Chairperson, Ministers here present today, the Deputy Minister of Police, Ms Sotyu, the chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Ms Chikunga, the National Commissioner of Police, Gen Bheki Cele, the SA Police Service management present, hon members, distinguished guests and ladies and gentlemen, 2011, as declared by the President of the Republic, His Excellency Jacob Zuma, on the occasion of the state of the nation address, is the year of job creation. He said:
Our goal is clear. We want to have a country where millions more South Africans have decent employment opportunities, which has a modern infrastructure and a vibrant economy and where the quality of life is high. Everyone must think of how they can contribute to the jobs campaign through creating opportunities for themselves and others.
Section 205(3) of the Constitution of the Republic enjoins the SA Police Service -
to prevent, combat and investigate crime, to maintain public order, to protect and secure the inhabitants of the Republic and their property, and to uphold and enforce the law.
The police are the institutional expression of the resolve by South Africans, as individuals and as a nation, to realise safety and security. The police are, and always must be, subject to the will of the people they serve. The challenge confronting all of us is to transform South Africa and make her a place of hope, security and human fulfilment.
We are emphasising this aspect of the Constitution deliberately because all our actions must be guided by this highest law in the land. From effecting an arrest to securing convictions, we premise our actions on the letter and spirit of the Constitution. We therefore approach these tasks with all the seriousness they require.
Co-operation with the Police Service in the region and further afield will be intensified, whilst border control will be tightened continually. In introducing these measures, we proceed from the premise that crime is a scourge that does not respect borders, with syndicates that have made the entire globe the theatre of their evil operations.
The eradication of women and children abuse is central to the fight against crime. This requires deliberate programmes of education and other measures to transform gender and family relations, the retraining of justice administrators, the police and the provision of the necessary resources to ensure the safety of, and restore dignity to, the victims. In brief, our programme in this financial year consists of achieving better policing, a better trained and efficient criminal justice system and the involvement of all in our society in the fight against crime.
Let us look at what different sections of the police have done, starting with the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, DPCI, otherwise known as the Hawks. In tackling commercial crime, the Hawks made 8 294 arrests and secured 5 267 convictions between 1 April 2010 and 31 March 2011. When it comes to organised crime, they arrested a further 2 439 people and secured 532 convictions.
During the period under review, the directorate profiled and pursued the 50 most-wanted suspects for armed robberies, ATM bombings, cash-in-transit heists and bank robberies, and apprehended 49 suspects. Only one suspect is still at large and the police are in hot pursuit of him. Other notable successes relate to intensifying the war on corruption.
The directorate has established an anti-corruption unit that deals with corruption within the Justice, Crime Prevention and security cluster. Amongst the many high-level cases, was the arrest of two senior public officials, a chief director and a director from the Department of Home Affairs, who were arrested after accepting a R200 000 payment as a bribe from a company executive officer who wanted to secure a R19 million tender from that department.
Of particular note should be the work of the Hawks in fighting drugs and the proliferation thereof. Some of their significant successes include but are not limited to the following. A trans-shipment container worth R83 million, which was destined for Zimbabwe from Paraguay, was intercepted in the Eastern Cape and a bust was made of 166,3 kilograms of cocaine on 25 August 2010, and that culminated in the arrest of several members of an international drug-trafficking organisation. On 10 December 2010 a ship was intercepted in Knysna harbour carrying 1,7 tons of cocaine valued at R510 million, which resulted in arrests.
The Hawks, together with the United Arab Emirates, British Serious Organised Crime Agency and the Dutch National Crime Squad, conducted a joint operation targeting an international drug-trafficking organisation. In December 2010, a controlled delivery was executed that culminated in the seizure of cocaine and Mandrax, valued at approximately R100 million. The list is long; suffice to say that the Hawks are active, as we said they would be when we launched them.
In conjunction with the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, the directorate became involved in a probe into municipalities under the banner of Operation Clean Audit, and to that effect there are statistics in support of that.
