The launch of the Take Charge safety plan by the Gauteng government in Kliptown last week should be welcomed and supported by each and every one of us.

The launch of the Take Charge safety plan by the Gauteng government in Kliptown last week should be welcomed and supported by each and every one of us.

The plan encourages citizen to actively participate and support all measures that provide a safe and secure environment.

We also need to support safety and security MEC Firoz Cachalia's call for a responsible and caring police service. We should not tolerate law enforcement officers who destroy dockets, mediate between criminals and victims to protect criminals, fraternise with criminals and expose people who report criminal activities. We cannot allow our hard-won freedom to be undermined by lawlessness and rampant and violent crime.

We must play our part as parents and responsible citizens. It is easy to label police as corrupt when we are victims, but do everything possible to get our children or relatives released when they are arrested for crime. Remember, corruption is a transaction between two parties.

The safety plan will only succeed if we all act responsibly and reclaim our freedom from criminals, as we were able to overcome apartheid. There should be no excuse to fail ourselves or future generations. Take charge of the future by eradicating crime in our homes, streets, parks and society in general.

Pule Malefane, Johannesburg