruit
police station, just recently money went missing at the Middelburg police
station, we often loose cigarettes confiscated at our borders, dockets are lost
in our police stations and cases are withdrawn in the courts because of
inadequate evidence. The goat is out there to eat as much grass possible
forgetting about the dangers that poses should heavy rains come and find areas
without enough grass. The goat does not think of the consequences.
The same goes for our police officials involved in corrupt activities.
They only think about enriching themselves, forgetting the damage corruption
causes to the organisations and communities. I am convinced that should all of
us read that chapter about the strategy of the goat, we will realise the
importance of joining hands with government and uproot corruption. We do not
have to deal with the symptoms but the causes.
We are gathered here today to demonstrate that the few goats within our
midst cannot be allowed to dilute the whole component of the police service. We
are here to demonstrate that we under the clarion call for an effective service
to all our people. Our declaration is the one that seeks to say crime and
corruption is our number enemy. And if we really want to eradicate crime and
criminality, we will need to ensure that our house is clean too.
Those nominated and the eventual winners are an inspiration to all of
us. They demonstrate that all is not lost in the fight against crime. They
present of good mirror of ourselves that we are driven by Ubuntu. We fully
understand the reason for the existence of the police service, that our
communities need to live in safe environments, that we are charged to claim back
all our streets and corners. That we commit to declare crime and criminality
unfashionable.
We derive our strengths from the fact that we know that the communities
depend on us to provide leadership in the fight against crime; we remain
encouraged by the demonstration shown by different stakeholders such as the
business communities, non governmental organisation and the public at large. As
we approach the festive season let remain vigilant and ensure that we provide
services to our people during this time of many challenges. Let us roll out
campaigns that will be able to galvanise the whole communities as we seek to
ensure them a safe Christmas.
Programme director, let me say these few words to all nominated. The
fact that you were considered for a prize means that your contribution to the
police station has gone unnoticed. Whether you end up losing or winning does not
matter. What matters most is the fact that all of us now know and recognise your
contribution. It matters that this contribution is seen to changing the
environment under which we are living. Congratulations. Fighting for crime is
everybody’s business. We are all invited to make a contribution to the
eradication of crime within our communities. Together we can win this fight;
together we will win the war.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Safety, Security and Liaison
