We
wholeheartedly congratulate on your appointment as our Police Commissioner.
This is because, on your impeccable record, it is plain that you are a
good person.
It is
not always the case that good people are elevated to high office. Our
country has seen a parade of mamparas given top jobs simply for being, either
connected to the ruling elite, or being favoured in terms of the now pandemic
culture of patronage.
However,
I still believe that advice is not misplaced. We all need it. In
my humble view you have one big advantage already. You are a woman. Based
on a lifetime of experience, spanning over 40 years, I have little doubt that
women are better as leaders. You may want to read my blog post titled "Now
who should be the boss" -- at http://coginito.blogspot.com/2010/12/now-who-should-be-boss.html
Secondly,
you certainly can do no worse than your two (2) male predecessors, the first of
whom was no more, no less, a criminal. The second has only a nodding
acquaintance with governance.
Thirdly,
from your record in particular, it is unlikely that you will be imbued with the
customary arrogance that we have become accustomed to seeing with your male
counterparts. This means that you will be naturally inclined to
understand your limitations as being "cadre deployed" and be willing
to find ways and means to overcome them.
We have
a spectacular precedent with another woman, Advocate Thuli Madonsela.
Fourthly,
as regards these limitations, I am sure you accept that, because you did not
secure the post on merit, you have a very significant problem as a leader. Any
leader's first attribute has to be credibility, i.e, instinctive widespread acceptance
by those being led that the leader merits the position. This is especially so
as regards disciplined forces, such as the army and police.
So you
are in the very challenging situation of having to build up that credibility.
Accept it as an exciting challenge. Use your God given talents to
find the ways and means to build up you credibility. There is much
wisdom out there, especially from our elders, as to how to achieve this.
I really don't think that you have any difficulty in understanding that the
normal male, testosterone driven, "I am the boss" approach will not
work.
A tip
that I would respectfully recommend is to immediately openly acknowledge your
limitations to your support team and adopt the stance that they have the skills
to make you and them look good. Empower them in a climate of diamond hard
trust. It will be something new for them and, if done right, will
inspire them to respond positively ... towards you and their briefs.
Fifthly,
and MOST importantly, please understand that there is a wholesale lack of
understanding of the underlying causes of our pandemic crime situation.
No question whatsoever!!!! So you have an outstanding opportunity
here. Really! You have a unique opportunity to come up with the solution
where others have failed --- DISMALLY!
The
current approach, now embedded by your predecessor Bheke Cele, of more police,
more force, more violence, "shoot to kill", harsher penalties ... etc
... etc ... is incredibly naive and misplaced ... and doomed to failure.
A much more sophisticated, innovative and imaginative approach, involving the
whole nation, is required.
You
see, the underlying problem is a national phenomenon know as anomie.
Forgive me for imagining that you have not heard of this condition.
What it means is that our nation has a widespread culture od deviance,
which then spawns crime. For instance, I think you will agree that the
same people who scream at our police force to shoot to kill, park their
Mercedes Benz cars, go into a meeting, and then fix commodity food prices to to
the detriment of the poorest. Weekly, Carte Blanche exposes
lawyers, doctors, accountants, mechanics, politicians ..... (the list is
endless) for deviant and criminal conduct.
The
reality is that our whole nation is part of the problem. Our whole nation needs
to be involved in the solution. Might I sincerely and respectful advise you to
---
1.
First read this post ----- http://coginito.blogspot.com/2011/03/corruption-and-crime-in-south-africa.html - AND
2.
Immediately assemble a cluster of criminologists, who will not only confirm
without exception that this advice is 100% sound, but will also help you plot a
way forward.
If you
do this you will be the first leader in this country that displays an understanding
of your brief on crime and will start the process to rid us of the scourge.
More of the same will be a truly tragic mistake on your part.
Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood. Marie Curie
May the
Good Lord guide you every step of the way!
No comments:
Post a Comment