Date: 27/01/2005
Source: The Presidency
Title: J Zuma: 10th anniversary celebration of formation of South African Police Services
Address delivered by the Deputy President, Jacob Zuma, at the 10th anniversary celebration of the formation of the South African Police Services (SAPS), Pretoria 27 January 2005
Honourable Minister of Safety and Security, Charles Nqakula, Honourable Deputy Minister of Safety and Security, Susan Shabangu, Ministers and Deputy Ministers here present, Provincial MECs for Safety and Security, Commissioner of the SAPS, Jackie Selebi, Members of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures, Honourable Mayor of Tshwane, Father Smangaliso Mkhatshwa, Other Mayors, Councillors, Honourable Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is an honour and a privilege for me to be here with you today on this special occasion, as we celebrate 10 years since the formation of the South African Police Services. Ladies and Gentlemen, South Africa comes from an unfortunate past where many of our laws were designed to treat citizens of our country differently. To some citizens these laws were protective, but to the majority they were not. As a result, the respect of law and order was unknown, and those who were entrusted with the duty to maintain law and order were often the main abusers of it.
Many people in our society still carry the scars of how ruthless and brutal the apartheid police force was. It is a matter of historic record that many people died at the hands of a police force that was there to enforce the unequal laws of the then illegitimate government that was based on a discredited ideology of apartheid.
By the late 1980's South Africa had literally been transformed to a police state, with apartheid's security structures having wide-ranging powers and being seen to be at the centre of influencing major policy decisions with regard to matters of law and order in the country.
In 1994, when the advent of democracy occurred, we were faced with this major challenge of how to build a loyal and patriotic police service whose prime objective would be to ensure the safety and security of our people, rather than enforcing law and order - a police service with a new culture that would reflect the values of a new democratic society where all would be equal before the law.
The South African Police Services was formed after a process of integrating eleven different police structures from the different homeland police forces which existed prior to the democratic dispensation of 27 April 1994.
The key question that faced us then was how to build a professional and efficient police service from police forces which had different cultures, different ethos and different levels of training.
When the South African Police Services was established it had to contend with a number of critical challenges. Among these was how to build the confidence of the people towards a police service that had represented the historical injustices of the past where the majority of the people had complete disregard and disrespect for law and order, and had no trust or confidence in the police.
These challenges meant that a totally new approach was needed when dealing with the transformation of the police service. It is within this context that we can begin to appreciate and understand the change and transformation that has taken place within the police.
Today, as we celebrate 10 years since the birth of the South African Police Services, we can safely say that transformation has indeed taken place and that we have managed to transform the police from a police force concept to a police service concept.
We now have a police service that respects the law, and respects the democratic culture and ethos of our country. In the space of ten years we have managed to build a police service that is steeped in a human rights culture and that respects the constitution and does not serve a party political ideology.
These celebrations therefore mark a milestone in the history of transformation in our country. They speak of the long road that we have travelled to truly transform the police to what they are today. When the SAPS was established ten years ago none could imagine that in such a short period our police could go through such tremendous changes and transformation.
We are very proud of the transformation that has taken place so far and continues to take place within the South African Police Services. We draw strength from the fact that we now have a police service that is committed to dealing with crime in an efficient and professional manner.
Today we are proud that we have a police service that systematically deals with crime prevention in an integrated way in collaboration with other stakeholders. That is part of the new approach that we spoke about. For our country to succeed in combating crime we need close cooperation between all state institutions within the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster.
We have a police service that pays special attention to serious crimes that affect our country. That is why it is of absolute importance that the Department of Safety and Security has identified four key strategic priorities to deal with crime.
The first priority being that of combating organised crime which focuses on crimes relating to drug and arms trafficking, vehicle theft and hijacking organised commercial crime and corruption among public officials.
The second strategic priority has to deal with serious and violent crime; this entails the reduction of firearms, which contributes to high levels of violent crimes. Part of the objectives here are to deal decisively with crimes such as taxi and gang violence, faction fighting and to ensure that security is maintained at large public events.
Thirdly, the police have launched an offensive against those who perpetrate crimes against women and children. The Domestic Violence Act of 1998 has gone a long way in helping the police deal with this problem. Strategies to reduce the incidence of crimes committed against women and children are in place and the capacity to investigate and prosecute those alleged to have committed these crimes has been substantially improved.
The fourth strategic area of focus is that of improving the service given at police stations through the implementation of service delivery improvement programmes.
