Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister, hon members, departmental officials, patriots and friends, the national struggle for freedom was the critical overarching vehicle to bring about peace, security and stability in our society. In dealing with issues of crime, the ANC proceeds from the premise that raising the quality of life also means an improvement in the safety and security of citizens in their homes and in their environments where they live, work and engage in extramural activities.
The Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster has been tasked with the outcome of ensuring that people are safe and feel safe, with the Department of Police playing a leading role in this regard. The ANC welcomes the family violence, child protection and sexual offences Unit, which the Minister has announced. These interventions by the department seek to address three principles which are critical in the challenge of crime, especially its uniquely random and violent nature in our country.
The first of these principles is that the battle against crime cannot, in the main, be separated from the war on want. Incidents of contact crime such as murder, grievous bodily harm and rape occur among acquaintances in poor communities where living and entertainment environments do not allow for a decent family and social life.
The second principle is that specific mindsets and historical conditions drive elements of the crime problem. These are: the proliferation of firearms in the hands of civilians; greed and conspicuous consumption; the psychology of patriarchal gender power relations; and attitudes towards the weaker members of society, especially children. With regard to this point, I want to emphasise that these crimes against the weak are rife in the rural areas and farm areas where ...
... abantu bakuthi besabethwa ngamabhulu anocalucalulo ngobuhlanga nazimisele ukuba wona akuhlala engoobholel' ecaleni abangalufuniyo utshintsho. [... our people are still being assaulted by the racist boers who are hellbent on being unco-operative and who resist transformation.]
In this regard, when we are talking about fighting crime, Minister and Deputy Minister, we must also emphasise ...
... ukuba babanjwe aba belungu benza le nto. Into eyenzekayo kukuba bahlawuliswa iimalana ezingama-R200 okanye ama-R2000 babe ngabakhululekileyo kodwa bahlalise abantu bakuthi kabuhlungu. [... that these white people who are doing this must be arrested. What happens is that they are just fined a mere R200 or R 2000 and are free but continue persecuting our people.]
The ANC notes with interest the consistency of the department in improving its capacity by employing more personnel as this will boost the visible policing programme in so far as the patrols and community policing are concerned.
In addition to visible policing aimed at crime prevention, provision has been made in the budget to increase the detective capacity and improve crime intelligence capacity. This will ensure the safety of the weak and the rural communities. The above confirms the implementation of the President's promise in the state of the nation address that more police will be employed in 2010.
The third principle is that the networks of crime have grown in their reach and sophistication across national boundaries. These include syndicates that deal with money-laundering, human trafficking and abuse. Critically, focus must be placed in mobilising society to make life difficult for criminals in our midst. This should include an overhaul of gender and family relations and intolerance of abuse within communities.
The transformation of institutions that deal with crime, including with regard to integrated efficiency, is also critical. This applies to management, the expansion of personnel, the utilisation of the latest technology, enhanced intelligence capacity, and a commitment to work with the people. In this regard, it is very important for the police and the community to ensure that community safety forums are in existence because the police will never fight crime alone. The community members must be there to assist the police by telling them where the criminals are, as well as in the eradication of corruption within the criminal justice system.
The overall programme of national democratic transformation will gradually eliminate some of the conditions that breed social crime; so shall our contribution to creating an environment of peace, stability, economic growth and social development in Southern Africa and the rest of the continent.
In conclusion, we will undertake these tasks conscious of our responsibility as one of the battalions of the global army for progressive social change - a disciplined force of the left. The ANC is confident that South Africans will persist in building enduring national partnerships to further change our country for the better. Working together with them, we shall spare neither strength nor courage until the strategic objective has been attained. The ANC supports this transformative budget. I thank you. [Applause.]