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2 April 2009

Chairperson of Security Industry Alliance (SIA), Mr S Ncube
Members of the Security Industry Alliance Board
Chief Executive of Security Industry Alliance, Mr Steve Conradie
Deputy National Commissioner Pruis
Secretary for Safety and Security, Mr Themba Mathe
Deputy CEO of Business Against Crime (BAC), Dr Graham Wright
Representative from Business Unity South Africa (BUSA)
Members of conference
Esteemed guests
Ladies and gentlemen

Introduction

Unity of purpose and action

We indeed feel greatly honoured that you decided to afford us the opportunity to address this important Conference. Accordingly, we must convey our gratitude to the entire leadership and membership of Security Industry Alliance (SIA). Throughout its existence, humanity has been confronted by numerous challenges of varying magnitudes.

Some of the challenges were as a result of our ongoing struggle to overcome, and in some instances to understand, the challenges and laws of nature, as well as the social phenomenon; others have been a consequence of our own acts of omission or commission.

Furthermore, a fascinating however true fact, is that many among the challenges that have confronted humankind were brought about by our own successes, thus the ongoing need for careful examination and contextualisation of our own successes or failures.

In either case, a consistent lesson that we have learnt is that, if we succeed to achieve unity of purpose and unity of action, no challenge is insurmountable.

Our history

We come from a long history whose content is characterised by neither common purpose nor unity of action. We come from a history of colonisation and resistance, racism, political oppression and a struggle for freedom, justice and peace; white fears and black hopes.

We would not be telling the truth if we said this kind of history did not impress in us, particular perspectives, attitudes, prejudices, mistrust, as well as different approaches and angles of framing reality and envisioning the future. Because of these complexities, we have on numerous occasions of spoken past each other.

Social fault-lines

Some among us still feel uncomfortable in talking about past injustices. We would not want to speak much on this issue except to say that our Constitution directs us to, among others, recognise the injustices of the past, and further, to heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights.

Much as some are tempted to adopt a shallow and conscience soothing approach to the challenges facing our country, it must be said that, only a thorough going process of change shall secure us long lasting peace, development and a better life for all.

The strategies and tactics we adopt must address comprehensively, all known and identifiable fault lines and all possible sources of social conflict. We dare not chose to ignore or underplay these challenges, for history is unkind to those who take that route.

Whilst some of these sources have emerged during the democratic phase, a much greater and critical share of them is rooted in our history, and constitute the backdrop against which we must evolve the new society.

Common vision

Thanks to the consensus we reached in 1994, as well as the broad shoulders and heroic efforts of those who came before us, we have today in the form of our Constitution, a common vision that is democratic and just.

We have a common vision the consequence of whose pursuit is long lasting peace and development. We must ensure that the fruits of this lasting peace and development are shared by all the people of our land.

The principles enshrined in our Constitution offer us a unique opportunity to re-examine the continued relevance of the archaic values of selfishness as we continually work to embrace and realise the principles of social justice, human solidarity and Ubuntu.

Immediate challenges

The world we live in today is confronted by one of the most serious financial challenges. This situation calls on all of us again to work together to ensure humanity’s victory and progress.

Three weeks from now our country will hold its fourth democratic elections. This will be followed a few months later, by the FIFA Confederation Cup, and a year later the FIFA 2010 World Cup.

For us, as a detachment tasked with the goal of realising an atmosphere of safety and security for our country and its entire people, the upcoming events mean that all of us must now be standing on our toes.

Poverty

Central among the challenges facing our country is the issue of poverty. If our dream of long lasting peace and development is not to evaporate into thin air, we must defeat poverty. Because of the long legacy of inequality in our country, the task of eradicating poverty will not be easy; however, working together, this is by no means an insurmountable obstacle.

The object of our labour

Like all private business entities, the private security industry derives much of its motivation to do what it does, from the prospect of making a profit.
State institutions perform their safety and security functions as part of government’s executive mandate.

Shared interest

Our immediate common enemy is crime and our immediate common objective is a safe and secure atmosphere, and additional in your case, is the issue of profit.

We have a shared interest in the long term stability of the country, and thus we have a shared interest in ensuring that poverty is defeated so as not to threaten our country’s well being.

Estimated numerical weight of the industry

There are currently more than 5 000 registered security companies in the country. These companies employ in excess of 350 000 guards. The numbers demonstrate that the industry is a significant player in the safety and security sphere.

The private security industry needs to ensure adherence to professional standards with a view to rendering a high quality service. The current voluntary vetting process whose aim is to root out criminals from the system is commendable.

All companies should be encouraged to participate in this process. However, the issue of recruitment practices needs to be attended to in its totality.

The imperatives of defeating poverty and underdevelopment serve our common interests. Such an achievement would grow the economy, crate better living conditions for many more people, and open up the growth potential for the private security industry.

One of the consequences of failure to defeat crime will be that the industry will gradually find itself fishing in a shrinking pool. This means that we must work even harder to defeat crime to ensure a consistently improving safety and security profile for our country.

Non-racialism, non-sexism

As a country we have, for very important reasons, committed ourselves to, among others, non-racialism and non-sexism. In Polokwane the African National Congress (ANC) adopted a resolution ensuring a minimum of fifty percent women representation in all its leadership structures.

In the short term, this progressive decision is bound to impact in a painful way on many male ANC members. Nevertheless, it is the right thing to do, so the ANC has done it.

These painful birth pangs of a just society must not only be felt by political actors. Business too, must deepen its role. As part of its meaningful contribution to long lasting peace, the private security industry should ensure equitable representation of Africans in particular, and blacks in general, in its decision-making and ownership rungs.

This framing of the de-racialisation effort is appreciative of the fact that prior to the dawn of freedom, some communities shouldered a heavier burden of dispossession, oppression and exploitation, thus the need to pay deliberate attention to their plight, as it defines the severest conditions under which some of the people of our land have to live. The content of such representation should ensure equitable representation of women.

We are here talking about real ownership and decision making power, not fronting. The achievement of these objectives will require creative effort and consideration of specific objective factors obtaining in the industry.

The industry is in a unique position to contribute to altering the racially skewed character of skills distribution in our country.

We must engage in these efforts not only as part of recognizing the injustices of the past, but also as an act of asserting our own humanity and determination to give birth to a new society characterised by justice, peace and development.

In this regard, you must be rest assured that the medicine we prescribe in regard to your situation is the medicine we shall continue to administer with greater vigour to ourselves.

Partnerships

The main thrust of our programmes as safety and security is on crime prevention and crime combating. However, no police organisation can anticipate each and every possible law breaking incident. This reality establishes the objective need for partnerships with all stakeholders and communities.

In this regard, we shall have to engage the private security industry on ways to strengthen our partnership. We must acknowledge that the private security industry is an important element of crime prevention and works with law enforcement in many areas.

Regulatory authority

The ministry is acutely aware of the challenges facing the regulatory authority. Accordingly, we have appointed a task team to look into these challenges and present a report before the end of this month.

Forward to a better life for all

This conference has set itself an agenda that is indicative of the industry’s commitment to address the core issues relevant to the sphere of safety and security.

We wish you open, frank and fruitful deliberations in your specific endeavour to contribute to the goal of a better life for all.

Together, we can do more.

I thank you.

Issued by: Department of Safety and Security
2 April 2009