The last time I was in this kind of an event was when Captain Ronel Van Lingen won the overall prize for the Women Network Excellence Award held in Hazyview in October 2009 organized by Provincial SAPS. It is encouraging to note that the same spirit is now being cascaded to local police stations. We hope and believe that the rest of the police stations in the province shall follow this example.
Two days ago the United Nations passed a resolution to declare July 18 as the Mandela Day. This alone means a lot to the people of the world in general and to South Africans in particular. It is because of the leadership former President Mandela demonstrated before South Africa was democratized, during the transitional period after the democratic elections and thereafter. His leadership attributes were instilling such that emulating them became a matter of must.
The initiators of this noble idea, to have an International Mandela Day declared by the African Union and United Nations, should be applauded.
We are gathered here today to celebrate the attributes of leadership. These are the people within our service who have realized that to be of service to the nation means to go beyond the call of duty. I am convinced Programme Director that these officials are driven by the fact that what you do today impact to what happens in the future.
Preparing for a brighter future start with the little this we do now. Every step you take, every word you say and every decision you make contribute to the legacy you going to live on this earth the day you pass on. So if you make either a good and bad decision today, you must know that future generations will know about it. It is important therefore, that we sober up with all things we do.
Programme Director, those to be honoured today surely have demonstrated some leadership attributes. They have taken upon themselves the responsibility to ensure that as they perform their daily duties they at the same time inspire others. Leadership is not only by leading others but more about influencing others to lead. These are the people who without doubt are driven by the fact that you cannot conquer what you will not confront. They have confronted the limited resources available in the police service, maximize them and ensured that they achieve optimal results. They surely deserve to be honoured.
The public service including the police service has still a long way to go in terms of transformation. We all agree that transformation cannot be an event but a deliberate programme integrated to our normal working environment aimed at achieving the bigger whole.
Transformation in the police service should be informed by realizing the enormous responsibility the present generation has in determining the future outcomes. What we decide and do now will determine what kind of police service we will become.
I am inviting all of you to join the government endeavour to change our society for better. This is all our responsibility, it is our burden. Fortunately enough we have the private sector within our midst and their presence today demonstrate their willingness and assurance that they are part of us.
We are trying all we can as government to make the environment conducive for them to conduct their businesses, likewise we also expect them to plough back to the communities and to government's efforts to change our communities into safe environments for our people, black and white, women and children, the rich and poor.
I would like to challenge the house to go and read a book by Piet Human called YENZA. Chapter 2 is about The Strategy of the Goat. The strategy of the goat is to tether oneself to a lucrative eating place and then to consume as much as possible.
What the goat is eating is from the organization, actually it is the organization itself. Programme Director we have practical examples in the police service.
This year alone, drugs just decided to disappear at the Nelspruit Police Station, just recently money went missing at the Middelburg Police Station, we often loose cigarettes confisticated at our borders, dockets are lost in our police stations and cases are withdrawn in the courts because of inadequate evidence. The goat is out there to eat as much grass possible forgetting about the dangers that poses should heavy rains come and find areas without enough grass. The goat does not think of the consequences.
The same goes for our police officials involved in corrupt activities. They only think about enriching themselves, forgetting the damage corruption causes to the organizations and communities. I am convinced that should all of us read that chapter about the Strategy of the Goat, we will realize the importance of joining hands with government and uproot corruption. We do not have to deal with the symptoms but the causes.
We are gathered here today to demonstrate that the few goats within our midst cannot be allowed to dilute the whole component of the police service. We are here to demonstrate that we under the clarion call for an effective service to all our people. Our declaration is the one that seeks to say crime and corruption is our number enemy. And if we really want to eradicate crime and criminality, we will need to ensure that our house is clean too.
Those nominated and the eventual winners are an inspiration to all of us. They demonstrate that all is not lost in the fight against crime. They present of good mirror of our ownselves that we are driven by Ubuntu. We fully understand the reason for the existence of the police service, that our communities need to live in safe environments, that we are charged to claim back all our streets and corners. That we commit to declare crime and criminality unfashionable.
We derive our strengths from the fact that we know that the communities depend on us to provide leadership in the fight against crime; we remain encouraged by the demonstration shown by different stakeholders such as the business communities, non governmental organization and the public at large.
As we approach the festive season let remain vigilant and ensure that we provide services to our people during this time of many challenges. Let us roll out campaigns that will be able to galvanize the whole communities as we seek to ensure them a safe Christmas.
Programme Director, let me say these few words to all nominated. The fact that you were considered for a prize today, means that your contribution to the police station has gone unnoticed. Whether you end up losing or winning does not matter. What matters most is the fact that all of us now know and recognize your contribution. It matters that this contribution is seen to changing the environment under which we are living. Congratulations.
Fighting for crime is everybody's business. We are all invited to make a contribution to the eradication of crime within our communities. Together we can win this fight, together we will win the war.