Firearms, drugs, witchcraft
among key generators of crime
Media Release
06 November 2008
It has been established that
crime in Mpumalanga is mostly
generated by firearms, mob
justice, liquor outlets, usage
of drugs, witchcraft, taxi
violence, organized crime and
stock theft.
Although illegal firearms are
mostly used in committing crime,
some legal firearms are also
involved. Police have recorded
14 cases of murder in Mpumalanga
over the past weekend and
mostly, the murders were as a
result of generic crimes while
others were caused by firearms,
knives, and domestic violence.
Mob justice is also regarded as
a contributor to crime. Crime
suspects get murdered by
community members who take law
into their hands while police
rush to a crime scene. The most
affected areas are Masoyi and
Matsulu.
People usually commit crime
after having consumed too much
alcohol. Liquor outlets are
culprits as they do not comply
with the conditions of their
operating licenses. It has been
established that people commit
crime when outlets close very
late, and when they leave the
closed outlets to look for open
taverns.
Drug abuse seems to be on the
increase at schools. Police have
discovered tick, cocaine, and
guns in five schools in
Bushbuckridge and learners end
up mugging their teachers of
their cell-phones in order to
buy drugs.
Involvement of security guards
in the taxi industry also
contributes significantly to
crime, because most of them have
illegal firearms which they use
during taxi violence.
This was disclosed during a
meeting organized by Mpumalanga
Safety and Security MEC, Mr
Siphosezwe Masango on Tuesday,
04 November 2008 with all public
safety municipal councilors in
Mpumalanga to discuss issues
relating to safety in the
province.
The meeting held in Barberton,
among others looked at issues
relating to the Integrated 2010
Safety and Security, crime
trends in Mpumalanga, progress
on tourism and school safety,
and progress on Community Safety
Forums.
Community Safety Forum
The transformation of Community
Policing Forums (CPFs) into
Community Safety Forums (CSFs)
has taken a step further. The
department of Safety and
Security has already recruited
and trained CSFs volunteers at
31 prioritized police stations
in the province. CSFs are
volunteers who will be working
with police to ensure safety in
the communities.
The department has entered into
a partnership with Old Mutual to
provide furniture and computers
to the CSF’s offices.
The restructuring of CPFs, which
will cost the provincial
government R1.55 million, will
also ensure that communication
between the department and the
community on crime prevention is
improved.
Tourism Safety Monitors
Tourism Safety Monitors (TSM)
provide safety to domestic and
international tourists
throughout Mpumalanga. While
they create a safe and conducive
environment for tourists who
visit Mpumalanga, they help with
increased community awareness on
safety and economic benefits of
tourism.
They attend to crime likely to
affect tourists such as car
hijacking, theft of motor
vehicles, rape, common robbery
and burglary.
The monitors have been deployed
at tourism problematic areas. At
least 67 have been deployed in
Gert Sibande Region, 62 in
Nkangala Region and 110 in the
Ehlanzeni Region.
Monitors receive a monthly
stipend of R1 800 per person,
and the package includes uniform
and training.
They are not trained as police
reservists since they provide
customer care, communication and
reporting mechanism to the
police. They have basic
knowledge of how the criminal
justice system works.
Integrated 2010 Safety and
Security Plan
The FIFA LOC has requested
support from Premiers and MECs
to provide stewards or marshals
for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The stewards are safety monitors
working in the stadium during
the World Cup matches to control
the crowds. They will be trained
and be ready for the 2009
Confederations Cup and the 2010
World Cup.
Additional to the stewards, FIFA
is expecting provinces to
recruit 30 volunteers who will
provide services for free to the
2010 LOC.
School Safety
Safety in schools has become a
matter of national priority and
it requires structured and
integrated approach in order to
make impact towards responding
to the threats and challenges in
schools.
The school based crime
prevention strategy targets all
school communities. It shall be
implemented in an integrated
structured approach headed by
the Department of Safety and
Security and the Department of
Education.
The strategy will focus on
safety and security of the
structures (buildings),
surroundings (play grounds),
movement and control, and other
environmental designs that may
predispose learners to crime and
danger.
It will also attempt to
influence parents, educators,
learners and the general
community behaviour and attitude
towards each other on school
safety initiatives.
Finally, the strategy will adopt
a holistic approach of how the
school operates. This includes
policies, procedures,
structures, effective management
and governance.
16 Days of Activism on No
Violence Against Women and
Children
The Office of the Premier has
officially handed over the
responsibility of organizing the
16 Days of Activism on No
Violence Against Women and
Children to the Department of
Safety and Security.
Although the Office of the
Premier will still serve as a
resource department in this
year’s activities, Safety and
Security will budget and ensure
success in the years to come.
The 16 Days of Activism on No
Violence Against Women and
Children is a United Nations
Campaign aimed at creating
awareness about violence to
women and children.
This year’s theme is Don’t
Look Away, Act Against Abuse.
Issued by Communications
Directorate of the Department of
Safety and Security.
For more information, contact
Joseph Mabuza on 013 766 4055 or
082 678 1450.
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