Citizens urged to join the fight against crime

Cabinet has called on citizens to work collectively in the fight against crime.

This after the latest Quarterly Crime Statistics showed that more must be done to tackle the scourge of crime. 

“Cabinet calls on everyone to join the fight and to work collectively to make our homes, places of work and public spaces safer for all,â€ Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said at a post-Cabinet media briefing on Thursday. 

Cabinet further welcomed the extension of the integrated crime-fighting Operation Shanela to other provinces, including the Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. 

Cabinet noted the recent guilty plea and sentencing of six men accused of killing anti-corruption whistleblower, Babita Deokaran, in August 2021. 

Ntshavheni said Cabinet has called on law-enforcement agencies to further investigate and ensure that the masterminds behind the murder are brought to book.

“Cabinet applauded the integrated approach in combating crime that recently led to the Department of Home Affairs intercepting 67 Pakistani nationals who tried to enter the country illegally at the OR Tambo International Airport on Sunday, 13 August 2023,â€ she said. 

Transforming MENtalities Summit 2023

Meanwhile, Cabinet noted that the recently concluded Transforming MENtalities Summit has left an indelible mark on 1500 attendees, with its powerful engagement and insightful discussions.poised to pave the way for transformation needs for men and boy behavior. 

The summit was held at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre, in Johannesburg. 

It brought together University Vice-Chancellors, Deans, Principals and Council Chairpersons of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges, Student Support Structures and Leadership, chief executive officers of Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), entities of the Departments of Higher Education and Science and Innovation, policymakers, survivors, peer educators, and change-makers. 

All these sectors were unified by a shared commitment to address gender-based violence (GBV) within the Post-School Education and Training (PSET) sector.

The Summit was hosted by HIGHER HEALTH and the Human Science Research Council (HSRC) on behalf of the Department of Higher Education and Training and the Department of Science and Innovation.

 The aim was to engage the sector leadership, on transforming mentalities and address the root causes of GBV.

“Evidence and data suggest that men behavior has been one of the root causes of GBV and the Summit called for action for men and boys [to be] part of the solution.

“The summit asked for the development of more peer educators and champions across all our campuses, to work as change agents towards transforming MENtalities, more men dialogues across all institutions, incorporating gender studies including GBV, gender equality, gender diversity and transforming MENtalities as [a] co-curriculum alongside the main curriculum in the PSET sector,â€ Cabinet said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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