Induction Workshop by SAPS, CPS, IPID & PSIRA

Meeting report

Meeting Report
The Chairperson stated that the presentation should focus on priorities and objectives not only from a budgetary perspective but also a policy perspective. Members will raise concerns from yesterday after the presentation.

National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), General Khehla Sitole, stated that the presentation will focus on induction and cite strategic objectives.

Major-General Leon Rabie, SAPS Head of Strategic Management, said the presentation focuses on strategic issues in SAPS. The mandate of SAPS is to prevent, combat and investigate crime, to maintain public order, protect inhabitants of the Republic and to uphold and enforce the law. Six priorities were identified: economic crimes, border security, organised crime, violent contact crime, cyber security and other mandatory services. The proposed budget cuts will directly impact Programmes 2, 3 and 4 if not properly managed. Seven of the nine provinces have reported an increase in crime while the Western Cape and Gauteng reported a decrease. Slide 23 shows the distribution of resources correlated with reported crime apart from Gauteng. Contact crime has increased with emphasis placed on murder and Gauteng has the highest murder rate.

Programme One (Administration)
This programme focuses on capacity building and prioritises detective training. It prioritises reallocation of human resources according to policing demands, reviews recruitment practices to address current incidents of corruption and nepotism, improves conduct, ethics and professionalism of SAPS members (refraining from involvement in politics), responds appropriately to SAPS members involved in crime, expedites disciplinary action against members, improves general levels of service delivery specifically at access points, and urgently address high number of senior managers on suspension.

The focus of Human Resource development is to improve the quality of training provided to operational, specifically operational capabilities, increase annual intake of students to 7 000 and review the value add of current overseas training. On financial management, government priorities will be addressed by reviewing and aligning current SAPS spending priorities, reducing wasteful and fruitless expenditure, reducing litigation costs and civil claims and reducing spending on overseas trips. On the supply chain, the focus will be to capacitate and modernise vehicle and air fleet, reduce time spent on maintenance of vehicle fleet, review procurement practices to minimise procurement delays, implement measures to address abuse of state resources and modernise equipment and technology used by specialised capabilities.

Programme Two (Visible Policing)
The aim is for violent (contact) crime to be halved, police visibility increased, community policing forums made effective, the safety of commuters and safer cities will be prioritised. Police will be capacitated and equipped to deal with gender-based violence, combating the spread of gangsterism and protect all vulnerable groups.

Programme Three (Detective Services)
Priorities include improving the success rate in crime investigation and prosecution, professionalisation of the CJS, and economic crimes. Forensic Services priorities are to expand infrastructure to support decentralisation of services, procure new technology or expand existing technology to deal with expected increase in workload, improve training and competency certification in accordance with international standards, propose legislation enabling SAPS to take fingerprints/DNA from certain categories of persons, and enhance processing of forensic evidence.

Programme Four (Crime Intelligence)
The Corporate Renewal Strategy includes managing Interpol obligations and improve international intelligence, optimise intelligence collection, enhance intelligence analysis and coordination, optimise operational intelligence support, capacitate and resource CI (especially grass-root level), develop skills of Crime Intelligence members and establish a culture of performance management, optimise counter-intelligence. Develop and implement a Counter Intelligence Strategy and Develop and implement a Vetting Strategy for SAPS.

Programme Five (Protection and Security Services)
SAPS will improve VIP protection services, static and mobile security, the government security regulator and operational support.

In short, the key areas of what SAPS is focusing on takes into consideration the proposed budget cuts.

Maj-Gen Rabie added that Crime Intelligence will tackle political instability in KwaZulu Natal, gangsterism in the Western Cape, Free State, Eastern Cape and KZN, taxi violence and kidnapping in Gauteng and KZN, house robberies and stock theft in KZN. CI has developed a structure to deal with these matters.

Response to questions
Maj-Gen Rabie replied to the questions arising from the previous day. On the Fifth Parliament's Police Committee Legacy Report, 23 recommendations were identified. The recommendations talk to SAPS implementing the National Development Plan imperatives. There is an NDP response document that can be made available to Committee. Two questions dealt with audit outcomes and to that there has been a response. The 2018/19 financial year audit cycle has just been concluded and a specific action plan will address the Auditor General recommendations. On vetting, it has been on the agenda and is prioritised by SAPS. To date, 29 271 employees have been subjected to phases one and two of the lifestyle audit project. On filling of posts, the CEO has been appointed as of 1 January 2019 and for other Senior Management Staff (SMS) positions SAPS is implementing the rationalised structure. The placement of SMS positions is being prioritised. On rotation of cluster and station commanders, there is a National Instruction that talks to rotation of personnel. This can be made available to the Committee.

