[ Home ] [ Speeches & statements ]

29 June 2008

Programme Director,
Members of the Executive Council Present,
Members of the Provincial Legislature,
Divisional Commissioner Lamoer
Provincial Commissioner, Me Mbombo
Assistant Commissioner Sithole
Distinguished guests,
Heads of Department,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me start by expressing how thrilled and honoured I am to meet with the community and more specially the young people who by virtue of their presence here today committed themselves to fight crime. This gathering is testimony that we are ready and eager to create a better tomorrow for all the citizens of our province.

The fight against apartheid had one good thing, it kept us together. We had a common enemy to fight. We helped each other. When the common enemy was defeated we also lost the unity that made us a formidable force. We are currently viewing social problems in different perspectives and these attitudes have a devastating effect on our communities. Yet we still have many challenges facing us in the form of poverty, unemployment and crime. Now more than ever we need to stand united in our efforts to overcome these challenges.

Democratic South Africa was borne of a leadership with a vision for a people struggling to lift themselves out of the quagmire of apartheid, a people pitted against one another brought into the unifying streams of democracy and nation building. The time has come to re look and rejuvenate that spirit of nation building. The spirit of Ubuntu! We - young and old - have to go back and relearn the very basics of ubuntu once more: "Umntu ngumntu ngabantu - I am, because we are; since we are, therefore am I."

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is a shameful fact that crime affects all of us in many different ways. As of September last year, 480 children had been incarcerated for sexual and violent crimes. A further 1 213 children awaiting trail were in detention. Children as young as seven years old are arrested and detained for economic, aggressive and sexual crimes. A shocking and spine chilling total of 63 753 children were arrested and charged between April 2007 and September 2007 in our beautiful country.

The revelation further raises very acutely the issue of fabric social morality and values in our society today and clearly reflects that our society is in deep crisis and that in order to expunge ourselves from this morass, we have got to re-evaluate the values and ethics we practice in our daily lives in relation to those we love.

It is important for our youth to take charge of their destiny and the future of this province, country, continent and the world, especially since statistics have proven that the youth are the most vulnerable when it comes to crime, violence and abuse both as perpetrators and as victims.

The Northern Cape 2007 June Youth Summit presented a variety of challenges which prompted the development of the youth crime prevention framework. Some of these challenges confronting youth range from amongst others, blocked opportunities , marginalisation from the mainstream economy, their involvement in crime both as victims and offenders and the lack of co-ordinated processes in dealing and addressing youth matters.

It is in the light of the above challenges and others that gave birth to the idea of the Northern Cape Youth Crime Prevention Framework.

This framework paves the way for a integrated and holistic approach to youth development and been developed through participation of young people from community based organisations (CBO), non-governmental organisations (NGO), the religious fraternity and other organs of both state and civil society. It therefore becomes prudent for stakeholders and role players to work together in ensuring that this framework is implemented and it ameliorate the challenges of young people of not only this province but that of the rest of the country.

The framework outlines a number of strategies for instilling democratic values in young South Africans in the learning environment. Each strategy is accompanied by a series of remarks and observations that could be used by every institution in the country to frame a Values Statement and a Values Action-Plan, and be encouraged to develop a shared commitment to them.

We are therefore convinced that with the involvement of the youth and our communities the struggle against crime, women and children abuse and alcohol abuse will be won and everyone will be free from these social evils.

It is quite clear that to combat crime we must engage not only specialists in crime, violence prevention and the criminal justice; - we need big, innovative ideas and clever strategies to realise and sustain these ideas. Capacity, commitment and resilience will also be needed as this will be an ongoing process. The presence of the young people here today shows that there is commitment and we as the provincial government have already set plans in place to capacitate you, the youth, and we will continue to do so. A Chinese philosopher once said that a journey of a thousand miles start with one step.

The young people associated with this framework have taken that first step to create an enabling environment in which they can engage in issues affecting them and the community. The youth must be proactive and raise issues, expectations and interventions in a mature and professional manner.

Interventions such as ensuring all children attend school, thereby lowering the truancy rate, will positively affect the role young people play in our fight against crime and criminality.

In his Youth Day celebration address on 16 June 2008, our Honourable President said of the youth:
"Whereas the youth of 1976 fought against inferior education as part of the struggle for freedom, today's youth should confront illiteracy and lack of skills as part of the struggle for development.

Whereas the youth of 1976 used stones and barricades against repressive forces, today's youth should use education and skills to fight poverty and unemployment.

Whereas the youth of 1976 used their energies to mobilise and campaign against apartheid, the youth of 2008 should use their talents to mobilise and campaign against crime and against drugs.

Whereas the youth of 1976 went into exile to train as soldiers of liberation, the youth of today should go to school, college and university to acquire skills that they would use for their advancement and the development of our country and continent.

As young people today, the young lions, we must join together to say that as young people we must not do crime. We must refuse to join criminal gangs. By respecting the law, we must ensure that we do not end up in jail."