A dedicated capacity was created in the provinces to investigate and combat corruption within local government. All in all, 60 public officials and 29 members of the public were convicted in that process. We now turn to "Operation Duty Calls Festive Season". This is becoming part and parcel of the identity of the police. When everyone is out there enjoying life's pleasures, the police get indigestion because they have to work. There was a total of 321 013 arrests during the operation; 4 509 firearms were seized and seizures included, inter alia, 3 638 vehicles. As I said earlier, the list is very long.
With regard to the forensics backlog, we have placed more focus on addressing some of the challenges that faced this unit in the past. The overall backlog within the Forensic Science Laboratory, FSL, declined significantly by 66% from 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011. We are happy to announce to the nation, at this point in time, that we do not have a backlog with regard to forensic DNA, and those matters that we have on record fit within the prescribed 35-day turnaround time. In fact, the FSL, this time around, is giving itself a 28-day turnaround period from 35 days, which is an improvement.
This success will go a long way in helping the police reduce crime and, importantly, to secure convictions. In the main, while the issue of successful convictions lies with the courts, on our part as the police, this kind of investigation coupled with forensic analysis will have an important impact.
Regarding the discovery of arms caches, the recent discovery of arms caches across the country was not a random occurrence or pure coincidence. These successes were achieved through co-ordinated efforts. We plan properly. We execute those plans with precision and smartness. We are succeeding because we have the resolve and support of the communities.
On the issue of legislation, we have reported in the past that we needed to tighten the legislation, particularly on civilian oversight. Legislation on both the Independent Complaints Directorate, the ICD, and the Civilian Secretariat of Police has been put before Parliament.
On the issue of a single Police Service, as we reported last year, the work is going on and we have now developed a document which emanated from the feasibility study, and we are going to be proceeding with this, as we will also be proceeding with the review of the SAPS Act and the White Paper on Safety and Security.
We have noted the Constitutional Court ruling on the Hawks, or the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, and we are committed to correcting what the court said should be corrected. I must say, at this point, that two issues, one, the consultation - which was also a challenge - and two, the placement of the Hawks within the police, were not challenged and were, in fact, in favour of the state.
We are also still committed to ensuring that this year we introduce the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority Bill to ensure that the private security industry is regulated accordingly.
One of our priorities is the implementation of the rural safety strategy. Dedicated focus is being given to the practical implementation of the rural safety strategy. In this regard, particular attention is being given to cross-border crimes and stock theft. I must say that since we launched the strategy last year, together with stakeholders, especially the unions: the Food and Allied Workers' Union and AgriSA, we are seeing the results of co- operation and getting down to where people are. We started in Gauteng last year, and last week we were in KwaZulu-Natal, dealing with the very same issue.
On the matter of the local government elections, our police are ready for them. I know that no one would dare challenge them when I say this because we have experience of them. We said the same thing when we were preparing for the World Cup. Doomsayers and naysayers were left humbled.
Another priority area of ours is the family violence and specialised units. During last year's Budget Vote, we announced that the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences units had to be re-established by 31 March 2011. This has been done, and we continue to strengthen this prioritised area of our work.
We also want to take this opportunity to honour those hardworking members of the Police Service, all of them generally and specifically those who were involved in the case of the so-called sugar cane killer, a serial rapist who repeatedly raped women in Umzinto, KwaZulu-Natal. He ended up with a sentence of 218 years imprisonment and 13 life sentences. Present amongst us is the team that made this arrest possible: Colonel C M Nyuswa, Captain Crouse, Captain Nyawose, Captain Moller, Warrant Officer Nkabane, Warrant Officer Nzama, Warrant Officer Crouse, Warrant Officer Khuzwayo and Constable Benmohan. We thank them. [Applause.] We say that they are an example to all of their colleagues.