Training of detectives has been prioritised. For crime investigation, 6 795 detective positions have been targeted. For crimes against women and children, 7 326 positions are targeted. This a priority of SAPS.

Maj-Gen Rabie replied about the request to review Regulation 45 appointments [which provides that the National Commissioner, with the concurrence of the Minister, may promote an employee into a post without advertising the post and without following the selection process]. The recommendation was that this must be subject to approval by Parliament. He said the recommendation has been noted.

Maj-Gen Rabie replied that implementation of police safety at home and at work is currently underway. SAPS is also involved in the Integrated Justice System. The implementation of the specialised units and the anti-gang unit is managed as a national project specifically in the Western Cape but is being rolled out to the Eastern Cape and Gauteng.

Gen Sitole stated that to alleviate budget cuts, the triangle will be turned upside, meaning there will be cut downs on the top structure. Part and parcel of this is the introduction of districts. Resources will be migrated to police stations to increase capacity at production level. There will be a review of management strategy for redistribution of resources guided by high crime areas. A stabilisation and normalisation of crime strategy is adopted where resources are pushed to areas that are rife with crime. On the spatial development and growth response, SAPS will need help from the Committee. On policy matters, the Public Works policy on construction does not help with this response so policies should be reviewed so that non-evolved policed stations can evolve. On creation of safer cities and streets, 10 cities have been declared safer city pilots. The intention is to develop a national safer city index to help SAPS compete internationally. The President declared O.R. Tambo as a district model and SAPS will introduce a district safer city index there. SAPS is working on plans to cope with the current population growth. Its profile must align with population growth.

Discussion
Mr A Shaik Emam (NFP) said that more time in the meeting should be spent on oversight and not on the presentation. SAPS is not in control of the situation. The problem is bigger than SAPS and was not created by it, however, the root cause of crime is not dealt with. The problem is getting progressively worse and high jacking was not addressed as a priority. No matter how much SAPS gets in its budget, it will not help solve the problem. Does SAPS have any oversight mechanisms in place? He suggested that we check for patterns in how matters are handled to see if detectives are in cahoots with criminals. On training, the high unemployment rate ensures that people apply merely to get a job, they are not doing it for the love it. As such, SAPS needs to be professionalised and policing should be introduced in schools in Grade 10.

Mr O Terblanche (DA) said that SAPS is important and that crime is rampant. We have to accept that the budget will be cut and figure out a way to work it out. However, SAPS asks for more money yet also retains some. Visible or proactive policing does not work. When driving from Mossel Bay to Cape Town, he only came across one police officer and he was shopping at a mall. What does the term 'Visible Policing' mean and what does it entail? Are we training people to police? Does the quality of training align with international best practice? Our officers are often not available or visible and cannot give guidance. On promotions, do people still need qualifications to be promoted and what is the criteria that SAPS uses? Crime Intelligence is clearly not working because murder is on rise. He was impressed by Prince Albert police station but there were only two detectives which suggests that we do not have enough capacity. There is a general perception that the Hawks are not the Scorpions. The Scorpions were effective and the Hawks have failed to solve cases. On vehicles, we should look into other methods to ensure a functional vehicle fleet. The majority of crimes occur on weekends and you find that police officers do not work on weekends.

Mr A Whitfield (DA) noted that the SAPS Air Wing total is 13, is it fixed wing and what maintenance challenges do you encounter? Can we get an update on specific budget cuts? Why is there no focus on the Reserve as a priority and do reservists get paid? Are costs saving on early retirement worthwhile? What insight do you have on financial intelligence capacity?

Ms Z Majozi (IFP) was concerned that the Committee did not get enough time to engage with the report content beforehand. Some things in the report are things that the Committee has seen. What are the real priorities and what challenges are you facing in communities you are zoning in on? The report is not comprehensive.

The Chairperson asked what can be done to restore trust in SAPS. If we do not have trust in SAPS and we are representing our constituencies that means they also do not have trust in it.

