Deputy Chairperson, the Police Service has a qualification at NQF Level 6 or higher and a qualification in education is a recommendation. However, functional police experience is also required. Educators without police experience are required to undergo a basic training programme for lateral entry.
Measures to deal with farmers allegedly violently arresting people crossing from Mozambique to South Africa
135. Mr V V Z Windvol (ANC) asked the Minister of Safety and Security:
Whether his department has taken any measures to intervene or deal with farmers who allegedly violently arrest people crossing from Mozambique into South Africa in the Musina area in Limpopo; if not, why not; if so, what measures? CO1775E
Deputy Chairperson, presently there are no cases of farmers violently arresting any people crossing from Mozambique into South Africa in the Musina area. If any case of this nature is reported, a criminal case will be opened, investigated and submitted to the prosecuting authority for a decision.
Deputy Chairperson, arising from the Deputy Minister's response, I want to make a follow up that the real situation in Musina is that farmers even have keys to some gates - keys that are supposed to be in the hands of either Home Affairs or this department.
It is true that there are farmers who do arrest these people. Some of them even make them work as cheap labourers. Can the Minister really look into this situation because it is a fact? A report was even tabled in Parliament to this effect where committees under this cluster, ourselves and colleagues in the NA, did what we call an inspection in loco about the same issue. It was discovered that it is true that this is happening. Can we be assisted by the hon Deputy Minister as to the action that is going to be taken to try and prevent this kind of arrangements? Thank you, Deputy Chair.
Hon Kgoshi Mokoena, the issue you are raising is very important and critical. But the predicament you are putting us in is that we have no evidence where we are now. I believe that members of this House also have the right not to just raise issues but make sure that relevant cases or complaints are being lodged properly. That is the only way in which we will be able to pursue matters. Whilst it might be good that you visited the area and that there was sufficient evidence for an action to be taken, it makes it very difficult for us to act unless we have concrete evidence. So, I would urge members, as they go around and do their inspections in various places, not to just go there and when they discover some misconduct then compile just a report. It would be appropriate to assist in lodging complaints and if there are victims, to assist the victims to lay cases against perpetrators.
In that way, this will make sure that if our members are involved in wrongdoing, they can also be taken to task. If we don't do that and we just go and prepare a report, it will not assist us. The report will also not help us to send a message to perpetrators - be it farmers, police officers in our services or people in Home Affairs. We need tangible information and evidence to make sure that we charge any individual who happens to be involved in misconduct.
Chairperson, I want to thank the hon Deputy Minister for the honest response. I just want to confirm that the report was given to the provincial commissioner and to the national department. The issue was raised with the same department during our budget briefing this year. What we expected was a response on how far we are in terms of correcting this anomaly that is taking place at Musina. Thank you, Chairperson.
Thank you, hon Kgoshi Mokoena. We will make a follow-up on that report. As I have already indicated, it is not just enough to deal with a report without taking the necessary action, especially where individuals have been identified as wrongdoers. We will talk to the provincial commissioner for Limpopo. If there are particular individuals who have been identified, make sure that when you come back, maybe next year, you have a better report on progress in respect of those individuals who might be perpetrators in this particular instance.
Chairperson, I must admit that I am confused. Here we have the chairperson of a committee of Parliament who states that they did local investigations, found proof and submitted a report. Yet the Deputy Minister or the Ministry is unaware of any cases. How is it possible that this is not followed through in the department? Can the Minister explain to us how the gap arises? We appreciate the fact that she says she will now investigate, but how did this gap arise?
Hon Watson, the chairperson said that the report was given to the provincial commissioner. I don't remember hearing the chair saying that he gave the report to the Ministry. Hence I am saying we are going to make a follow-up on the issue raised with the provincial commissioner. At this stage, I cannot confirm whether there was any action taken against the perpetrators. The only thing I can assure you is that we will make a follow-up and give you an answer. So, I don't see anything different in what Kgoshi said to what we are responding to.
I don't think there is anything wrong if the matters were raised with the provincial commissioner with an intention of him taking action even without us knowing. The question on the Order Paper did not indicate that the report was with the provincial commissioner. If it had raised that matter, we would have then definitely have gone out to find out exactly what transpired.