I turn to an issue which is also as important: the rooting out of corruption within the police ranks. The prevention, detection and investigation of corruption within the ranks of the SA Police Service will continue to be a major focus area for 2011-12. Emphasis will be put on the implementation of the SAPS anticorruption strategy aimed at curbing corruption and punishing those members with evil intentions.
The following successes were recorded during the 2009-10 financial year. One hundred and nineteen police members were dismissed following intensive investigations as a result of allegations of fraud and corruption. Forty- four SAPS officials at ports of entry were investigated for various criminal charges. They were additionally charged via the SAPS internal disciplinary procedures.
We also announced last year that one important area is that of firearms and firearms control within the police. We have implemented and we continue to implement the turnaround strategy, for which we have given ourselves a period of nine months, ending on 31 July 2011, to complete.
We must strengthen institutions and practices of popular participation. Our approach must, in practice, be premised on a people-centred and people- driven process of transformation. All of society must take part in this national effort, and effective systems of interaction with all social partners must be established. I must say here that we have had so much support from the public, and we thank them for that. They should continue to give their support.
The crime statistics tell us that we are heading in the right direction. The communities we serve tell us so. Let us not be distracted. Tough as the duty may seem, we remain focused, for the sky is not the limit when it comes to the safety of our citizens.
We must consolidate partnerships across society to strengthen social cohesion and ensure that our nation achieves the values of a caring society, inspired by the traits of human solidarity which informed our struggle against colonialism and apartheid.
As the leadership of the police, we want to emphasise that 2011 is the "Year of the Good Cop". Rise and shine in defence of your nation. This is our clarion call. I thank you. [Applause.]
Hon Chairperson, hon Ministers and Deputy Ministers, the Ministry of Police, hon Members of Parliament, invited guests, ladies and gentlemen, comrades and friends, the ANC will support the Budget Votes for the Department of Police and for the Independent Complaints Directorate.
The ANC study group on police noted the Constitutional Court ruling regarding the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigation, the Hawks. We noted that the ruling favoured Parliament on the issue of public participation. We remain committed to the existence of the DPCI and acknowledge the good work they are doing.
Hon members would know that the Public Protector's report on the Pretoria accommodation lease was referred by the hon Speaker to the Portfolio Committees on Police and on Public Works. The two committees, in separate meetings, resolved to process this report jointly and to await the Durban accommodation lease report on the investigation by the Public Protector.
Until such time that the process of the consideration of these two reports unfolds, we would prefer to wait for that process as the ANC so that justice can be seen to have happened. We noted with serious concern the arrest of the head of crime intelligence and other SAPS members for crimes that include a murder they are suspected to have committed in 1999. Whilst we believe in the noble principle of innocent until proven guilty, it is worrying that such senior managers are suspected in the first place. We hope that all of us will respect and allow the law to take its course.
The 2009 ANC manifesto identified crime and corruption-fighting as a priority in this five-year term of President Zuma's administration. The manifesto focuses on certain categories of crime such as violent crime and organised crime. The 2009 ANC manifesto states that, amongst other things, government should put more emphasis on, one, mobilising communities to participate in combating crime through community policing fora and street committees; two, having more police recruitment to ensure visible policing; three, strengthening police detectives and intelligence capacity; four, enhancing police training; and, five, strengthening police forensic capacity.
Participating in this debate is a real pleasure as we are not shy to report to the people of South Africa that the ANC government is doing exactly what it promised to do during 2009 in its manifesto regarding crime-fighting and even more. Members would remember that in September 2010 the Minister of Police released crime statistics that indicated that the crime rate was declining, particularly murder, which is regarded as the most reliable indicator the world over. We believe that the decline is a result of huge investment and measures that have been put in place over the years and during this time in particular.
