Business Against Crime South Africa - Home Page

Welcome to the Business Against Crime South Africa (BACSA) website!

We are confident that this recently revamped website created through the pro-bono support of Online Innovations, with web-hosting through Internet Solutions, will enhance the web presence of BACSA and the Business Against Crime (BAC) provinces. BACSA is greatly appreciative of this support as we begin 2009 on a high note.

Let us know what you think:

And while this site is only recently launched, we welcome any input and/or suggestions that you may have which will further assist to bring BACSA and the BAC provinces closer to you.

A Word from Siphiwe Nzimande, CEO of BACSA

In 2009, BACSA celebrates its 12th year of existence!

As we look back over the years from the moment when we were first established in response to a call made by Nelson Mandela for the business community to become involved in the fight against crime, we have cause to be proud that the organisation has been consistent in addressing crime in the country through efforts which mobilise the business community proactively against crime and which support Government to uphold its Constitutional mandate to ensure that all South Africans, visitors, travelers and investors in the country are free to enjoy this wonderful country without fear or the threat of crime.

Overview of 2008

Looking back at last year, we were pleased that the crime statistics released for the 2007/8 financial year showed some significant gains. In relation to the trio crimes (i.e., House Robberies, Business Robberies and Hijackings), the rate of increase of these crimes was as low as 2% in Gauteng as compared to the rest of the provinces where the rate of increase was 38%. As Gauteng accounts for over 50% of the incidence of these crimes, the reduction in the rate of increase helped to build confidence in the concerted law enforcement efforts supported by BACSA in the province.

A Broadened Strategy

However, the displacement of these crimes to other provinces in the country, in particular to Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and North West, is of grave concern to us. It is for this reason that our Violent Organised Crime (VOC) work group broadened the roll-out of successful initiatives to these priority provinces with a view to ensuring that the rate of displacement is reversed and the incidence of the Trio crimes in these provinces sustainably reduced.

The Criminal Justice System Review

Last year was as well significant as the work of the Criminal Justice System Review hit the ground running after the approval by Cabinet of the 7-Point Plan. This ambitious work championed by Deputy Minister Advocate Johnny de Lange seeks to eliminate all the administrative backlogs that currently overburden the Criminal Justice System and which make it to underperform. A common Vision and Mission for the entire Security cluster is being established to improve both the coherence and performance of the system. BACSA remains committed to supporting this work and has seconded resources to the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DoJ and CD) so that BACSA can contribute to this solutions-driven over-arching plan. Implementation has begun in earnest and the progress to-date is promising.

Collaboration with Government Partners

At the end of last year, BACSA was pleased to have collaborated with the new Minister of Safety and Security, Nathi Mthethwa, in the hosting of a Crime Summit whose main purpose was to assess the effectiveness of service delivery to-date in the fight against crime. Our Chairperson, Mark Lamberti, addressed the Summit as one of the keynote speakers alongside the Minister and towards the end of the Summit business recommitted itself to the fight against crime and pledged to continue to play a supportive role to Government.

Measuring Delivery and Performance

Our position that the release of the national crime statistics must be made public knowledge more timeously and more often has not changed. We remain adamant that over and above this, we require to know not only the number of reported crimes per crime type, but also the statistics which will indicate the degree to which the system is performing as whole. For every reported crime type, we want to know the throughput statistics related to the number of investigations, prosecutions, the time to court, the number of successful convictions, etc. Without this type of information, we do not have any accurate sense of the crime situation and whether we are winning the fight. The general consensus is that the system is broken. This type of information will help us track the progress we are making in terms of fixing what is broken and strengthening what is working.

The Role of Business (Individually and Collectively)

To achieve the aims of the organisation in assisting to bring about a sustainable reduction in crime and, in particular, the Trio crimes, it is important that all role-players continue to play their part in the fight against crime. Businesses can do much to minimise their vulnerability to crimes that target them by taking practical steps such as installing CCTV cameras which comply to minimum standards, employing only private security companies that vet their employees, by minimising the amount of cash on hand and by raising the awareness of staff on how to remain alert at all times and take precautions when performing their duties. BACSA brings the strength of its experience from the last 12 years in the fight against crime to the business community and is currently working with over 22 business associations and groupings. Business support in cash or in-kind remains, however, important to the ongoing strength of the organisation which seeks to deliver results against its mandate while maintaining the highest standards of corporate governance.

The Role of Citizens in the Fight Against Crime

Further to this, citizens are encouraged to report crimes and/or knowledge that they may have of crimes which are being planned, as well as not to buy stolen goods, respect the lives of others and assist to not tolerate any form of crime in their community. These steps will do much to turn around a sense of helplessness and isolation in relation to crime. So much can be done when we all stand shoulder to shoulder to fight crime and do our part to turn around the unacceptable levels of crime and in particular violent crimes.

Looking Forward

There is no doubt that much still needs to be done and that crime in South Africa is not yet at acceptable levels. With elections upcoming this year, the judiciary under pressure from political quarters and a global economic downturn already squeezing South Africa, this year is anticipated to be a difficult one, but not without hope.

Once again, we extend our deep sense of gratitude to all our donors and partners who continue to support the fight against crime and who are committed to being part of the solution in the fight against crime.

In our twelfth year, we look forward to strengthened relationships with both business and Government to impact the scourge of crime through partnerships that foster systemic, demand-driven, sustainable solutions that will help us to realise a safer, more prosperous and more secure South Africa.

This year promises to be challenging but to echo the leadership example of the recently inaugurated President of the United States, Barack Obama, we are confident that, if our actions are informed by the ‘we can’ mentality, the crime landscape in South Africa can change dramatically in the lead up to 2010 next year and the Confederations Cup this year.

Finally, a last word of gratitude to the men and women who on a daily basis serve their country by fighting crime in the frontline in the SAPS, in the courts, in the prisons and through the Departments of the Justice, Crime Prevention and Safety (JCPS) cluster - we thank you for your work in making South Africa a better place for us all. Through our efforts together and in partnership, we hope that one day we will be able to say - `we have overcome'.

Siphiwe Nzimande

CEO: BACSA

January 2009