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Telkom Anti-Vehicle hijack Campaign
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Speeches and Media Releases
 Safety Liaison and Transport

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 EASTERN CAPE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT

Provincial Safety, Liaison and Transport

Address delivered by the MEC for Safety And Security, Mr Dennis Neer, at the Telkom Anti-Vehicle Hijack Campaign, Mdantsane Sports Complex, 
28 March 1999



SUPPORT THE SAPS AND TELKOM

"DECLARE WAR ON CAR HIJACK, PROPERTY VANDALISM, ETC"



Introduction

Master of Ceremonies
 The Mayor of East London and Councillors
 Management and Representatives of Telkom
 Members of the South African Police Services
 Representatives of Political and Community Organisations
 The Business fraternity
 The youth and students representatives
 Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen

I have the honour and privilege to deliver this address on behalf of the MEC for Safety and Security, Comrade Dennis Neer, who could not 
attend this event due to his tight schedule and commitments. We are gathered here today to mark a turning point in the history of our 
campaign against crime, particularly the hijack of business vehicles, such as those of Telkom and others. On that note, Ladies and 
Gentlemen, allow me the opportunity to condemn the on - going taxi violence in the area which has so far claimed more than four lives, 
including students and innocent commuters. Can we briefly stand up and observe a moment of silence in honour of those that have died in 
this carnage during the past week.

We wish to send a strong warning to members of the taxi industry that this form of violence, cannot be tolerated any longer and the Police 
need to apply a firm hand to stop this. We are aware of members of the SAPS that are fuelling this violence, through their vested interests 
in the industry and these shall have to exposed and dealt with mercilessly. This area has never been a focus point before in terms of taxi 
violence as it is at the moment. We need to remind the taxi people as well as those individuals in the SAPS that connive with them, that 
the 1982 bus boycott/ mass action in this area, should serve as a lesson to them, not to hold our people at ransom.

They need to be constantly reminded that the strongest weapon to end the taxi violence lies with the power of our masses/people who gave 
this Democratic Government a mandate to rule on their behalf. If this violence is a strategy by forces of darkness to cause fear and panic 
amongst our people as we approach the elections, rest assured, we will not hesitate to crush it with all the might we have and with the 
support of our people who are beginning to stand up against this violence.

Our people have the right to choose whatever means of transportation they prefer, without fear of intimidation and anyone who interferes 
with this right, shall have to face the full might of the law. This gathering should be a clear indication of our commitment, both as 
communities, business and government, to join hands to fight this scourge that has not only led to the losses in terms of profit for 
businesses but to loss of lives as well.

The Department for Safety and Security in the Eastern Cape Province is well aware of the serious nature of the crime situation in this area 
and is fully prepared to assist in whatever manner to ensure that the hijack of vehicles, belonging to Telkom, business and the public at 
large, is stopped, through the crime prevention activities of its law - enforcement component, i.e. the South African Police Services.

CRIME SITUATION:

The serious losses that have been incurred by Telkom as a result of car hijackings in this area, should be viewed within the context of the 
broader crime trend and situation in this part of the country. Daily crime reports indicate that business delivery vehicles as well as 
those that belong to companies and departments that provide essential services here such as Telecommunications, Water, etc. are becoming 
targets of armed gangs of criminals, who roam around the streets targeting unsuspecting drivers.

It is also so alarming that these incidents happen at broad daylight and are being witnessed by the general public. Not long ago, employees 
of the company that is contracted to revamp the electricity supply in the Mdantsane area, were also victims of these armed thugs, who 
specifically targeted money in their possessions and their company vehicles. Delivery vans from a wide range of companies that conduct 
business in this area have also become targets whilst the lives of their employees, mostly drivers, are at risk almost every day as they 
have to battle these criminals, virtually unarmed and without any assistance.

A number of areas here, have become "no - go areas" for business. Hardly a day passes by without any incident of armed robbery of either a 
vehicle, money, etc. belonging to business, being reported the police.