However, I must hasten to state that the crime rate is still unacceptably high and crimes unacceptably violent. To this end, more resources in terms of finance and personnel, equipment and IT have been pumped into the SAPS. Today we are debating a budget of R58,8 billion. South Africa is still characterised by the terrible legacy of apartheid involving violence, human rights abuses, racism, and class and gender inequalities. May I remind all hon members that before 1994, the duration of police training was just six months; six months because police members were just taught that theirs was to defend apartheid at all costs, torture and kill anyone who opposed apartheid, particularly if they were black, and that was that. The more black people you killed, the more chances of promotion and recognition you got.
In the new democratic South Africa for which the ANC fought, police training, as we promised in our 2009 manifesto, has been strengthened. The new two-year curriculum introduced this year will produce members who are better qualified. In this regard, the ANC commits itself to monitoring closely the implementation of the new two-year curriculum. We will be visiting many of the SA Police Service training colleges, announced or unannounced.
Let me mention this: the Chatsworth SA Police Service Training College in KwaZulu-Natal is a real academic institution. Lecturers at that college are disciplined; they are a team and they take pride in what they are doing. In fact, our visit to that college was something we want to remember. If Chatsworth can do it, others can too.
We believe that the integrity of any training is of paramount importance. In this regard, we call upon the head office training section to conduct effective, efficient and thorough inspections - not just visits, but inspections - into these training colleges.
Let me mention here again that the Department of Police takes the largest portion of the justice, crime prevention and security cluster budget. In fact, the Department of Police takes anything from 47% or more of the cluster's budget, which in this case is R58,8 billion.
It is for this reason that as the ANC component of the Portfolio Committee on Police, we expect more from the police. We are demanding value for money. In this regard, for starters, we expect an annual performance plan that makes it possible for us to perform our constitutional responsibility of overseeing the department in terms of long-term and, more importantly, short-term targets and achievements. We are of the strong view that a correct annual performance plan serves as an effective oversight and management tool for us as members and for management.
The intensification of the fight against corruption is on course. In this regard, we want to welcome the proclamation by the President, His Excellency the honourable Mr Zuma, on the investigation of supply chain management and IT of the SA Police Service from 2005 to August 2010 by the Special Investigating Unit. We are also appreciative of the fact that the SA Police Service requested the department to include it on the list of departments to be investigated. We believe that this is the right thing to do.
Others in this House define corruption along racial lines. In fact, you must be black in order to be corrupt or practice nepotism. You may be the director, your husband the deputy director, your daughter with only matric the service provider, but as long as you are not black that is not corruption or nepotism. You will detect this if you listen carefully as they raise issues of corruption and nepotism. We remain objectively committed towards fighting all corruption. We will be waiting with keen interest for the outcome of the SIU investigations.
Forensic services in the history of this country have never been better than they are today. The entry level for forensic analysts was increased to Level 7 from 1 March 2011. Their remuneration is higher than the remuneration offered to those in other public service departments. Crime scene experts will be capacitated with equipment and vehicles to improve their effectiveness, and there is a budget for that. A laboratory in KwaZulu-Natal is at an advanced stage of construction and should be completed in the first quarter of 2011. A total of 750 new additional personnel will be hired in the forensic service laboratory environment in 2011-12. The Minister is right: it is the first time in many years that the biology department, DNA, reported that it did not have backlogs in DNA testing. [Applause.] Do you know why? It is because that backlog was man-made and manipulated for political reasons, and that is a fact.
The department reported a 48% reduction in the chemistry backlog and a 5% reduction in backlogs in questioned documents. However, the questioned documents unit does not have a growing backlog and it is reported that there is no backlog in ballistics.
May we remind members that we said in our 2009 ANC manifesto that we would strengthen police forensic capacity, and we are doing exactly that. The change of the head of forensics by the National Commissioner Gen Cele, from Gen Du Toit to Gen Phahlane, has brought about this change. We could not say this in the 2009-10 Budget Vote debate. In fact, it was as though backlogs were part and parcel of forensic services. We will continue, though, to robustly monitor the work of forensic laboratories. Before I run out of time, I want to congratulate the Independent Complaints Directorate on the good and well-prepared annual performance plan and properly revised strategic plan which they tabled in Parliament on time. The ICD's annual performance plan meets almost all of National Treasury's instructions and, for that matter, the ICD was sure about that. We do appreciate that. Also, the Secretariat presented an annual performance plan document that is equally good. Monitoring these entities will be very easy in terms of budget spending and the meeting of targets on a quarterly basis.
