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 BACSA's New CEO: Dr Graham Wright

The recent business breakfast hosted by Business Against Crime South Africa (BACSA) on 28 October 2009 re-affirmed the strength of the partnership between Government and BACSA and the broader business community in the fight against crime.

As reported at the breakfast, the Minister of Police, Mr Nathi Mthethwa, and BACSA are committed to finalising a MOU that will provide structure to the partnership and will formalise arrangements. High-level strategic engagement with Government and clearly defined and well-resourced interventions will be central to driving the reinvigorated partnership forward. In its final stages, we are confident that the partnership agreement will better enable BACSA to fulfil its unique role in the anti-crime landscape.

Meanwhile BACSA, together with its many partners in the business community and the SAPS, is working in a focused manner to address immediate challenges, including armed robberies against businesses, households and individuals. In the context of the upcoming festive season, which is typically accompanied by an increase in crime, this work is urgent. With the SAPS, we are working tirelessly to deal with these crime challenges in a co-ordinated manner.

With regard to small, micro- and medium-enterprise robberies, unique solutions are required. Pilot initiatives in Central Johannesburg and Tembisa, have been begun in partnership with the SAPS, relevant Government and Non-Governmental stakeholders. Our partnership with Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) will assist us to broaden our impact and minimise threats to this sector.

These, and other targeted interventions and programmes facilitated through the BACSA’s work groups, including the improvement of the Criminal Justice System (CJS), receive our full attention. Meaningful progress has been made on a number of fronts.

We are particularly encouraged by the planned re-engagement of the SANDF along the border line. The SANDF will, in our view, make a significant impact by stemming the illegal flow of vehicles, goods and people across our porous borders. BACSA has been part of a consultative process associated with the planning of the re-deployment and we are pleased that many of our recommendations have been taken on board.

At our recently hosted business briefing, we extended our deep appreciation and gratitude to the many companies that have funded the organisation over the years.

A further appeal for additional funding over a three-year period was also made by BACSA so that our obligations might be fulfilled in respect of the Public Private Partnership and initiatives already underway.

As a special purpose vehicle of business, the organisation also plays a critical role in mobilising the business community to ensure that its `own house’ is in order.

The degree to which we are able to play this role, however, depends entirely on the business’ community’s continued funding of the organisation. In this regard, we appeal to the business sector to remain part of the solution in the fight against crime, whether this is through funding support or valued skills, knowledge, and expertise.

We remain encouraged by the continued strong leadership of Government, as well as the high level of commitment and leadership demonstrated by the business community in the fight against crime. These are necessary ingredients to success in the fight against crime.

On our part, BACSA remains committed to staying the course over the long haul with the continued support of the business sector.

Dr Graham Wright

CEO: BACSA

30 October 2009