Our beloved former president, the formidable Tata Nelson Mandela, in his book Long Walk to Freedom writes "When I was seven, my father decided to give me something he had never enjoyed- an education. Ever since then, I have been able to appreciate the value of reading and lifelong learning." The youth and their parents should take to heart the value of this statement and work effortlessly to capacitate and prepare them for the better tomorrow. There are no secrets to success. Success is the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failure.

This better tomorrow and better life we are constantly referring to, should also be applicable to foreign nationals living amongst us in this beautiful Province of the Northern Cape.

The recent spate of violence directed at foreigners interpreted as xenophobia needs to be condemned in the strongest terms possible. The harsh treatment and abuses directed at foreign nationals are tendencies that we have to do away with, if we are to become what we wish to be, and that is - a rainbow nation because Ladies and gentlemen, South Africa belongs to all who live in it.

The laws of our country and international protocols that we subscribe to protects the rights and the integrity of homeless people and refugees and these principles should actually be so much part of our conscience that we comply with them almost instinctively and live in peace with neighbours in need.

Nobody should be left in doubt about the seriousness with which the entire government views this matter. Nobody should for one moment doubt the capacity of the state to deal firmly and decisively with criminal elements, however daring they may be.

Our unique Constitution sets out the Bill of Rights which is the cornerstone of democracy in South Africa. It enshrines the rights of all people in our country and affirms the democratic values of human dignity, equality and freedom.

The government therefore appeals to the people of the Northern Cape and especially to the young people to exercise restraint and tolerance and not to make themselves guilty of these cowards and misguided acts.

A special appeal goes to the youth to please think before becoming involved in and be used to further the agenda of criminal elements in the community. The youth should bear in mind that if found guilty of inciting violence or participating in violent activities carries a life long criminal record against your name and this can have serious consequences on their studies and employment opportunities.

To quote our Honourable President Mbeki again:
"The young lions of 2008 must be both proudly South African and proudly African."

"You as young lions must be ready always to defend the rights of all Africans wherever they are."

We in the Northern Cape have proudly heeded calls of restraint in that we did not make ourselves guilty of the most unspeakable acts against our fellow Africans as experienced in other parts of the country. The youth in particular need to be applauded for the resilience shown by not partaking in the madness and atrocious deeds committed against foreign nationals.

This restraint and respect are qualities that all of us need to inculcate in order to realise that vision of a free and fair South Africa. The youth play an integral part in the realisation of economic development and combating crime in our province and country. The Northern Cape Youth Crime Prevention Framework is a splendid example of a successful product produced by the youth and will have to be sustained in main by the youth. The dedication and hard work that went into the development of this all important document and working tool did not go unnoticed.

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Community Safety and Liaison hosted a Youth Leaders against Crime Summit that took place in Durban 17 to 21 June this year. The summit is aimed at raising the profile of youth empowerment issues globally and serves as a strategic platform for young people and organisations serving young people ahead of the fourth Session of the World Urban Forum to be held China in November 2008. The objective of this summit was to develop an international framework for involving children and youth across the world as active partners in community safety and urban crime prevention.

At the summit that is driven by the United Nation (UN)-Habitat the Northern Cape Youth Crime Prevention Framework was adopted as one of ten best practice modules to be implemented worldwide. This Ladies and Gentlemen is indeed a brilliant milestone achieved not only for the people of the Northern Cape, but for the people of South Africa. A Proudly South African Product.

I am honoured and to announce that the Northern Cape Youth Crime Prevention Framework was the only integrated project from South Africa that received recognition. The Northern Cape delegation was requested to present the Northern Cape Youth Crime Prevention Framework at the mentioned Forum as a best practice. The delegation need to provide feedback at the World Urban Forum on implementation progress and challenges experienced.

My congratulations and heartfelt appreciation is extended to all involved in the achievement of this rare feat. The provincial government comments you on the accolade bestowed on you and we are proud to be associated with this Framework Document. The coming together of all the different stakeholders in drafting and presenting this framework is testimony that in the Northern Cape is truly Business Unusual, all hands on deck.

As I conclude I wish to bid you well in the implementation of this remarkable project and be assured that we will constantly monitor and evaluate the progress of this process. You have the framework and now the hard work of implementation start. Go forth young lions and run with this process and make it work. It is your product and you will reap the benefits if you persevere.

Today is a day that we celebrate a remarkable achievement and you are allowed to be joyful and blissful, but do so in a responsible manner. Do not allow yourself to become overjoyed with alcohol and substances. Respect one another. Respect our elders and protect our children and women.

To those who travelled from all corners of our province to partake in this launch and celebrations we say thank you for your participation and we wish you a safe and pleasant journey back home. Please don't drink and drive. Arrive alive.

Thank you.

Issued by: Office of the Premier, Northern Cape Provincial Government
29 June 2008
Source: Northern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.northern-cape.gov.za)