Hon Minister, the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority, the PSIRA, is on the right course. It presented a turnaround strategy which surprised all of us. All members of the portfolio committee agreed that we are cautiously optimistic. Surely, the PSIRA still has a long way to go. We will be awaiting a new PSIRA Bill as we believe that the PSIRA should be legislated. Minister, your strategic appointments of ICD Executive Director, the Secretariat and the PSIRA council are now bearing fruit, and on that we congratulate you.
The ANC cannot just accept changes that cannot be explained. The reduction in contact crime targets from 7% to 10% to 4% to 7% must be explained. We think that it is out of order for the department to even suggest that this might be linked with the Minister's service performance agreement.
We told the department last year, long before the Minister signed the service performance agreement with the President, that we needed reasons which were drawn from scientific findings, lessons learnt from the implementation of this target from 2004, and from the study of international best practices. For now, no one has explained to us why it is 4% to 7%, and not 3% to 6%, not 2% to 7%, not 7% to 10%, etc. we have requested the department to get this information.
Unions, during the budget hearings, raised issues around lateral-entry appointments. They indicated that this was being abused. The response we received from the department on this issue indicated that a total of 21 members were lateral-entry appointments, which were regulated, out of a total of 564 that were appointed following the normal route from August 2009.
We hope that in all these 21 cases there were exceptional circumstances which warranted the deviation from the normal route. We will, therefore, want to satisfy ourselves in this regard.
Whilst the R1,1 billion allocated for the purchasing of vehicles will go a long way towards addressing vehicle needs, there is a need to put much more effective control measures in place. This will also be an area of focus for the portfolio committee this year.
The community policing forums are an important vehicle for community participation in the fight against crime. We think it is important at this time to express appreciation for the work which CPF members are performing voluntarily in the fight against crime. We are of the view that funding the CPF officers and training is a step in the right direction. The revised CPF guidelines and framework will go a long way towards standardising the work of CPFs.
Let me mention that the festive season and other busy season's operations are appreciated by all South Africans. Yes, Minister, during previous festive seasons, police members were once more abundantly visible. They sacrificed the warmth of their families to protect us, and we appreciate that. We also congratulate the department, in particular the national commissioner and the chief financial officer for receiving unqualified audit opinions as the norm now.
As I close, we remain committed to assisting the department in its quest to fight crime through our effective and robust oversight work, without any fear or favour. The ANC manifestos are not just documents meant for election campaigns. They form the basis of our work during that term. We are on course; working together we will bring about peace, security and stability to our society. The struggle continues. Victory is certain. I thank you. [Applause.]
Chairperson, I am asking today why it is that as a member of the Portfolio Committee on Police I am convinced that the SA Police Service has begun a slow, but relentless, meltdown. Now, certainly, the world watched as Parliament voted to shut down one of the best crime- fighting units - probably the best crime-fighting unit this country has ever experienced. The decision was implemented in complete defiance of public opinion and marked a dark day in our democracy.
The court has ruled that the disbandment of the Scorpions was unconstitutional. At the time, every legal firm, NGO, individual citizen, every Member of Parliament who spoke against the closure of the unit, said that they believed it would be. Yet, hon members Maggie Sotyu and Yunus Carrim said the decision had been taken in Polokwane in 2007, and therefore would be implemented no matter what. The tens of thousands of petitions, the marches and the editorials were all ignored and today these two sit in deputy ministerial positions. Citizen Hugh Glenister should receive a presidential award for his effort to drive this matter through courts, but I somehow doubt the current government will proffer one.
