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Date : 01/08/2003
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government
Title: Mokonyane: Anniversary of Cleveland police station, Gauteng


ADDRESS BY THE Gauteng MEC FOR SAFETY AND LIAISON, MS NOMVULA MOKONYANE, TO THE 100-YEARS ANNIVERSARY OF CLEVELAND POLICE STATION, 1 August 2003

Programme Director
Provincial Commissioner
Area Commissioner
Members of the service
Business Representatives
Local Councillors
CPF Members
Ladies and Gentlemen

I thank you for giving me this special opportunity of addressing you on behalf of the Gauteng Provincial Government and our National Minister of Safety and Security, Mr. Charles Nqakula. Ladies and gentlemen, this is an exceptional event for the Cleveland policemen and women in blue and other components. Today they feel proud to be associated with this station and the entire police service organisation.

The Cleveland Police Station is as old as the very South African Police Service, which has undergone a number of transitional phases reminiscent with the history of South Africa.

There is no doubt that when the Union of SA was formed in 1910 the mandate of the South African Police became inherent in the policies of that state. In 1913 a proper structure of the Police Force was formed.

Similarly when apartheid was promulgated as government philosophy in 1948 the mandate of the Police Force was to defend that policy.

Programme director, in 1961 when the Republic of South Africa was declared, the Police Force had to espouse the mandate of the new republic. During those years as we all are aware there were no privileges for the people of colour therefore black were given batons and told to patrol on foot, while their colleagues patrolled in cars and had firearms.

In 1976 during the students' uprisings after seeing that they were losing the battle they gave blacks firearms. In 1979 they started treating blacks differently they wore the same colour of uniform and were allowed to carry guns, but come knock off time they had to leave them at the charge office. The 80's became much better because it is when they started recruiting women to take up on police force as a career.

Commissioner, the taking over of the democratically elected government brought in drastic changes after the adoption of the new constitution.

It brought equality to all South African citizens and police were not excluded. The establishment of SAPS and the adoption of the community policing policy brought in the changes that have seen Supt Eddie Mboweni being appointed the Station Commissioner of Cleveland Police Station that is celebrating 100 years today.

While we are celebrating 100 years of the police station, it is also the first day of the Women's Month celebrations. Although SAPS has women as station commissioners and in top management position there is still a room for improvement. I therefore wish to urge our women officers to take up the challenge and assert themselves in this male dominated environment.

The responsibility of a police station is to provide good service and to ensure the safety of the citizens. It is this service that Cleveland Police Station has provided and delivered for the past 100 years of its establishment. The station has displayed exceptional ability and capabilities in performing their tasks in their work, which is the reason we are gathered here today to celebrate with them as they turn one hundred years.

Programme director, with this type of work performed by the members of the station, that we are celebrating and the longest serving members that we giving certificates today, I am left with no doubt that the fight against crime and criminality in this province will soon be over.

The station has managed to reduce problematic crimes such as car hijacking, theft of motor vehicle, and robberies in businesses and house breakings.

In the process of preventing crime in this area, police have been very much fortunate that there are people who have come forward and volunteered their services. Some of these people have been absorbed as reservists and without them police would find it difficult to contain crime and be visible throughout the area.

I would like to congratulate the chairman of the CPF, Mr. Robbie Taitz, and the executive members of the CPF who together. Cleveland police have establish a relationship that has helped bring back trust between the men and women in uniform and the community that they serve.

Mr Taitz and the entire executive of CPF have not only helped create good relations between the station and the residents, but have also helped the station by ensuring that they give feed back on the progress of cases to the communities, furthermore, they have helped establish a feeding scheme and always assist the station to get sponsorship from various companies for the establishment and implementation of various social crime prevention projects.

It is indeed mind blowing to witness the bravery displayed by members who we are gathered here to celebrate with, in the most dangerous situations, since the beginning of the year in our province we have lost about 9 members who died whilst performing their duties, which is, to protect and serve.

Let me therefore take this opportunity to thank each and every member of the service for being diligent and always in the forefront of eradicating crime from society. You must keep on doing the good work and not be deterred by the death of your colleagues in the hands of criminals instead you must continue to intensify your efforts to root out corruption and fight crime.

On behalf of the Gauteng Provincial Government and the South African Police Services we are grateful of your commitment of good service delivery to the eleven suburbs that you are policing. This ceremony is not only a celebration of existence, but is about members going an extra mile, which is why some of them are getting certificates; this should encourage other stations to adopt the same process.

It is also encouraging that companies such as the SAB and Liberty Life have come on board and taken a keen interest in training members in customer care, service deliver and telephone etiquette and other skills to improve service delivery. I urge other business people to also commit themselves in ensuring business against crime.

As we are approaching the era of elections some time early next year, law enforcement agencies are going to be under tremendous pressure to control and contain any form of violence. I am sure most of us have witnessed or heard about the recent brutal attacks of the entire family in one of the areas in KwaZulu-Natal.

Given the history of Gauteng province, we have to prepare ourselves and make sure that policing will not be compromised and planning to police political gatherings should start now. I therefore wish to appeal to each and every police officer to start now understand the communities that you serving and put necessary steps to prevent any form of violence that might be instigated against individuals or groups.

The Gauteng government does not doubt your capabilities and you must not fail us. May your noble work continue and grow in strength.

I thank you.

Issued by: Gauteng Provincial Government, 1 August 2003
Source: SAPA

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