The following is an extract of the speech delivered by the Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Cllr Herman Mashaba, at the Graduation Ceremony of 117 JMPD Officers, held at the JMPD Training Academy.
It is a great honour for me to welcome our 117 graduates to the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department. Your hard work, diligence and commitment over the past 18 months of training has paid off.
Today marks the beginning of your journey as protectors of the residents of Johannesburg.
The task ahead of you will not be easy. It will be difficult and it will require long hours away from your loved ones. You are now the face of law and order in the City and you are expected to protect and serve our residents without bias.
In our City we look to you to:
- maintain public order;
- protect and secure our residents and their property;
- uphold and enforce the law;
- create a safe and secure environment for all our residents;
- proactively trying to prevent anything that may threaten the safety or security of any of our communities; and
- ensure that criminals are brought to justice.
I implore you not to be tempted by bribery or get involved in any kind of practice that will compromise the oath you have taken.
I have stated time and again that in the City of Johannesburg, corruption is public enemy number one. Your responsibility is to protect residents and be the standard for upholding the law, not to use your power to rob residents of their money.
That said, I want to assure you that I fully understand the weight that is placed on your shoulders. As the City, we have ensured that fully functional counselling and support centres are made available to you so that we give the care you need to work optimally.
In the near future, an additional 1500 officers will join your team at JMPD. I am proud to mention this, because at the time of closing the application process on 4 May 2017, we received a staggering 65 000 applications.
Receiving this overwhelming response from the public indicates that the residents of Johannesburg are keen to join the JMPD and that members of the public want to be a part of the team of men and women who go beyond the call of duty to make our communities safe.
As of today, you are part of this team.
Although the vast number of applications we received affirms that our Department of Public Safety is on the right track, it also indicates vast unemployment in Joburg. It is for this reason that I am glad that we will not only enhance our police force by welcoming you and these additional 1500 officers into JMPD, but we will also be creating needed jobs.
Many citizens have lost trust with the police and others like them, including JMPD. It is for this reason that I urge you to follow the example set by the long-serving members of the City’s Department of Public Safety, such as Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar and Superintendent Edna Mamonyane, who have served our City diligently for over 30 years.
These are exemplary officers and I have every faith that if each of you followed their example, we can restore the community’s faith this country’s policing authorities.
Finally, there is a specific issue I want to mention which is close to my heart. Our city is plagued by drug and substance abuse which is wreaking havoc in our communities.
I am a parent myself, and as a parent, I have had enough of how drugs are destroying the lives of many of our children.
It is every person’s constitutional right to live in a safe and peaceful environment. However, once our residents, and especially our youth, have become ensnared in the trap that is drug-abuse, they seldom find a way out, and their safety and future is destroyed.
On 21 November 2016, I launched the new JMPD K-9 Unit, and this unit has since had many successes. You too will work with this unit to root out drugs in our communities.
Drugs are often linked to a variety of financial, social, psychological and health issues. For this reason our objective, and yours, must be to not only rid our streets of drugs – but to also educate our people about the harmful effects they have.
As officers, you will also be working closely with our team of Emergency Management Officials, who like you, are tasked with keeping our residents safe in times of danger. Support each other and work as a synchronised team to for the benefit our residents.
I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the members of the team who have lost their lives while on duty since August 2016: Officer L. Shikwambana, and Officer C.N Radebe. These officers have served our residents bravely, and their contribution to the fight against crime will not be forgotten.
Ridding Joburg of crime will not be easy, but by working together, we can turn Johannesburg into a City where residents can work and play in a safe and prosperous environment.
I will not lie to you, the task ahead will seem overwhelming at times. For this alone, I want you to know that the City appreciates the work you are about to do.
For this, you are our residents’ heroes.
Hold dear to the oath you have taken and wear your badge with pride.