Full independence means exactly that: a unit that will service this country without fear or favour. I asked then and I ask now: Who will police the police? This question leads me to exactly the conundrum of who we have left to police the police.
Today we sit with a National Police Commissioner who has, according to the Public Protector, committed an act that is illegal. I quote from Adv Madonsela's findings: "Cele's conduct was improper, unlawful and amounted to maladministration."
The Minister asked me in the House a fortnight ago to wait until the results of the carbon-copy investigation into the dodgy Durban property deal were ready. But that begs the question: Why Minister? Why must we wait? Is one damning accusation of illegality insufficient to have the National Police Commissioner suspended? Must we wait for two such accusations or 3 or 10? How illegal does illegal have to be?
The DA has called on the President to dismiss the commissioner, yet he sits amongst us still. So now this matter will go to the National Prosecuting Authority, NPA. Perhaps someone should explain to our National Police Commissioners that appearing before a judge is not part of their job description.
There can no question that Commissioner Cele's position is no longer tenable. The DA objected to his appointment; we said he was unfit for the position. The Public Protector now says that he is not fit for office. We have already seen the indignity caused to our justice system by a police commissioner who disobeys the law. The President repeatedly states his commitment to rooting out corruption and his drive to curb maladministration. He must turn his words into action.
It is not only the National Police Commissioner's lack of administrative ability or his inability to balance budget, leading, for example, to transfers from capital to pay salaries in contravention of the Public Finance Management Act. The SAPS were also hauled before the Standing Committee on Appropriations to explain themselves, something that has never happened before.
Their annual performance plan was late and not in line with Treasury guidelines. They gave the committee a tatty cut-and-paste job wherein there were such substantial errors as entering R1,1 million where R1,1 billion should have been. This was the worst budget briefing I've attended to date. The targets are a mess or missing entirely, the management is bloated, the budget overspent, there is one administrator for every three operational members, and there is no infrastructure plan.
For the first time ever, we are seeing the entire budget spent before the end of the fiscal year on things like huge national parties, with thousands of SAPS members flown, railed and driven in to attend, to the tune of R36 million. Meanwhile, SA Police Service bills are going unpaid in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.
Last year it was R29 million. It has taken me a year and a half to get those figures and it appears the Ministry imagines it has the right to do exactly as it wishes with taxpayer money and that the checks and balances of Parliament are merely a minor irritation on any day.
I will continue digging, and I will find out how much was spent where and regarding the tenders for the thousands of units of free clothing, bags, caps and the like that were put on the SAPS intranet, and then only some 11 days before the event swiftly removed and then granted to a hastily formed company, headed by relatives of members of the top structure. The Commissioner said that anyone who had a problem with that day must go die. This shows contempt for Parliament, contempt for the oversight role of Members of Parliament and contempt for the taxpayers who fund the party. I have no intention of dying to suit the Police Commissioner, and every intention of digging.
The R66 million that has been wasted on these parties could, for example, have paid for the CCTV coverage for the forensic laboratories, with a substantial amount left over to aid some of the crumbling stations.
Another area where we are seeing dodgy deals is in the area of personnel. I have written to both the President and the chairperson of the Public Service Commission, raising concerns about how the National Police Commissioner has violated both the public service and police regulations, bouncing appointees up the ranks by as much as five levels overnight into his bloated top structure.
In that the claims are also that he is guilty of fast-tracking the careers of others related to people around him, such as that of the father of his very good friend, the Provincial Commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal, it seems that cronyism has become acceptable in the SA Police Service. Few can actually imagine why the President actually appointed Bheki Cele. He is the man who infamously said, and I quote: "A monkey came all the way from London to have his wife murdered here." That was a reference to murder accused Shrien Dewani.
