The Department of Community Safety is determined to amend the image of the police and Metro police services in the eyes of the public.
This was said by MEC Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane when explaining the department’s plans. “We are determined to put behind communities’ distrust in the police which makes them withhold information that could see drug lords and other criminals put behind bars, ” she said.
The plans to regain the public’s confidence include training to improve performance, active involvement in crime on women and children, road safety and rooting out corruption.
Malobane said through a partnership with non-governmental organisations, 31 forensic social workers had been trained to ensure prosecutions of gender-based violence cases and 50 detectives had been trained in forensic investigation. She said the trained social workers would prepare victims for court and make necessary recommendations to assist in prosecutions.
Malobane added that the department was also reviewing the provincial road safety strategy and had finalised its pedestrian management strategy to deal with fatalities among pedestrians. “The number of people losing their lives through road accidents is alarming and we are determined to reduce these fatalities by 10 percent annually,” she said. “We will focus on pedestrian safety together with vehicle and driver fitness.”
She added that the department would establish an integrity office to deal with corruption which she described as theft from the poor. “The integrity office will establish lifestyle trends of staff and create awareness in them on issues of fraud and corruption.”
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