JOHANNESBURG SOUTH – Community Safety MEC Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane recently unveiled structural plans to ensure that Gauteng becomes a safe and secure city region.
February is a safety month and the department wants to use it as a benchmark for their activities throughout the year.
“February as our commemorative month depicts among the many, our relentless commitment to the Ten Pillar programme as articulated by the Premier of the Gauteng City Region. These programmes are vehicles to drive the aspirations of the department of community safety.
“It is therefore incumbent upon ourselves as a collective that we begin to be seen to be taking responsibility for our safety as citizens of Gauteng. Safety is a collective responsibility which can be realised through a collective effort,” explained MEC Nkosi-Malobane.
Some of the key activities include: Community Road Safety Councils, The Youth Safety summit, Anti-gangsterism camps and Traffic Wardens and Unveiling of new Fleet
Community Road Safety Councils, February 27
The World Health Organisation predicted that by 2020 road traffic accidents will be the third highest burden on healthcare worldwide, and traffic fatalities the sixth leading cause of death worldwide if not dealt with decisively. Admittedly so, major accidents and fatalities on our roads are as a result of jay-walking, driver and vehicle fitness. Driver and pedestrian behaviour is not at a desirable level where we can guarantee safety on our roads as it is done with disgust impunity.
Youth Safety summit February 24 to 26, JHB Correctional Service
The absence of youth safety policy in the province invariably had an effect on the mainstreaming of youth safety by government departments. It is for this reason that during his address at the safety summit held recently, Premier David Makhura reiterated the need to develop a youth safety policy, which will provide broad guidelines on addressing issues inter alia, pertaining to youth in conflict with the law.
In order for the department to develop a meaningful youth safety policy with high impact, the department saw it fit to engage in a dialogue with youth in Correctional Services, who are already incarcerated and serving their term.
These young persons with be able to provide input and share what are the key attributes and challenges facing young people to end up in correctional facilities. This is a groundbreaking innovation that will guide the policy formulation informed by the perpetrators themselves, aligned to the three pillars of Transformation, Modernisation and Industrialisation, which calls for doing business unusual in the spirit of the slogan that says ‘nothing for us, without us’.
“I would like to applaud the partnership this department has fostered with renowned professors in the likes of Professor Pitika Ntuli and Prof Khalil Osiris on moral regeneration and scientifically researched youth safety methods.
“I wish to reiterate my heartfelt gratitude for the commendable role that the media plays in educating and informing the citizens about safety issues and all that transpires in the Gauteng City Region. I know that it take a very committed individual to pursue this well respected field of journalism,” said MEC Nkosi-Malobane.
Community road safety councils
Some of the responsibilities of the community road safety councils are to:
• Serve as liaison officers between the Province and the communities.
• Promote road safety awareness at hazardous locations.
• Make recommendations on issues related to road safety promotion programmes.
• Manage vandalism of road safety furniture like road signs boards and fencing on the roads.
• Provide assistance to road accident victims on road accident matters, faith-based issues and counselling.
• Inculcate a culture of road and pedestrian safety for community structures such as churches, youth clubs, liquor outlets etc.
• Serve in ward committee structures.