The National Police Commissioner made that and many other comments in what seemed to be an all-out attempt, in terms of prejudging the issue, to destroy the extradition application. This is the same man who lives in a R4 million house, a purchase approved by the accounting officer according to the Minister - and, of course, the National Police Commissioner is the accounting officer. It just so happens that I received a letter yesterday from the Public Service Commission on this very matter. Their investigation, at my behest, has revealed that the offer to purchase the property was dodgy, thanks to Public Works. On the SAPS' side, only one quote was obtained, time and time again for half a million rand's worth of furniture; illegal and dodgy.
Last year, this same commissioner denounced Mzilikazi wa Afrika, after that reporter from the Sunday Times revealed the commissioner's involvement in the irregular property deals. Within a matter of days, he was arrested by the SAPS on flimsy charges that were later dropped. Certainly, this was just one of dozens of attacks on journalists, but there are more.
It was Commissioner Cele who chastised the Public Protector for her criticism of his conduct in the selfsame Roux Shabangu property deal. It was on Bheki Cele's watch that the Public Protector's office was raided. Again, the Minister said just wait. But that's not all. Under this particular National Police Commissioner, the investigations by SA Police Service members are so unprofessional that there has been a 74% increase in referrals back to the lower courts. We are talking 370 000 of them in the past year.
This is not good news for the victims of crime, speaking of whom, under this National Police Commissioner, the contact and trio crime reduction targets have been quietly dropped to a miserly 4% to 7% - 4% in exchange for a R58 billion budget.
Then there is the target to reduce serious crimes by 2%. These targets are so low that the performance agreement contract signed by the Minister could be met by a private security firm, so at least we know that his job is safe. The target for detection of crimes against children has also been dropped, and there is no target at all for organised crime.
Only now is the SA Police Service developing a manual, telling Police Service members how not to destroy a crime scene. But that's not all. Looking at the bloated top structure of the SA Police Service today, we see the current Police Commissioner has gathered some most interesting characters. The previous head of the VIP protection unit received a final written warning from the SAPS in December last year, after his drunken driving escapade, and was simply shifted sideways. The Public Protector had to pressure the National Police Commissioner to look into allegations that Richard Mdluli chose not to investigate certain matters in Gauteng and yet he was hired anyway, and now he is in a cell.
I'm currently awaiting an answer from the President on whether he did or did not ask Richard Mdluli to compile a dossier on the National Police Commissioner. If he did, well, that would explain a great deal, wouldn't it?
The head of legal services, Ms Mtimkulu, all but destroyed the SAPS' legal services, but was allowed to stay on to reach her 10 years so she went off on a fat pension. Legal services has now evaporated from the organogram, but that's not all. With regard to supply chain management, Police Service members mislay or lose or sell their firearms with impunity and the repercussions are zero.
Last year, the Police Commissioner told the Portfolio Committee on Police that three and a half thousand Police Service firearms had been lost or stolen. This is a 17% increase on the previous year; a 240% increase since 2001. We're talking thirteen and a half thousand Police Service firearms now being used against both the police and the rest of us. Yet, in less than 1% of the cases are any charges brought.
Add that to the fact that the Police Service spent R16 million last year on purchasing 4 000 new pistols, which should just about replace the ones lost, and that the SA Police Service is today the leading source of the illegal arms trade in South Africa. The Auditor-General is investigating that at my behest.
Reservists who have given year after year of free service to the Police Service have now been told by the Police Commissioner that they use their uniforms to pretend to be police members, to do criminal acts and, if they are unemployed, to demand jobs. In a single sentence he insulted every one of those people who did as the Minister asked and proffered their time to help fight crime.
In closing, I must thank the members of the Portfolio Committee on Police and our chairperson who, certainly, is a stunning individual, and I thank the vast majority of Police Service members who are honest and honourable and do help us in the fight against crime. They do a spectacular job. Thank you. [Applause.]
Minister and hon members, the Police Budget Vote remains the most critical Vote, because policing in South Africa is a constitutionally directed function. For the wheels of democracy to turn, the police must maintain law and order and educate those who are wandering and trapped by crime. When crime besieges our people, we call upon the SA Police Service to defend us. As citizens, we are indeed indebted to the men and the women in blue of the SAPS.