Again, Ladies and Gentlemen, most of these incidents have witnesses, some of whom come forward and co - operate with the police in 
investigations whilst others decide to be silent because they are either friends with these criminals or fear victimisation by them. Allow 
me, to quote our President, Nelson Mandela during his address to Parliament in February 1996, where he said " Dealing with crime, violence 
and corruption requires a new morality for our new nation. Indeed, it requires a new patriotism among communities, the public and private 
sectors, and the security forces - so that at the end of each day, each of us can answer in the affirmative the question, Have I done 
anything to day to stamp out crime?" This is a question that we need to pose to the community here, have you done anything to stamp out 
crime?

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN ANTI-CRIME CAMPAIGN:

In kick-starting this campaign, we need to sensitise our communities about the importance and essentiality of the services being provided 
by Telkom and other businesses, to the socio-economic development of this region. We also have to emphatically remind our communities about 
the essential role being played by the Telecommunications Services and other essential services in changing their lives, let alone the 
incentives being generated by these services to a number of struggling and up and coming entrepreneurs and households.

The withdrawal or rather reluctance of these corporate and private organisations and businesses to continue investing in this area could be 
a major blow to the community. It is therefore against this background that we need to rally behind police initiatives to fight this crime 
in our society.

We need as the Community of Mdantsane to rise up and, through our Community Police Forums, Anti - Crime Structures, to name but a few, 
assist the police, Telkom, businesses in identifying these criminals and ensuring that they are brought to book. We need to revisit the 
issue of street/area committees, provided they will be in line with our Community Policing philosophy, so that they could play a role in 
combating crime, at local level. In assisting as a community in this fashion, would also have assisted the department, in particular the 
SAPS, to channel more resources and energy towards serious crimes. Surely something drastic needs to be done about this.

There is no doubt, Ladies and Gentlemen, that these armed thugs live amongst our midst, they live in our own backyards, and some are 
friends either with us or our children, etc. Why are we, therefore not willing to rise up and expose them? Being silent when you have 
knowledge about a crime incident, is tantamount to be an accomplice/party to that crime. We need to rise above this syndrome of protecting 
thugs and criminals in or midst, because this is a sickness that is destroying our moral fabric. We need to take this campaign further to 
revive community values and morals so that a sense of nation building (Masakhane) is deepened in the minds of our people.

JOINT SAPS - TELKOM AND BUSINESS ANTI-CRIME STRATEGIES:

In conclusion, Telkom, the Public, the SAPS as well as other business companies need to devise joint strategies or create joint platforms 
where crimes aimed at disturbing essential services and business operations would be discussed and solutions sought, with emphasis on crime 
prevention. More incentives also need to be created to lobby our communities to report these crimes, though its is the duty of every 
citizen to report crime or participate in fighting it.

Telkom and other business structures also need to seriously involve themselves in Community Police Forums at local level, not only in areas 
where they have vested interests. The issue of establishing toll - free line where incidents of crimes involving Telkom vehicles and other 
crimes such as those against businesses, could be reported, needs to be seriously strengthened or considered if that has not be put in 
place. Telkom should also consider printing their labels as well as this toll - free line in big and bold numbers and words to ensure that 
these are visible from a distance. This on its own could also discourage criminals.

This campaign should not be narrowed to focus on vehicle hijacking, we also need to intensify the campaign against vandalism of telephones, 
theft of copper wire, etc. that still continues in own townships and rural areas.

If business in the CBD areas of East London, King Williams Town, Umtata, etc, could rally together and provide incentives to assist in the 
establishment of a special police unit, either called Business Watch, whatsoever, what then prevents our own business people, and other 
structures come together and invest in such ventures, with the support of our department. This would compliment other crime prevention 
initiatives that we are pursuing as the department. Lastly, as we approach the elections to renew our democratic mandate, we need therefore 
to be vigilant and intensify our role and participation in strengthening our new democracy to defeat the enemies of democracy, some of that 
are now beginning to wake up from the dead. Let us encourage our people to vote on the 2nd of June so that ideals that our late 
heroes/martyrs fought and died for such as Oliver Tambo, Joe Slovo, Chris Hani, Eric Mntonga and others, continue to shape our lives and 
advancement to consolidate our revolution and democracy.

Let us from now on join hands with Government, the private sector, the security forces, Community Police Forums, etc. to intensify the 
campaign against crime. Let this gathering serve as a warning that criminals will have no breathing space in our amidst. Let us commend all 
those that have organised this event and pledge and commit ourselves to declaring war on crime in Mdantsane.

I thank you

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