Business and the government met on Monday to clarify the roles of working groups in their joint effort in fighting crime.
”This meeting reflects the extension and maturing of the process following on the November lekgotla [meeting],” said Business Against Crime chief executive Siphiwe Nzimande.
It was attended by government ministers from the Justice Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) cluster led by Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula, and business representatives led by Derek Cooper from Business Leadership South Africa.
”The meeting focused on the clarification of roles for the four working groups with the aim of providing clearer definition of what the working groups will do,” said Nzimande.
The working groups’ tasks are to focus on reviewing the criminal justice system, baseline effectiveness, violent organised crime and the mobilisation of the public, communication and innovations in the fight against crime.
At Monday’s meeting the JCPS cluster provided a comprehensive report on improving the effectiveness of the criminal justice system and on police operations, with special emphasis on plans for the festive season.
”Business in turn made presentations on the projects undertaken by business in support of [the] government and a review of the lessons learnt to inform future interventions,” said Nzimande.
”The resultant discussion dealt with strategic and tactical questions facing us as a nation, for these to be refined and packaged by the working groups.” — Sapa