The implementation of these various strategies has succeeded in lowering levels of crime especially incidents of violent crime:
* Since 1994 the incidence of murder has decreased by a significant 30,7%, * A decrease of 5,7% in the occurrence of rape was recorded in 2002/2003, the lowest since 1994, * There has been a significant decrease in high profile cases of aggravated robbery. Car hijackings decreased by 20,2% and bank robberies and cash in transit robberies decreased by 15,4% in 2003/2004.
These statistics indicate that we have a police service that is serious about combating serious crimes and indicate that our efforts to deal decisively with crime have started to bear fruit.
The interventions that the police have embarked upon have also been greatly enhanced by community participation in crime related matters. The formation of Community Policing Forums plays a major role in reducing levels of crime. This cooperation means that the police can have the full support of and can rely on the communities within which they work.
We wish to take this opportunity to salute all those police officers who have died in the line of duty and reiterate that we will continue to apply strict measures against those who continue to kill police officers. We have also started to see a steady decline in incidents where police officers have been killed while on duty. While 265 police officers were killed in 1994 this figure had dropped to 113 by 2003. We are, however, striving for a situation where there should be not a single police officer who gets killed on duty.
As we celebrate the 10 years of the South African Police Services we are aware of the challenges that still face our police in their efforts to combat crime but we are confident that they have turned the tide.
Ladies and gentlemen, as we celebrate the 10 years and the good progress by our police service in fighting crime we must also remember that the eradication of crime in our country is not only the task of the police service, but that of all of us. To eradicate crime we need a much more comprehensive strategy which encompasses the challenge of improving the quality of life of our people by changing socio-economic conditions for the better. We need to eliminate poverty and develop our economy so that all our people are able to benefit from our economic goals. We also need to work hard to change the attitudes and develop new values and a positive approach to ourselves and our country, to work hard for the moral regeneration of our society. This therefore is an all encompassing task for the entire nation.
We are proud of our police service. We will continue to give them all the necessary support needed to carry out their noble and essential national duty. As we celebrate 10 years of the SAPS we would like to express our appreciation for the job well done. To the National Commissioner, Deputy National Commissioners, Provincial Commissioners, men and women of our police service, we salute and thank you for the service you are providing to our country and its people.
We wish you all the success in the years to come. I am certain you will grow and become the most effective police service to our people. We have confidence in you.
Thank you.
Issued by: The Presidency
27 January 2005
Source: The Presidency
Title: J Zuma: 10th anniversary celebration of formation of South African Police Services
Address delivered by the Deputy President, Jacob Zuma, at the 10th anniversary celebration of the formation of the South African Police Services (SAPS), Pretoria 27 January 2005
Honourable Minister of Safety and Security, Charles Nqakula, Honourable Deputy Minister of Safety and Security, Susan Shabangu, Ministers and Deputy Ministers here present, Provincial MECs for Safety and Security, Commissioner of the SAPS, Jackie Selebi, Members of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures, Honourable Mayor of Tshwane, Father Smangaliso Mkhatshwa, Other Mayors, Councillors, Honourable Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is an honour and a privilege for me to be here with you today on this special occasion, as we celebrate 10 years since the formation of the South African Police Services. Ladies and Gentlemen, South Africa comes from an unfortunate past where many of our laws were designed to treat citizens of our country differently. To some citizens these laws were protective, but to the majority they were not. As a result, the respect of law and order was unknown, and those who were entrusted with the duty to maintain law and order were often the main abusers of it.
Many people in our society still carry the scars of how ruthless and brutal the apartheid police force was. It is a matter of historic record that many people died at the hands of a police force that was there to enforce the unequal laws of the then illegitimate government that was based on a discredited ideology of apartheid.
By the late 1980's South Africa had literally been transformed to a police state, with apartheid's security structures having wide-ranging powers and being seen to be at the centre of influencing major policy decisions with regard to matters of law and order in the country.
In 1994, when the advent of democracy occurred, we were faced with this major challenge of how to build a loyal and patriotic police service whose prime objective would be to ensure the safety and security of our people, rather than enforcing law and order - a police service with a new culture that would reflect the values of a new democratic society where all would be equal before the law.
The South African Police Services was formed after a process of integrating eleven different police structures from the different homeland police forces which existed prior to the democratic dispensation of 27 April 1994.
The key question that faced us then was how to build a professional and efficient police service from police forces which had different cultures, different ethos and different levels of training.
When the South African Police Services was established it had to contend with a number of critical challenges. Among these was how to build the confidence of the people towards a police service that had represented the historical injustices of the past where the majority of the people had complete disregard and disrespect for law and order, and had no trust or confidence in the police.
