Advocate Simi Pillay-van Graan Chief Executive Officer

CEO's Desk

A Word from BACSA's CEO, Advocate Simi Pillay-van Graan ....

(March 2013)

Community involvement in crime prevention and detection should not be underestimated. Whilst law enforcement agencies are actively involved in this domain, there is an onus on all members of the community to take steps in ensuring their safety and that of others in the community.

We all should ensure that we do not allow a situation which contributes to exposure of our neighbours to potential crime situations. Such instances would include unsupervised building contractors on your property, abandoned buildings which is open to house potential criminals, allowing strangers to set up home on your open piece of land, etc. These are examples of a disorganized community. Everybody wants to live in a safe and secure environment.

The eyes and ears of community members in detecting criminal activity are far more effective than the capabilities of law enforcement agencies. There must be constant communication between community members and a pro-active mindset to addressing crime. Whilst some areas have easy access to police services, there should still be designated homes on each street should a member of that community be in danger. An example would be a child who believes he is being followed from school or is in any other danger.

It is also paramount that community forums are always aware of their sector policing contact details for all emergencies. There are many different approaches to neighborhood crime prevention. The attempt is to establish a cohesive and socially aware community where crime cannot flourish.

Communities need to set up a database of all incidents in the neighborhood incorporating as much detail as possible, such as modus operandi, description of the suspect/s if they were seen, description of the suspects clothing, hair, shoes, distinctive marks, vehicle description, etc. This information must be circulated to all in the neighborhood as soon as possible, including the local police, with a view to possibly identifying and apprehending the suspect if he is still in the area. Members must use this facility to inform community members if you will be bringing strangers on your property and on which dates. This simply allows neighbours to be more vigilant in securing their properties and for the sake of the community.

Business’ plays a critical role in enabling these forums to be sustainable and effective. Having strong community participation and leadership in fighting crime will also enhance productivity and profit margins of local businesses. So get going and protect your community from crime.

BACSA is actively involved with Community Policing forums in Gauteng as part of the Community Mobilisation Project which has been undertaken in partnership with the South African Police Services. We strongly believe that together we can all make a difference in the fight against crime. Read more about this project on page 2, and let us hear your comments on our Newsletters and initiatives.

Have a safe April and be alert at all times.

Until next time.
Adv. Simi Pillay-van Graan
Chief Executive Officer
Business Against Crime South Africa

 

A Word from BACSA's CEO, Advocate Simi Pillay-van Graan ....

(February 2013)

Crime seems to be taking centre stage in the country over the last 12 months. From Marikana, violent actions toward women and children, the Oscar Pistorius case, and the alleged police brutalities, has contributed to South Africa suffering as a nation. Investor perception in the country is poor arising out of fear for the crime situation that has been painted globally through electronic media, and the current electricity crisis facing the nation and international investors operating business’ in South Africa.

Unless negative international perception and the rate of crime in the country is reduced, there is going to be a clear decline in economic growth, loss of jobs and a rise in poverty levels. Violent and commercial crimes in the country need to be addressed, not only through the law enforcement vehicles in the country, but through the involvement of civil society organisations and citizens of the country who can spread teachings on high moral values, ethical behavior, and respect for every persons right to life and dignity. The country needs a mindset change. Businesses also plays a critical role in facilitating this positive mindset change. There should be no tolerance toward any criminal or unethical conduct in the workplace. All criminal conduct should be reported to the police. Businesses must ensure that they practice good governance throughout the organisation, that there is clear audit trails and accountability in the manner in which business is conducted. This forces employees to fall in line with good ethical and moral practices which extend to positive behaviour change even outside the business environment, and the teaching goes on. Sexual harassment incidents should also receive serious attention by management.

International perception of the crime situation in the country, in part, has been blamed on the way the criminal justice system operates. It is the belief of some international companies that it is not effective enough to deter criminal activity in the country, especially where the alleged suspects are the police themselves. The criminal justice system is currently going through a revamp. It is a long term initiative, which has recently been spearheaded by the JCPS cluster Ministers, and is showing some progress under their leadership. Business Against Crime South Africa (BACSA) is also playing a critical role in this initiative.

Whilst there is a huge reliance on the criminal justice system to perform effectively to prevent and address crime, it is not the complete solution to the situation at hand. There are certain crimes that cannot be effectively addressed through this system and require a parallel process to deal with it in the correct manner. An example of this would be some of the drug related cases, especially those involving the consumption of drugs. The perpetrator is prosecuted, sentenced to a fine, and is out again consuming drugs. If he receives a term of imprisonment, this does not deter his habit, because in most instances he will continue as before. The intention of the criminal justice system to punish and rehabilitate is therefore not adequate. This is an example of a social crime, where the parallel process referred to above should focus on treating and rehabilitating the person to ensure that he/she can make a positive contribution to society once out of the program and is drug free. As drugs and alcohol abuse are one of the key factors which contribute to the commission of contact crimes in the country, treating the problem will also reduce the violent crimes associated with drugs and alcohol. We should be looking beyond symptomatic solutions to addressing crime, if there is to be a positive impact on the rate of crime. Just some food for thought.

I hope you enjoy reading this edition of our Newsletter, which has an interesting article on the Fingerprint legislation. Be safe, and help us to build our country into a crime-free zone. We look forward to your contribution for our future editions.

