1. B ALANCING IMMEDIATE SAFETY WITH THE NEED FOR FAR REACHING, LONG - TERM SOCIAL CHANGE T OWARDS A C OHERENT S TRATEGY FOR C RIME R EDUCTION IN S OUTH A FRICA B EYOND 2010 - 1 ST – 2 ND D ECEMBER 201 0 – J OHANNESBURG S EAN TAIT AND LOUISE E HLERS

2. An intervention undertaken by the Open Society Foundation for South Africa (OSF-SA) in collaboration with three provincial departments of Community Safety to explore ways in which a dual approach of keeping citizens safe in the context of current levels of crime and simultaneously developing models for long term crime reduction might be achieved.

3. The Challenge The primary response by government to the crime problem to date has been to adopt a policy framework characterised by increasingly repressive criminal justice legislation and decreasing levels of access to information held by criminal justice agencies (notwithstanding enabling legislation to the contrary).

4. Social ills such as poverty and inequality, that are often proffered by researchers as being integrally linked with crime, cannot be addressed by policing strategies only We also need to look at non policing responses such as promoting safe public spaces and supporting positive and healthy child and youth development, addressing facilitators such as alcohol and other drugs

5. Crime Prevention and Safety South Africa’s support for crime prevention has been inconsistent Despite this, the discourse on crime thinking on safety in South Africa has matured. – knowledge has been built up by civil society – Discourse has grown through 4 paradigms, Law enforcement Crime prevention, Community Safety and Public health

6. Net result is that law enforcement and long term safety are not mutually exclusive. As much as it requires a whole of government approach it also requires a whole of community approach

7. OSF-SA Project on Crime and Safety Apply the knowledge in crime prevention in the fields of school safety, violence against women, child victimisation, youth diversion and local safety. A partnership with the Departments of Community Safety in Gauteng, the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape

8. Orange Farm

9. Elsie's River

10. Nompumelelo

11. Key Principles The need to address the underlying causes of crime The importance of adopting a multi-faceted and multi- disciplinary approaches, with the collaboration of a range of sectors, including, in addition to the traditional criminal justice role players, health, housing, education, civil society, etc The need to ensure an integrated approach to crime prevention and safety promotion The primary role for local government The importance of collaboration between national, provincial and local government.

12. Activities Undertaking a Safety Audit – Qualitative and quantitative data, interviews focus groups and statistics Area specific multi sector safety plans developed with local stakeholders Facilitate implementation through a safety forum – Mandate of the forum is to encourage collaboration, identify and seek solutions to challenges, lobby and advocate that priorities are addressed, monitor progress and facilitate communication

13. The OSF- SA – Supports the facilitation of the stakeholder forum – Supports a longitudinal evaluation – Provides targeted grant making as a catalyst to action

14. Some Projects After schools programme in Nompumelelo One stop victim support for youth and children in Orange Farm School Safety Programme in Elsies River Youth and Safety and the Elsies River Film Festival

15. Access to clean water in Nompumelelo Safety during the world cup and Access to social grants and safety at pay points in Orange Farm

17. Evaluation Thematic areas indentified though literature and consultation with the sites Sustainable forums for coordinated action on community safety Access to essential services for safety A community free of drug and alcohol abuse A healthy start — pre-school children and their guardians A safe and supportive environment for women A safe and supportive environment for children and youth Safe streets and neighbourhoods Meeting basic economic needs A weapons-free community

21. Conclusion International research tells us that efforts to mitigate and respond to crime must be balanced by longer-term systemic changes aimed addressing the causes of crime. Bringing about these changes goes beyond the mandate of the police to encompass a range of stakeholders and disciplines. Social crime prevention and safety promotion must be a priority that is integrated across a range of government departments, most immediately the departments of social development and education.