The question was around Mozambicans who were arrested in Limpopo in the Musina area. It was not specific to the report. So, I am just saying that if it was specific and referred to that report, indeed we would be have a relevant answer. But I am also saying to you that we will investigate. When you come back next year we will be able to submit a report to that effect without even coming to this House. I am giving an undertaking that we will submit a report to the chairperson in respect of this particular matter.
On the same issue, Deputy Chair, I also can't understand properly. If a question arises that there is such a problem in Limpopo, before the department responds it would actually touch base with the department in Limpopo to find out if there were such things or not. Presently, it looks like the response was just crafted by the department without touching base with Limpopo to find out if there are such cases or not. That is my predicament. Thank you.
Deputy Chair, can I read the question? The question says:
Whether his department has taken any major action to intervene or deal with farmers who violently arrest people crossing from Mozambique into South Africa in the Musina area in Limpopo; if not, why not; if so, what measures.
So, I don't know what you are trying to say. Unfortunately English is not my first language, but I thought I understood it quite well. There is nowhere in this question where it refers to a report compiled by the committee! I am responding to this particular aspect. It is talking about Mozambicans crossing around Musina.
We don't even know who these people are.
I don't even know who these people are. I don't even know the farmers. So, I am just saying to you that the follow-up question that was raised by Kgoshi Mokoena is the one I am responding to. I am not confused. I just want to say that I am not a sangoma or a prophet who can smell what is in the minds of individuals as follow-up or complementary questions. Number of police officers dismissed due to misconduct
136. Mr A T Manyosi (ANC) asked the Minister of Safety and Security:
(1) In the past 12 months, (a) how many police officers were dismissed because of misconduct, (b) what offences did they commit and (c) what measures are being put in place to prevent such offences;
(2) whether he will make a statement on the matter? CO1779E
Hon Chair, 366 police officers were dismissed during the 2006-2007 financial year because of misconduct.
The police officers committed the following offences: 57 failed to commit to or contravened an Act, regulation or legal obligation; five were found in possession of property of the state without permission; 13 committed or caused intentional or negligent damages to or caused loss of state property; five committed actions that were prejudicial to the administration, discipline or efficiency of the department; 25 accepted compensation in cash or kind.
Furthermore, 28 failed to carry out a lawful order; 72 were absent without reason or permission; three contravened any prescribed code of conduct; one committed sexual harassment; one unfairly discriminated against others; four worked for compensation in a private capacity without approval; 11 were under the influence of alcohol whilst on duty; four conducted themselves improperly whilst on duty; nine gave a false statement or evidence; and 117 committed a common law or statutory offence.
The SA Police Service has an employee assistant service to improve the wellbeing of South African police members to enhance their social, spiritual and psychological functioning. Registered social workers, psychologists, psychometricians, as well as chaplains render services to members to enhance operational productivity and performance.
With reference to No 2 of this question, we are not going to make any statement on this matter.
Chair, I would just like to know how the screening of potential candidates takes place. This is worrying - to think that there are so many serious offences committed by the people. When officers are taken into employment, does psychometric testing take place? What is the screening process to make sure that we are taking suitable candidates into employment?
Hon Robinson, that is actually a new question to the Minister.
Hon Chair, maybe just to respond to the question, if you can come to the police college and see the people who are there, you will see that it is young people from the ages of 18 to 35. It is young people who go through all the necessary training. If you look at the world, broadly, no young person is corrupt or commits these offences. It is the influences around that particular individual that tend to cause that.
So, the screening in the Police Service is competent, efficient, and we bring in the right people. What happens in the process is another story and it happens in any company all over the world. There is no company that employs a crook, but crooks tend to be groomed within those companies. It is the same situation, unfortunately.
We cannot refuse to employ or recruit competent people, at the beginning, in the Police Service just because we anticipate that they are going to commit offences one or two. They are all innocent at the beginning, and they all qualify in terms of the requirements to become police officers.
Measures to combat drug dealing in Western Cape
137. Mr N J Mack (ANC) asked the Minister of Safety and Security:
Whether his department has put any measures in place to combat drug dealing (or drug trafficking) in the Western Cape; if not, (a) why not and (b) when will they be put in place; if so, what measures?