Representative of the MEC for Community Safety in Gauteng, Mr Stanley de Klerk;
CEO of Tracker, Mr Alan Hutcheson;
Executive Director: Operations of Tracker, Mr Ron Knott-Craig;
Senior Lieutenant Generals from the South African Police Service (SAPS);
Members of Tracker’s Board of Directors present;
CEO of Business Against Crime South Africa, Adv. Simi Pillay-van Graan;
Gauteng Provincial Community Policing Forum Board, Mr Andy Mashaile;
Head of Crimeline, Mr Yusuf Abramjee;
All Tracker/SAPS National Awards Nominees;
Distinguished Guests;
Members of the media;
Ladies and Gentlemen;

As the police leadership, management and the entire South African Police Service (SAPS) have focused considerable energy on efforts to not only reducing crime, but to also contribute significantly towards an effective and integrated criminal justice system. The work that has been done over the past four years serves to provide a strong base upon which we can build.

In do so we recognise that policing, like any other science, is not static but has to be adaptable, effective in order to meet the modern day challenges. In order to achieve this goal of crime reduction, we cannot do it alone. For this reason, one of the fundamental pillars in our approach is centred on partnerships; partnerships with civil society, business, formal and informal structures and many law-abiding citizens.

We are pleased to have been invited as the police leadership to address this year’s Tracker SAPS National Awards ceremony. For us, this represents an opportunity for renewal and strengthening of this important partnership.

Tracker and the SAPS have a long history of success. Tackling rampant crime levels is one such focus area which has benefited our citizens. When Tracker and the SAPS became partners in 1996, rampant vehicle crime levels in South Africa were making negative headlines around the world.

Seventeen years later, the picture represents a different perspective – a perspective that together we are doing more to reduce crime levels in our country. Whilst vehicle crime remains a serious concern for all South Africans, it has come down significantly in recent years – thanks, in no small part, to the SAPS-Tracker partnership.

Considering that the Tracker-SAPS partnership has now achieved more than 65 000 stolen vehicle recoveries which have led to some 12 000 arrests over the past 17 years, it is heartening to see what can be achieved when business and government unite with a common goal in mind.

As the Ministry of Police we consistently recognise the importance of maintaining close ties with business in effectively dealing with crime. We are therefore pleased to see the presence of our partners, Business Against Crime South Africa and Crimeline at this ceremony. Government moves from a premise that it is only through strong partnerships that we can create safer environments which enable economic development, growth and attract investments.

We want you to know how much we appreciate Tracker’s contribution. You are practically walking-the-talk and therefore encourage other corporate to follow Tracker’s example by partnering in a meaningful sense with government as we attempt to meet our various goals.

The 17 year partnership has borne some positive results, however we are cognisant that more still needs to be done. In fact if there is perhaps one challenge we would like to pose to Tracker today, is to begin to look into the latest modus operandi that has been adopted by some criminals, wherein they unlock some of the vehicles using remote jammers, as a result breaking into vehicles.

We are confident that this partnership will enable us to achieve this goal. In fact if there is perhaps one challenge we would like to pose to Tracker today, is to begin to look into the latest modus operandi that has been adopted by some criminals, wherein they unlock some of the vehicles using remote jammers, as a result breaking into vehicles.

We are confident that with some of your advanced technologies and skills capacity, you will help us thwart these latest criminal tricks. Collectively with SAPS, we need to begin to innovate wherever possible and consider new and clever ways to curtail vehicle crime, which as we know, is so often at the centre of other forms of violent crime such as armed robbery, murder, cash-in-transit heists and so on.

We are pleased to learn that as a consequence of all the vehicles that have been recovered, some 12 000 arrests have now been made. Furthermore, that in terms of the arrest ratios, the partnership has developed to such an extent that in certain provinces we are now making two arrests for every three vehicles recovered.

We are intent in ensuring that the perpetrators of such crimes face the full might of the law. To achieve this, emphasis is now placed on improvements around training because in the main, training is a continuous learning process for any field. That is why police were able to secure 307 580 convictions in the 2011/12 financial year and a further improvement of 352 513 convictions for all serious crimes during 2012/13.

In Tracker we are confident that we have a world leading technology partner. We are further pleased to learn that Tracker’s recovery technology is the most successful of its kind in the world, having recovered some 400 000 vehicles in more than 30 countries.
The investments you have made and continue to make to the SAPS are commendable.

At no cost to the SAPS, Tracker’s recovery technology is fitted to close on 1 400 police vehicles and some 50 aircrafts. Your commitment to this partnership is further demonstrated as Tracker ensures that all SAPS members are fully trained in how to use the technology and that the tracking computers are always in full working order.
Sadly, in the course of fighting crime we often lose some of our dedicated police officers, thus crippling our service and robbing the nation of such hardworking officers.
We want to express our appreciation as government to all the stakeholders who continue to support our police officers and those law-abiding South Africans who took a stance against the killing of law enforcement agencies.

When we made a clarion call to corporate South Africa to support our campaign against killing of police officers, Tracker was one of the forefront companies that took the initiative seriously. In fact, you demonstrated through action and less words. You got involved by supporting the educational needs of the children of our departed officers.

The Tracker-SAPS Bursary Fund not only complements our own efforts in this area, but is something that we appreciate very deeply within the police. It is incredibly comforting to know that the children of our fallen police officers are being provided with the most powerful weapon on earth: education.

Whilst it can never truly compensate them for their loss, it will nonetheless have a profound effect on their lives. I can only commend Tracker for this remarkable initiative and urge you to extend the scope of the project as far as you can.

By providing these children with a tertiary education, you have created a lifelong legacy for their parents. I cannot imagine a better tribute to their sacrifice. To the recipients of these bursaries, please work harder, focus on your studies. We need skilled youth who will be future leaders. Make us proud. Make your parents proud.

To all the police officers who are being recognised for your achievements today, we congratulate you. Whenever we address various events and public engagements, we make it a point to remind South Africans that policing is a difficult duty.

A point that as police officers you operate under strenuous conditions, facing some of the most dangerous criminals on a daily basis coupled with the fact that the nature of crime in South Africa being unique and violent. Yet, despite these challenges the majority of our officers continue to excel against all odds.
Your accolades, whether as nominees or eventual winners means that you are among the best at what you do. We are therefore immensely proud of you. Enjoy today, because you deserve the accolades. However, I want you to do one very important thing for me when you leave here today.

I urge you to take your learning’s, experiences and pass them on to your colleagues who can benefit from them. To not share your knowledge and ability is almost a crime within itself. Alone, you are powerful at what you do, but if you can uplift your colleagues. Imagine the strength capacity and knowledge that you can share? How much better served can our country become as a consequence of your generosity?

Our strength is not in how much we know or what we can do by ourselves, but in what we can achieve as a collective. A favourite saying of mine perhaps illustrates the point best: a candle loses nothing of itself by lighting another. And together, the darkness is overcome.

The more people whose flames you ignite positively, the brighter the light burns for all of South Africa. Together, we can do more to reduce crime.

I thank you.