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Conference of Seniour Prosecutors of the Reublic of South Africa
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Speeches and Media Releases
 Premier's Office

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EASTERN CAPE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT

OPENING ADDRESS BY THE PREMIER, REV MA STOFILE

TO THE CONFERENCE OF SENIOR PROSECUTORS OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

VENUE : EAST LONDON

9 NOVEMBER 1999

Chairperson,

Esteemed Delegates. Ladies and Gentlemen. Let me take this opportunity first to welcome you all to our beautiful Province. Those who come 
from elsewhere, that is. Let me also take a moment to congratulate the organisers of this, a very important occasion. It could not have 
come at a better time.

Every situation has a history to it. If some people or structure happen to be associated with that history, it is not being funny to 
referred to such a history in association with them. No malice intended.

Just about five (5) months ago South Africa went to her second democratic elections. The "war-cry" of all the political parties that went 
campaigning was: We need to declare war on crime. This was the rhythm section, so to speak, of ALL the manifestos.

The outcome of those Elections is now history. The Government of the day must deal with what all had identified as a formidable challenge. 
Many commentators and analysts have traced the roots of crime and those of its cousin, corruption, to the days of apartheid. Indeed some of 
the problems have been identified as having their roots in the present. Whatever their roots are, one thing is certain: for us, government 
cannot just be business as usual. We have to turn the tide around. You have a pivotal role to play in making this happen.

In his speech in Parliament on the 25/6/99, President Mbeki had this to say : "What will guide us in everything we do will be the challenge 
to build a caring society." The President pointed out that the society that we seek to replace has, "in many instances, &#133;&#133;&#133;. 
And continues to be brutal and brutish in the extreme." Strong words by the President !! But very accurate words too!!

In the Presidents speech, crime and violence constitute the first area of focus as he mapped out what needs to be done in this new term of 
government. I believe, and I am sure most will agree, the Presidents priorities were similar to those of society in general. So our 
responsibility is to translate what has been identified as a policy priority into a programme of governance. This is where public servants 
come in. I want to acknowledge that a lot has been done over the last five years in preparing public service to be efficient agents of the 
new dispensation. Yes, a good beginning has been made. But it is not the beginning of the race which concerns me and South Africa today. It 
is the race itself. The race is to accomplish the mission and vision we have set for ourselves. That vision caused the majority of our 
people both in 1994 as well as in 1999 to return the ruling Party, the ANC, to govern this country. That vision is a Better Life For All 
South Africans. We must win this race without delay.

The vehicle through which this mission must be accomplished is, of course, government. It is here, not at the policy level, that a number 
of improvements must be made.

As a Constitutional State, South Africa has to be accutely aware of how justice issues are dealt with. We also have an entrenched Human 
Rights Clause in our Constitution. So we need a highly professional team to administer justice in our country. Unfortunately the rest of 
society is not attuned to what the democratic values entail. The environment is very hostile and this opens our democratic intentions to a 
lot of abuse and misuse.

Prosecutors, perhaps second to the police only, are at the cutting edge between society and the law; between crime and the administration 
of justice. You are hands-on in the investigation and discovery of crime or of piloting of determination of criminality or otherwise. As 
such your guidance to investigation agencies and your decisions have to be very responsible ones. Both your expressiveness and your 
responsiveness will give vigour and form to the hand that deals with crime. The certainty of detection and the credibility of punishment 
will achieve the most crucial means of curbing or even ending crime..

We are just over a month to the new Millenium. This should be a wake-up call to all of us to realise that criminals will be far more 
sophisticated by now than they were, say, 50 years ago. This is a huge challenge to your capacity to deal with crime. The morale of society 
depends on your success. The time that comes to any patriot in any country has also come for us. You are at the front trenches of this war 
against crime. Let us all declare today : Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.

May you have a fruitful Conference.

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