Statement by Dan Plato, Western Cape Minister of Community Safety
I am happy to announce that following a formal explorative meeting with the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) on Thursday, 5 March 2015, aimed at partnering to increase safety in our communities, the Department of Community Safety and the MJC will now formalise our existing cooperative nature going forward with a view to expanding on youth development and upliftment.
The partnership will build on the good relations and support the Department of Community Safety has enjoyed with the Muslim community in the province and will formalise relations around the basket of services available from the Department and the existing work of the MJC.
Both organisations share the notion that the societal problems plaguing our communities, for instance drug abuse and gangsterism especially among the youth, requires the whole of society to actively tackle these problems from within the communities.
The MJC already has a large footprint in the province, provides essential services of assistance to those in need and has ongoing relations with all spheres of government.
The Department of Community Safety in turn already partners with the broader religious fraternity in the province through the Youth Safety and Religious Partnership (YSRP), an opportunity which many Mosques already make use of. Other possibilities for collaboration exist through the various other programmes and partnerships in order to build stronger community relations.
Both organisations have found willing partners in one another to create safer communities, Better Together.
I thank the Muslim Judicial Council for taking the first steps with us towards a formalised partnership where we can share knowledge, exchange ideas and build a unified partnership to better increase safety in our communities.
I reiterate that the Department of Community Safety is willing to partner with any organisations who truly want to assist in creating safer communities and invite other organisations to consider becoming a safety partner in the province.
Ewald Botha
Spokesperson for Minister Plato
Cell: 079 694 1113