Cross-Cutting Initiatives

[Last Updated : 29 April 2010]

Business Against Crime South Africa - Cross-Cutting Initiatives

Business Against Crime South Africa in seeking to bring about a sustained reduction in violent crime in the country and, in particular, the Trio crimes (i.e., Business Robberies, House Robberies and Vehicle Hijackings), the following Cross-Cutting Initiatives are being implemented by the BACSA VOC team. 

The Leveraging of Capacity and Business Support for the Fight Against Crime

The focus remains the leveraging of business resources in support of the VOC work group.

view information about BACSA's Leveraging of Capacity and Resources

The Security Alignment and Vetting Initiative

The initiative stems from the realisation that no single entity can combat violent crime and specifically residential robberies in isolation. After discussion with the Gauteng police and various other stakeholders, it was decided to pilot a holistic programme in the Honeydew Police Station Precinct which aims to create a replicable and sustainable model. The initiative provides for the creation of infrastructure within the station for the co-location of private security companies. Although this initiative is piloted in the Honeydew area, the intention is to expedite implementation into other high-risk areas on the successful completion of the pilot.

more about Security Alignment and Vetting 

Structural Interventions to Enhance Service Delivery - the NATJOC and JOCOMS

NATJOC

During the past four years, business lobbied for special SAPS operations during peak periods of crime, i.e., the festive periods of Easter and December. Although business participated indirectly in these by providing relevant operations support, the operations were solely conducted by SAPS.

JOCOMS

The Joint Operations Centres (JOCs) are an important component of an effective fight against crime. The centres are centralised hubs for the sharing of information, crime incident management and response. Given the increases reported in the trio crimes at the end of June 2008 with the release of the SAPS annual crime statististics, the organisation is currently in the process of seeking to align the Provincial JOCS (Prov JOCS) and the NATJOC both horizontally and vertically. Once this process has been completed, approximately 80% of the trio crimes will have received priority coverage.

more about NATJOC and JOCOMS

Information - Sharing - Preventative Standards

The VOC team in conjunction with business and Government partners has assisted to develop a number of minimum standards which serve to reduce the vulnerabilities of businesses and persons to the threat of crime.

• Close-Circuit TV - For information in relation to minimum standards in relation to the use of CCTV cameras at business premises - contact BACSA directly for a copy of these.
• Cash Management

Fighting Crime Through Legislation Which Enhances the Regulatory Environment  - The Second Hand Goods Act 

The Second-Hand Goods Act, 1955 (Act No. 23 of 1955) presently regulates the second-hand industry and provides for a legislative framework within which dealers in second-hand goods must operate.  The 1955 legislature could not have foreseen the major developments in the second-hand industry which have taken place since 1956. It was, therefore, realised that simply amending the 1955 Act would be insufficient, as the principles on which the Act are founded must be reviewed in order to address industry concerns, facilitate policing and contribute to Government policy.

more about the Second Hand Goods Act

Building Confidence in the Response of Government to Crime - The 10111 Initiative 

10111 Call Centre Initiative

In 2008, BACSA was approached by the SAPS to assist with the improvement of operations at the Midrand 10111 Call Centre.

more about the 1011 Call Centre Initiative

10111 Operators Training

The intervention was initiated after BACSA received a request from the SAPS for business assistance in addressing skills deficiencies of call centre operators working at Gauteng’s 10111 centre in Midrand. BACSA facilitated a private/public partnership through which a world class approach to improve similar operations centres was sourced. A number of selected private sector partners have come on board to assist with this intervention.

more about the 10111 Operators Training