Crime Combating Cannot Be Left To Government Alone

Media Release
07 July 2008

MEC Siphosezwe Masango told members of the business community in Secunda that 47 million people cannot be held at ransom by a few thousand criminals. Masango was addressing business people during the recent Business Breakfast meeting hosted by the department at the Graceland Hotel on Monday.

He called upon business to unite against crime as crime combating cannot be left to government alone.

The purpose of the breakfast meeting was to jointly discuss safety and security measures towards crime fighting in the province. Business communities were encouraged to initiate strategies in which they can assist the department in an all round offensive against crime.

This initiative is part of the mass mobilization of communities and other organizations in the fight against crime in the province.

”The concept of crime fighting all over the world and particularly in this country cannot be left to government alone. Therefore, Mpumalanga Province is no exception,” said Masango.

Masango indicated that the R68 million budget that has been allocated to the department is not adequate to finance all crime prevention initiatives and there are volunteers who are constantly assisting the department such as members of the CPFs, sector policing members, patrol teams and other programmes of the department. He said these structures need resources such as boots, protective clothing and sometimes food to eat while patrolling.

“It is therefore, in the spirit of business unusual that the department calls upon all members of the business community to supplement government efforts of fighting crime, and participate in the initiatives meant to improve the conditions of safety of all people. This includes you, the business people of Gert Sibande”, concluded the MEC.

The Business Breakfast meetings were initiated by the former Safety and Security MEC, Honourable Fish Mahlalela. The first meeting was held in Ehlanzeni Region in April 2008 and the second meeting was held in Nkangala Region in June 2008.

Business people can assist by among others, adopting police stations, assisting with resources for crime prevention initiatives such as encouraging people to enlist as police reservists in various categories.

Masango lamented that crime is undoing the good work that the government is doing towards the infrastructural developments in preparation for the forthcoming 2010 Soccer World Cup. The business community must work closely with government in ensuring that those gains are not reversed by crime. The magnitude of the World Cup is huge such that it will benefit the economy of the country but also attracting crime syndicates from other provinces and outside the country, therefore, there is a need to work together.

For more information please contact Joseph Mabuza at 013 766 4055 or 082 676 1450.

Issued by Communication Directorate, Mpumalanga Provincial Government.