The Department of Community Safety celebrates long service

Safety is everyone’s responsibility – but it starts with us!

The Department of Community Safety hosted a staff engagement on 07 – 08 July 2022 and embarked on an organizational culture journey with approximately 270 staff members attending the two-day programme.

Led by Minister Reagen Allen and the Head of Department (HOD), Adv Yashina Pillay, with the support of the senior management team, all staff were invited to partake in designing and adopting a new culture in the workplace to foster excellence in delivering on our constitutional mandate.

Staff members were taken on a journey to reflect on the past and, together, to shape what the future organizational culture should be and which would be adopted by everyone.

Tasked with the role of creating safer communities, and being one of the lead departments in the implementation of the Provincial Safety Plan, Adv Pillay emphasised the importance of having a  renewed commitment to

public service and to drive a collective vision and purpose to ensure that we adequately respond to the challenges people face in our communities.

Adv Pillay said: “This is the first time since the inception of the department that we have had all staff partaking in a conversation of organizational culture and change. It is truly remarkable to have experienced the passion

and commitment from our staff and to also celebrate the work they have done over the years. We will use the inputs from the past two days as a launch pad for our future.”

Minister Allen said: “I’d like to commend the staff for picking up the baton and being leaders in creating a safer community.

There is a clear understanding and appreciation for the task at hand, but the desire to live in a safer environment is reverberating throughout the department. We’ve committed to holding each other accountable and

will make it our business to encourage sister departments, relevant stakeholders and society at large to embark on this journey with us. Safety is after all everyone’s responsibility.”

The two-day programme concluded with the Minister and HOD, together with staff members acknowledging the long service of colleagues who worked in public service for 10, 20 and 30 years, respectively.

Minister Allen added: “I’d also like to congratulate all staff who were awarded long service certificates. Some have been on the safety journey for 10, 20 and 30 years, and it is important that we acknowledge the achievements of these public servants. What pleases me most is that they’re still committed to being on the journey of creating a safer Western Cape for all.

If we’re to overcome crime, we need to pull in the same direction, be united and resilient in our efforts. By doing this, we’d be well on way to reducing the murder rate by 50% by 2029. Criminals are determined, but they should know that they’ve got nothing on us, as we will not rest until our communities are safer for all to live in”, Minister Allen concluded.

Refer to photos attached and captions below:

• Photo 1: Staff of the Department of Community Safety
• Photo 2: Left: Head of Department (HOD), Adv Yashina Pillay; Centre: Director: Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr Bhekithemba Simelane receiving his 20-year service award, Right: Minister Reagen Allen