The South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa has said that to win the war against crime and Police killings, there’s need to build healthy, stronger relations between the police and the communities it serve.
Ramaphosa made this known at the South Africa Police Service National Commemoration Day held at the Site of Union Buildings, in remembrance of members who were killed in the line of duty in the past year.
According to him, “If we are to win the war against crime and police killings, we need to build healthy, stronger relations between the police and the communities they serve.
“In any community where crime happens, somebody always knows something. Some of our people remain silent for fear of victimisation.
“It is for this reason that we are always striving to make it easier for citizens to anonymously report crime or suspicious activities”, he said.
The President called on General Masemola, National Commissioner of the SAPS, who made commitment to prioritise rejuvenation of Community Policing Forums CPFs, which are legislated structures to bridge the divide between the local police and their communities.
Adding that it is important that CPFs work, so as communities can appreciate the critical role the Forum play by working with the police and by reporting criminals who live among the people.
“The fight against crime cannot be won by the police on their own. Let us, as communities and the police, take responsibility for each other’s safety”. he said.
Ramaphosa said further, “As we remember our fallen heroes and heroines, let us salute all police officers for the love they have for our country and its residents, and for their patriotic spirit and resilience in the face of brazen criminals.
“Let us demonstrate that we value our law enforcement officers, who make a deliberate choice to take up policing as a calling rather than a mere job. Let us today thank our fallen heroes heroines posthumously for their sacrifice.
“Let us cherish the memories they have left behind, whether as family members or as colleagues. Let us, amid the despair, sustain the determination that the lives lost should not be in vain.
“Let us transform the sorrow, the hurt and the anger at their deaths into a sense of determination to rid our streets of all forms of crime”.
The President urged Police members to remain vigilant at all times. “Take heed and implement objectives of the Police Safety Strategy, ensuring at all times that any action you take is within the confines of the law.
“Be decisive in defending your own lives and the lives of our law-abiding citizens.
“While we are here today to honour members of our police service who lost their lives in a particular financial year, we know that South African Police Service personnel face risk daily”, the President said.
Ramaphosa who participated in and witnessed the traditional wreath laying ceremony by the families of the fallen police officers. “We do this to pay tribute to those who laid down their lives in the line of duty, making sure that South Africans are safe and protected”, he said.
This gathered is to salute and commemorate 33 brave men and women who were killed while serving the country between the dates of the 1st of April 2021 and the 31st of March 2022.
In recent media briefing by Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations, Lieutenant-General Lebeya confirmed that 187 suspects had been arrested for the murder of police officials since 2018. Fifty-five accused were convicted, sentenced during the same period.