These challenges meant that a totally new approach was needed when dealing with the transformation of the police service. It is within this context that we can begin to appreciate and understand the change and transformation that has taken place within the police.
Today, as we celebrate 10 years since the birth of the South African Police Services, we can safely say that transformation has indeed taken place and that we have managed to transform the police from a police force concept to a police service concept.
We now have a police service that respects the law, and respects the democratic culture and ethos of our country. In the space of ten years we have managed to build a police service that is steeped in a human rights culture and that respects the constitution and does not serve a party political ideology.
These celebrations therefore mark a milestone in the history of transformation in our country. They speak of the long road that we have travelled to truly transform the police to what they are today. When the SAPS was established ten years ago none could imagine that in such a short period our police could go through such tremendous changes and transformation.
We are very proud of the transformation that has taken place so far and continues to take place within the South African Police Services. We draw strength from the fact that we now have a police service that is committed to dealing with crime in an efficient and professional manner.
Today we are proud that we have a police service that systematically deals with crime prevention in an integrated way in collaboration with other stakeholders. That is part of the new approach that we spoke about. For our country to succeed in combating crime we need close cooperation between all state institutions within the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster.
We have a police service that pays special attention to serious crimes that affect our country. That is why it is of absolute importance that the Department of Safety and Security has identified four key strategic priorities to deal with crime.
The first priority being that of combating organised crime which focuses on crimes relating to drug and arms trafficking, vehicle theft and hijacking organised commercial crime and corruption among public officials.
The second strategic priority has to deal with serious and violent crime; this entails the reduction of firearms, which contributes to high levels of violent crimes. Part of the objectives here are to deal decisively with crimes such as taxi and gang violence, faction fighting and to ensure that security is maintained at large public events.
Thirdly, the police have launched an offensive against those who perpetrate crimes against women and children. The Domestic Violence Act of 1998 has gone a long way in helping the police deal with this problem. Strategies to reduce the incidence of crimes committed against women and children are in place and the capacity to investigate and prosecute those alleged to have committed these crimes has been substantially improved.
The fourth strategic area of focus is that of improving the service given at police stations through the implementation of service delivery improvement programmes.
The implementation of these various strategies has succeeded in lowering levels of crime especially incidents of violent crime:
* Since 1994 the incidence of murder has decreased by a significant 30,7%, * A decrease of 5,7% in the occurrence of rape was recorded in 2002/2003, the lowest since 1994, * There has been a significant decrease in high profile cases of aggravated robbery. Car hijackings decreased by 20,2% and bank robberies and cash in transit robberies decreased by 15,4% in 2003/2004.
These statistics indicate that we have a police service that is serious about combating serious crimes and indicate that our efforts to deal decisively with crime have started to bear fruit.
The interventions that the police have embarked upon have also been greatly enhanced by community participation in crime related matters. The formation of Community Policing Forums plays a major role in reducing levels of crime. This cooperation means that the police can have the full support of and can rely on the communities within which they work.
We wish to take this opportunity to salute all those police officers who have died in the line of duty and reiterate that we will continue to apply strict measures against those who continue to kill police officers. We have also started to see a steady decline in incidents where police officers have been killed while on duty. While 265 police officers were killed in 1994 this figure had dropped to 113 by 2003. We are, however, striving for a situation where there should be not a single police officer who gets killed on duty.
As we celebrate the 10 years of the South African Police Services we are aware of the challenges that still face our police in their efforts to combat crime but we are confident that they have turned the tide.
Ladies and gentlemen, as we celebrate the 10 years and the good progress by our police service in fighting crime we must also remember that the eradication of crime in our country is not only the task of the police service, but that of all of us. To eradicate crime we need a much more comprehensive strategy which encompasses the challenge of improving the quality of life of our people by changing socio-economic conditions for the better. We need to eliminate poverty and develop our economy so that all our people are able to benefit from our economic goals. We also need to work hard to change the attitudes and develop new values and a positive approach to ourselves and our country, to work hard for the moral regeneration of our society. This therefore is an all encompassing task for the entire nation.
We are proud of our police service. We will continue to give them all the necessary support needed to carry out their noble and essential national duty. As we celebrate 10 years of the SAPS we would like to express our appreciation for the job well done. To the National Commissioner, Deputy National Commissioners, Provincial Commissioners, men and women of our police service, we salute and thank you for the service you are providing to our country and its people.
We wish you all the success in the years to come. I am certain you will grow and become the most effective police service to our people. We have confidence in you.
Thank you.
Issued by: The Presidency
27 January 2005
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