Until next time.
Adv. Simi Pillay-van Graan
Chief Executive Officer
Business Against Crime South Africa

 

A Word from BACSA's CEO, Advocate Simi Pillay-van Graan ....

(January 2013)

Business Against Crime South Africa (BACSA) wishes you and your family a wonderful, productive, and safe year ahead.

The festive season has come and gone with law enforcement on high alert. The hard work and dedication put into policing South Africa during the recent festive season, was very apparent in the visibility of police officials around malls, highways, and holiday destinations throughout the country. Business Against Crime South Africa is proud of the many women and men of the South African Police Service, who placed their own lives and safety at risk to protect the country,   especially during the festive season. We commend the leadership of the Minister of Police, Minister Nathi Mthethwa, and the National Commissioner of Police, General Ria Phiyega, in taking the organization to new heights, with a new vision. The feedback is encouraging and is a clear indicator that crime can be controlled. It is evident that policing violent and other serious crime was high on the agenda of the Festive Season operations, and whilst the police have made 67,000 arrests, it also raises a concern that these crimes are occurring at a very high rate over a short period of time. There is clearly a need to influence a mindset change in communities where these crimes are rife, in addition to pro-active policing, and collaboration with outside parties.

The large number of road deaths is quite concerning. Whilst policing roads and highways is effective and has saved many lives over the festive season, the courts play a key role in deterring drunken driving by implementing stringent penalties. It is also important for the Department  of Transport to focus more attention  on internal processes which regulate the issuing of licences and roadworthy certificates to ensure that all drivers are competent to drive a vehicle and that all vehicles on the roads are roadworthy. Often lives are lost as a result of non-compliance with these two factors. The efficient and effective criminal justice system is also the core to effective crime management in the country.

Drugs remain a huge concern as the environment in which many suppliers and illegal drug manufacturers operate is extremely well organised. The social destruction is spreading fast, and many of our children and youth have become victims of drug abuse, due to poor security and problem identification at schools. Schools need to play a more pro-active role in identifying drugs and drug use on school premises. There should be compulsory drug testing in all schools, and drug rehabilitation programs for children/youth should be included in the national plan of the Department of Education. As the saying goes, "it is easier to build a child than to repair an adult". BACSA will be embarking on a Narcotics project with the Hawks this year. The focus will be multi-dimensional and will rely on getting community and business co-operation with the aim of getting more young people to move away from drug use, to improve their potential to find employment and contribute positively to the economy. The need for a multi-dimensional approach involving various government departments, business, and communities has become apparent, as the possible solution to addressing the drug endemic in the country.

BACSA will be embarking on an exciting and dynamic journey this year. We look forward to your continued support and anticipate making huge in-roads in addressing crime locally and across borders.

We hope that more businesses will come on board to enable BACSA to achieve far more than it has over the last 16 years.

Please support the country's growth and development, only you can help us to achieve this.

Look out for our next Newsletter, which will be published on a monthly basis. This month we included an interesting study conducted by Grant Thornton. We hope you find this informative and thought provoking.

"Be the change you want to see in the world" (Mahatma Gandhi)              

Thank you
Adv. Simi Pillay-van Graan
Chief Executive Officer
Business Against Crime South Africa

 

A Word from BACSA's CEO, Advocate Simi Pillay-van Graan ....

(December 2012)

It is that time of the year again, when we can all take a little break from the mad rush to spend some time with family and friends, and perhaps even start to breathe again. 2012 has been a year filled with positive and negative occurrences and has been probably one of the busiest years yet for most people. We are at the time of year when we can sit back and reflect on our actions and accomplishments, and review the strategy for the new year ahead, which is only a stones throw away.

BACSA has achieved much success in 2012, together with its partners in both government and business in addressing crime in the country. The support of business has been incredible, and I would like to thank each and every donor of BACSA for enabling the organization to make a positive intervention in the anti-crime environment. It is no doubt that business is also concerned about the economic and social destruction that crime brings with it, especially crime which is organized in nature. It is time that we create stronger barriers against crime as it impacts every part of our lives, not only our safety and security, but access to education, to health facilities, and much more. This we can only achieve by strengthening and expanding the scope of our partnerships. I hope that businesses will continue their support of BACSA, and that new businesses will also come on board to help us develop and grow our country socially and economically, for the benefit of all in South Africa. BACSA plays a critical role in creating investor confidence in the country. We can only successfully achieve this with your support going forward.

2013 is a much awaited year for us all, and I wish to take this opportunity to wish you and your families a safe and blessed festive season. If you are travelling, be mindful of the speed limit and weather conditions. Make sure your vehicles are roadworthy, and take a break when you are feeling tired, and please do not drink and drive. This edition has some safety and crime tips for your information, please put them to good use. Have a great break and we will see you next year!

Thank you
Adv. Simi Pillay-van Graan
Chief Executive Officer
Business Against Crime South Africa

 

Advocate Simi Pillay-van Graan appointed as CEO of
Business Against Crime South Africa

(September 2012)

Wednesday, 05 September 2012, Johannesburg – Business Against Crime South Africa (BACSA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Advocate Simi Pillay-van Graan as the new CEO to replace Dr Graham Wright with effect from the 1 September 2012. This appointment follows the decision by Dr Wright not to renew his contract with BACSA after a long tenure of service, which came to an end on 31 August 2012. Read More