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The African National Congress (ANC) fully endorses the long-overdue National Police Day event today (29 January 2010) being observed for the first time in South Africa. Against a background of high crime rates, we firmly believe that the event will go a long way in rewarding the many thousands of police officers who daily brave attacks from criminals armed with high calibre weapons, to ensure the safety of the country�s citizens and foreign nationals.
As we celebrate National Police Day � an event which will hugely boost the morale of men and women in uniform � we also pay tribute to many who could sadly not live to see this historic day. To those that patrol our streets, apprehending criminals, we are aware of the impact this has on their stress levels and thank them for their commitment to securing the nation. Even in times of economic distress, it is important to provide employees with acknowledgment for work well done and afford them some wellness day.
Crime fighting is one of the ANC�s key priority areas and stepping up a campaign against crime and corruption is not solely a matter for police but a societal challenge. Mobilising the South African society and communities to participate in combating crime by establishing street and area committees - working with community policing forums � is crucial in the war on crime.
We will continue to enhance the implementation of our 2009 Manifesto by:
• Establishing a new modernised, efficient and transformed criminal justice system to develop the capacity for fighting and reducing crime in real terms. Government will review the functioning of the police, the judiciary and the correctional services tchieve enhanced co-operation and co-ordination within all players in the criminal justice system.
• Actively combating serious and violent crime by being tougher on criminals and organised syndicates. In this respect, we will increase the capacity of the SAPS through recruitment, rigorous training, better remuneration, equipping and increasing the ccity of especially the Detective Services, forensics, prosecution, judicial services and crime intelligence.
• Establishing and strengthening the new unit to fight organised crime.
• Providing greater support for the SAPS, especially to combat the attacks on the members of the SAPS, Including through introducing legislative measures to protect law-enforcement officials in the execution of their duties.
• Combating violence and crimes against women and children by increasing the capacity of the criminal justice system to deal with such violence.
We congratulate Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa, Deputy Minister Fikile Mbalula and National Police Commissioner Bheki Cele for coming up with an innovative idea of showing appreciation to police officers by launching National Police Day. Mindful of the fact that morale boosting is not a once-off event but a continuous process, we fully endorse the view that this be an annual event. We dismiss with the contempt it deserves unplaced and unwarranted criticism from those who are only worried about the cost of this exercise and not the benefit that South Africa will derive from it.