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Visit by Minister Maduna
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Speeches and Media Releases
 Safety Liaison and Transport

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 EASTERN CAPE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT

SPEECH BY  MEC  FOR PROVINCIAL SAFETY, LIAISON AND TRANSPORT

PORT ELIZABETH, 10 SEPTEMBER 1999





Master of Ceremonies, Regional Court President
 The Honourable Minister, Cde. P. Maduna
 The Honourable Mayor of Port Elizabeth
 Councillors
 The Regional Magistrate
 The Legal Fraternity
 Representative from the Business Against Crime
 Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen



Visit by the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Development, Mr P. Maduna

We have been blessed and honoured by the visit to our province, and Port Elizabeth in particular, undertaken by the Minister for Justice 
and Constitutional Development, Mr Cde. Penuell Maduna. His presence amongst us today is inspiring in that it has made us to believe, 
through his inputs, that innovation and change in Justice is being realised, while in many corners of our courts, it is already happening.

His visit to this part of the province should be a moral booster and source of encouragement to many Justice officials and as such we 
should all find fruitful and positive aspects in his inputs which were an indication that we are gaining an upper hand in our fight against 
crime and corruption as the criminal justice cluster.

Quoting what the Minister said during his Parliamentary Briefing in Cape Town on June 28, 1999, "Whilst over the last five years the 
Department was able to lay a solid legislative and indeed infra - structural foundation for a strong and responsive justice system, many 
problems still continue to plague our justice system and at times evoking public sentiments that the new democratic order is more 
sympathetic to human rights concerns of criminals and less sensitive to the plight of victims of crime and the general sense of insecurity 
that continues to besiege the country".

Ladies and gentlemen, the above statement cannot be disputed as it is a reflection of the public sentiments and thoughts that are 
influenced by the daily occurrences in our courts where criminals are let off the hook, not because the magistrates are doing them a 
favour, but as a result of the loopholes that sometimes exist in our criminal justice system and the lack of co - ordination between 
investigators and prosecutors, i.e. safety and security and justice.

The vision of the Department of Justice of contributing towards the creation of a stable society in which everyone will be able to live in 
peace, assured of a legitimate, accountable, transparent and accessible justice system that uphold the rule of law, is not only a task for 
Justice only to fulfil, it is indeed a responsibility of all of us in the criminal justice system. It has become clear and obvious like a 
blue sky, that we are pulling together and speaking with one solid and united voice, as the departments tasked with the creation of a safe, 
secure and stable environment.

The recent blitz visits to the various provinces by the Ministers for Justice, Safety and Security and the National Director for Public 
Prosecutions, have sent out a statement that a more collaborative approach in dealing with crime, can produce the best results. We need to 
hammer this time and again so that it is instilled in our minds, that co - ordination, collaborative approach and working in unison as the 
safety, security and justice cluster, encompassing correctional services as well, is imperative if we want to sustain a long term impact in 
curbing crime.

There should be more co - operation between justice officials, correctional services officers, police officers and community police forums 
so that we are able to create a consolidated justice information system that will enable our departments to have access to the previous 
convictions of every accused suspect / awaiting trial prisoner, a system that will ensure that we make informed decisions in dealing with 
criminals. We must seriously note this and take it into account.

Without clouding what the Minister has said, I wish to emphasise the fact that as officials working in the Justice Department, our top 
priority should be that of reducing the overall crime rate, in line with our National Crime Prevention Strategy, in which the justice 
department is a partner. In doing so, we also need to find ammunition to hit hard at criminals without mercy through the Prevention of 
Organised Crime Amendment Act, which has just gone through Parliament.

We are indeed on course as our President says, in fighting the scourge of crime and corruption, not only in our society but within the 
criminal justice system as well, because the two i.e. crime and corruption, are close allies which are not only a threat to the stability 
of the country, but have the potential to pose a serious threat to the social fabric in our society. Let us commend the Minister for paying 
us such a high profile visit and bid him goodbye as he leaves, but also remind him that we have a task unaccomplished, hence, we expect to 
see him in our province frequently. Lastly, let us ensure that we all work together as partners and not rivals, in unison, so that we offer 
no breathing space to criminals.

Faranani

I thank you

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