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WORKING TOGETHER FOR A SAFER MITCHELLS PLAIN

In the little more than six months that I've been responsible for the Community Safety portfolio in the Western Cape, I have visited Mitchells Plain often. Most of these visits I am sad to say were linked to gang violence. Following these visits it is clear to me that the gangs are becoming more brazen by the day and that the State can no longer tolerate their contempt for the law.

I've seen firsthand what the gangs are doing to our children, to our mothers - how it is destroying our families and undermining our economy. I've seen the anger, the fear and the grief on the faces of ordinary people who bear the brunt of gang violence. Like you, I have realised that the only effective way to deal with gangs is for all of us, that is the government (law enforcement agencies) and the community to work together.

Met die loods van die Mitchellsplein Gemeenskapveiligheidsforum kry die stryd teen misdaad en sosiale verbrokkeling 'n noodsaaklike bondgenoot. Net soos u, is ek nie van plan om die stryd teen misdaad gewonne te gee nie. My verbintenis aan u vandag is om met die plaaslike en nasionale regering saam te werk om bendegeweld en die sosiale faktore onderliggend daaraan, aan te spreek. U bydrae is onmisbaar want u is verantwoordelik vir die ontwikkeling en implimentering van 'n stedelike hernuwingstrategie.

After its establishment in August 2000, the Mitchells Plain Community Safety Forum (MCSF) started with the development of an Urban Renewal Strategy which is also being launched today. The Cape Town Municipality (Safer Cities) for its part sponsored a safety audit in three of the areas most affected by gang violence namely Tafelsig, Lentegeur and Portlands. The information coming out of this audit can now be used to develop a community safety plan and to launch social crime prevention projects.

At the end of the day, we all want the same thing - safe neighbourhoods, safe schools and thriving communities. Urban renewal will play a key role in achieving these goals. I'm not going to try and fool you, you know this area and its problems better than I ever could, therefore you know that we are not going to sort out the gang violence here in Mitchells Plain overnight. However, it is about time we make a start winning back our neighbourhoods. We will do it block by block, neighbourhood by neighbourhood.

Saam moet ons die polisie - beide die SAPD en die munisipale polisie wat later vanjaar op die been gebring gaan word - ondersteun, help om meer effektief misdaad te bestry en ook om hulle meer verantwoordbaar aan die gemeenskap te maak. Dit is die Staat se plig om ons mense te beskerm en deel van my verantwoordelikheid is om toe te sien dat dit gebeur. U kan meehelp deur weer vertroue in behoorlike wetstoepassing by die gemeenskap te skep.

If we are serious about regaining the trust of our communities, it is crucial that our criminal justice system delivers on justice. Justice must be seen to be done, only then will communities participate and learn to trust the justice system again. I firmly believe that it is not to late to do something substantial about gang related crime, but we need to move before the international syndicates spread their influence even further.

I would like to end off by wishing you well in the enormous task that you have ahead of you.

Issued by: Office of the MEC for Community Safety, Western Cape, 15 February 2001