Issued by: Gauteng Provincial Government
MEC RAISES CONCERN ON DEMOCRATIC PARTY DISTORTION REGARDING DEPARTMENTAL EXPENDITURE
The MEC for Public Safety and Security Mr. Paul Mashatile is concerned about distorted manner in which the Democratic Party has raised the issues regarding the expenditure done by the Department of Public Safety and Security.
The records indicated that summits and conferences thus far held by the Department are developing effective communication with communities, enhancing community policing, developing effective policies regarding policing matters, facilitating conflict resolution in areas where there is violence as well as enhancing training within the police.
Consequently, these programmes and activities have been met with great enthusiasm by most communities, particularly in previously disadvantaged areas where there was virtually no proper policing services. Many communities are gaining a better understanding of their rights regarding policing.
Testimony to this has been the high level of participation by respected leaders of communities in youth formations, churches, as well as political and social organisations across the spectrum and not least senior police management.
Even more importantly, in areas like Soweto, with a population of about 3 million, communities are implementing the resolutions taken through such summits and conferences which include support for victims of serious crimes like rape and child abuse, combating hijacking, building strong relations between the communities and the police.
The treatment of victims of rape and abuse in police stations is gradually improving due to the training of police officials on gender issues as well as how and how to treat victims of serious crime.
Partnerships between communities and the police, which are critical to combat crime, are growing stronger by the day and yielding better results as more and more criminals are being apprehended ad more people are coming out increasingly to report crimes.
Feed-backs reaching the Department show that communities so called complaints are increasingly getting more accountability cooperation and better services from the police than ever before.
It is therefore clear that those sources that the Democratic Party may be quoting as being dissatisfied and its baseless complain of waste of funds can only be a reflection of forces who are against transformation of the policing services and would only want to see those services remaining the privilege of the few.
"I therefore invite the Democratic Party to raise all these issues it has all these issues with him." The MEC said.
Issued by: Minister for Public Safety and Security Gauteng
22 April 1998
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