Ms J Mofokeng (ANC) said that SAPS has good documents but they do not address the real issues. Slide 28 speaks to improving technology but the slide after it speaks on specialised capabilities. We need a demonstration of these, specifically the rape kit. We need to know where it is manufactured as there are some complaints about it. How will you improve the wellbeing of your employees? On the 7 000 intake, their training should be revisited as they are taken to countries that police well but when they return, they do not produce results. On gender-based violence, we have failed. Some officers are abusers themselves. On vulnerable groups, do you have any police officers who know sign language?

Mr E Maphatsoe (ANC) mentioned that the purpose of the workshop is to get an understanding of SAPS hence a response to the Fifth Parliament Police Committee's Legacy Report was requested. SAPS has a huge task. Crime Intelligence needs to be stabilised.

The Chairperson pointed out that there are draft Bills dating back to the Fourth Parliament. Are these Bills a priority of yours?

Ms N Peacock (ANC) said that the presentation does not inspire output and asked how the despoliation of SAPS can be improved. Is there an example of the best performing police station versus the worst? The comparison will help the underperforming ones.

Mr H Shembeni (EFF) said that underperformance goes hand in hand with leaders. If they do not work, the subordinates will not work. Station commanders must be held accountable. Police officers should not be expected to work on weekends if it does not align with their salary. They will feel underappreciated. Are people screened before hiring? Policing is perceived now as merely a job and not a calling. In some stations you find commanders doing nothing but certifying documents. Something should be done about that.

Ms M Molekwa (ANC) asked if there is a plan in place to increase visible policing and suggested that an integrated approach with municipalities be developed. There should be a strategy in place for safety on commuter transport and another one for improving the success rate of investigating cases.

Mr Shaik Emam asked what is being done about parolees who are released early and continue to commit crime. He mentioned that he came across numerous police vans parked off outside people’s homes. Something should be done about that. Police officers are disgruntled because the promotion process is not fair. What is being done to reduce the number and use of firearms? Crime intelligence is not working, you know who the drug dealers are but nothing is being done. High-jacked cars are stolen for resale so that means the weakness is in border control, the licensing departments and the roadworthy centres so you must deal with those. You need to develop a wellness programme for your employees because exposure to crime affects them.

Mr Terblanche asked if the rural safety plan has been implemented and what the time line for that is.

Deputy Minister Cassel Mathale responded by first indicating that the Minister is aware of this workshop but he is in Cabinet. Our attitude is that we see the Committee as playing an important role in what we do as it raises issues directly with us. If one encounters criminality in the streets and there is no SAPS nearby, Members are entitled to hold us accountable. It would also be helpful to get the contact details of provincial commissioners. On the matters raised, in the past we received reports of what has been raised in Committee to avoid having things fall through the cracks. There has to be a two-way interaction between the Committee and us, it is a complementary relationship in that you make the laws and we have to implement them. I am representing the Minister with regards to the attitude that we have towards the Committee. On IPID, it is not a branch of SAPS, so it is ok to advertise on its behalf as a separate and independent organ of state.

Gen Sitole informed the Committee that there had been two take-downs in Soweto and Muckleneuk simultaneously. On the relationship between SAPS and IPID, there was a meeting with IPID on 19 August and we agreed to meet quarterly to straighten out strategic matters. In the Western Cape we have deployed a deputy national commissioner for 30 days. The position has been advertised and we will organise a panel for selection. We appreciate the Committee's oversight and the responses require capturing at different levels so we will return with action plans and not just explanations. As SAPS, we plan what we think communities are looking for and sometimes we get it wrong. As MPs, you interact with them more than we do and that will help us plan better. If SAPS responds promptly to the needs of the communities, trust will be restored. We are undertaking imbizos and we will bring the imbizo reports. Next time, the provincial commissioners should join us in the meeting.

The Chairperson agreed.

Adv Godfrey Lebeya, DPCI National Head, commented about the perception on the streets since SAPS and the Scorpions were amalgamated and that perception still exists - but it does not depict the facts. Information is still available on performance in the records of the NPA and SAPS. Most members of the Scorpions and some divisions of SAPS became members of the Hawks and the National Commissioner only touched on one facet of the relationship. When it comes to firearms, which are dealt with by task teams, information on that will follow. Four life sentences were handed down yesterday to killers of police officials in KZN. DPCI has prioritised 30 municipalities in which to combat corruption. More information will be given when DPCI makes its presentation.

The Chairperson stated that responses will be given in the next engagement. SAPS needs adequate time to prepare as this Committee wants a legacy of progress.

Meeting adjourned.