MEC NOMANDLA BLOEM KEYNOTE ADDRESS

COMMUNITY IMBIZO

29 MAY 2023

JAN KEMPSDORP

 

Programme Director

Provincial Commissioner Lt Gen Koliswa Otola

Leadership of the Northern Cape Provincial Community Police Board

Religious and Community Leadership

All our stakeholders present

Community of Jan Kempsdorp

Ladies and Gentlemen an Imbizo is not something to be taken lightly. Our government has, since democracy, ensured that we create various platforms to honour the voice of our people. In this space today we have the ear of the people who must take up the responsibility to resolve issues.

Having such a platform to talk about our safety needs as well as public transport needs is such an essential occasion to our democracy. It gives us the opportunity to engage, to talk, to lift up all the issues, so that we may co-create safer communities and prosperity in the Northern Cape.

The Department of Transport, Safety & Liaison has at its core, the responsibility of creating communities where citizens are and feel safe. We are reminded constantly that none of targets are achievable without recognizing the importance of cooperation, dialogue and integration.

Also, seeing as all our stakeholders are here, we must listen not only to hear but so that these inputs spark action. We work as a team. It is my hope that we will honour each and every input made here today with real solutions.

The safety of our people is not merely a policing issue. It is a human rights issue. The need to serve and protect our vulnerable groups - our women, children, the LGBTI community, people with disabilities and other – is at the heart of human dignity.

In our Province it is a reality that crime is mostly related to social issues. Alcohol and drug abuse render our people unproductive and prone to criminal behavior.

 

We are also here today to stress that Community Policing Forums (CPF) have a critical role to play in the safeguarding of our communities. CPF’s are mandated to facilitate community – police relations within specific areas, and serve as the mouthpiece of the community to the police on matters of protection and safety. We need to ensure that our CPF’s are functional, supported and respected.

Domestic Abuse and gender-based violence will keep on happening because we fail to report. In the same breath, we must never have the case where victims say that they did not feel safe or welcome to report cases at our stations. The police should help communities and vulnerable groups to know their rights so that they, themselves, can be held accountable to these codes of conduct.

 

So many of our people. Every day workers and those who want to access government services who make use of public transport. We need to tightened our regulatory frameworks as well as compliance monitoring so that we render and develop public transport systems that are safe, reliable and affordable. To this end also, we must work with all our stakeholders in the transport fraternity so that we support, guide and collaborate to achieve these goals.

We always get such a dynamic perspective when we engage with young people. Many adults would say that young people are the leaders of tomorrow. It is not only a cliché it is, if you ask me, very untrue. We are grateful for all those who are here.

We extend our gratitude and appreciation for these engagements. May we continue to see, listen to and hold each other so that we reach safer more peaceful communities.

I thank you