Fighting Crime Together ... Brig Piet Pieterse & Capt Kwena Serokolo

"People that commit these offences are not always such bad people and I have learnt a lot from them," says Brigadier Piet Pieterse from SA's elite Hawks police unit. On the iStart2 Show this week we chatted to Piet (Head of the Cyber Crime Unit) and his colleague, Captain Kwena Serokolo.

"I believe the future is filled with abundant possibilities

 and it is for us to seize the opportunities"

- Captain Kwena Serokolo on the iStart2 Show

The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation also known as the Hawks, has been established as an independent directorate within the South African Police Service and is responsible for the combating, investigation and prevention of national priority crimes such as serious organized crime, serious commercial crime and serious corruption.
 
"Following the money is one of the principles we use but the focus is on the investigative methodologies to follow the modus operandi of the criminal's behaviour by using specific forensic capabilities. It is better to look at a proactive approach rather than a reactive approach," says Piet.

Kwena's message to the public is clear: "Report crime. At the end of the day there is the joy when eventually your criminal gets convicted in court and you put one person away". Piet re-iterates that there is a responsibility on all of us to report crime and that we need to focus on educating the public.

To get some behind the scenes information about the role of the Hawks and how you and your community can get involved in combating crime and corruption, listen to the show:



Thought of the Day: "For the love of money ..."

Keitu Gwangwa & Pierre du Toit host the iStart2 Show on Thursdays at 17h30. Radio Today broadcasts on 1485 MW (AM) in greater Johannesburg and countrywide on ‪#‎DStv‬ audio channel 869. Radio Today also streams globally on www.1485.org.za..

"I have always hated criminals and crime. Life is hard enough without someone walking into your life on purpose and making it worse." 
-  Pauley Perrette

Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/crime.html

I've always hated criminals and crime. Life is hard enough without someone walking into your life on purpose and making it worse. Pauley Perrette
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/crime.html

lways hated criminals and crime. Life is hard enough without someone walking into your life on purpose and making it worse. Pauley Perrette
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/crime.html

Sustainability Conversations ... Crime & Silent auctions

This year (2016) the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development — adopted by world leaders in September 2015 at an historic UN Summit — officially came into force.  Over the next fifteen years, with these new Goals that universally apply to all, countries will mobilize efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind.

For the goals to be reached, everyone has to do their part : Governments, the private sector, civil society and people like us.

"Where corruption is rampant countries face poor inward investment, and blemished reputations. Corruption is, therefore, a short term victory for the few that deeply harms the many,” the UNODC chief warned, underlining the importance of the new development Agenda’s Goal 16, which seeks to substantially reduce corruption and bribery, as well as promote access to justice and effective, accountable and transparent institutions.

Environmental crime is also now becoming a serious problem worldwide in different forms, with some of them being among the most profitable criminal activities in the world. The most common crimes against the environment are connected with the unlawful exploitation of wild fauna and flora, pollution, waste disposal and its trade.

Would you like to know what the five most serious environmental crimes are?
Find out here

An interesting story that grabbed my attention broke in the Business Day last month. Having had first hand experience of how the auctioneering system "operates", it was good to see a string of auctioneers, Bank officials, liquidators and prominent individuals implicated in a crime bust. Would love to see a closer scrutiny on the actions of some auctioneers and their dubious bedfellows. 

Read more here.
In 2015, an estimated 10 000 repossessed homes were sold on auction in South Africa. Most of these homes were sold at just a fraction of the market value, leaving struggling home owners seriously out of pocket.

If you have a home loan please read the Carte Blanche iarticle here

 Join us on Thursday when we chat to our Sustainability Heroes of the week, Brigadier Piet Pieterse and Captain Kwena Serokolo from the Hawks. They are both involved in the cyber and commercial crime unit. We chat about their role and how the community can get involved in fighting corruption and crime.

Keitu Gwangwa & Pierre du Toit host the iStart2 Show on Thursdays at 17h30. Radio Today broadcasts on 1485 MW (AM) in greater Johannesburg and countrywide on ‪#‎DStv‬ audio channel 869. 

Radio Today also streams globally on www.1485.org.za. 

It is time to make the change - thank you 

for playing your part in creating a more sustainable world!