During the Fifa World Cup, the police made our country proud; whether it was en route to the stadia or inside the stadia, the men and women in blue were visible. Their visibility became a deterrent to crime. This, of course, must continue to ensure the safety of all South Africans on a daily basis.
The police budget has grown over the years. Additional police personnel have been appointed and trained for this constitutional requirement. This year's budget has also grown to over R58 billion. Cope supports this function. We believe that all of us must respect policing and support the police, as we know their task is a difficult but necessary one.
Minister, this Budget Vote covers five priority areas, but owing to time, I am not going to go into them. We have no issue with the priorities per se. However, we have issues with the details and the programmes in place to achieve the desired results. I know, Minister, that you have a challenging task to keep this force in check at all times. But when you see or when you smell a rat, you must act. Hiding behind transparent glass does not help you with your constitutional responsibility. In fact, it worsens it.
Cope believes that the SA Police Service must remain independent of all political manouvering. We warn, and we give warning, to the government: Do not politicise the police; do not draw the police into party-political battles; and do not use the professional men and women in blue to battle against those who are alleged to have committed crimes. We believe that everything that does not comply with our laws, be it tendering, corruption, drug-trafficking, money-laundering and use of high office to manipulate tenders, warrants police action. When no action is taken, South Africans are stunned and come to the conclusion that it is okay to commit crime, violate the tendering process or use privileged information for self- serving agendas.
All South Africans want to see a reduction in crime and this must, of course, be seen and felt in all our neighbourhoods. When we have senior police officials or officers accused of being involved in crime, South Africans give up hope. We lose trust in the police, our supposed protectors. We worry that through these violations we might get a night visitation and not see the next day.
When the Police Minister hides behind transparent glass and does not act, we are terrified. When the so-called heavyweights run amok in Correctional Services by enriching themselves through tenders, and when some people are deployed to higher office, we know the game is over.
Regarding the Scorpions and the Constitutional Court judgment, we can only say that we said so. Today we ask the Minister through this debate: Will you uphold the supreme law of our country, the Constitution, and implement it? Will the Minister act against police officials who do the wrong things? Will the Minister do something practical to stop and avert the destruction of policing in South Africa, thereby upholding the democratic state and the Constitution? We want to support this Budget Vote because we know that policing is a constitutional requirement. Policing is a good thing for our democracy. We will await your answers to the questions we posed. Thank you.
Hon Chairperson, in order for our Police Service to effectively carry out its mandate to prevent, combat and investigate crime, maintain public order, ensure the security of our citizens and uphold and enforce our laws, it is necessary that they are afforded every possible form of logistical support by the government. Any failure by the government in this regard will have both direct and extremely dire consequences for the law-abiding citizens of our country. The IFP, therefore, urges the government to do all it can in terms of budgetary and logistical support for our Police Service. The building of new police stations and the upgrading of existing satellite police stations are paramount in respect of our visible policing policy, which we know is in itself an effective crime deterrent. To this end, we would like to see a stronger relationship development between the Police Service and the Department of Public Works, as a breakdown in communication results in unnecessary building delays and gives criminals added opportunities to play their dirty games.
The IFP awaits the results of the investigation by the Special Investigating Unit into the department in order to be able to ascertain exactly what to do and what to say about corruption. The same applies to the Public Protector investigation in Durban and Gauteng.
The IFP welcomes the increase in the number of police personnel, but the Ministry must see to it that these members are utilised as optimally as possible by the Police Service in areas that require the most urgent attention, areas such as visible policing and detective services.
The IFP wants to see greater budgetary assistance being made available to detective services as, currently, this area of the Police Service is in dire need of assistance. Our detectives have inferior or damaged equipment, are understaffed and consequently have low morale. These factors do not lead to a productive work output, the net result being that criminals who should be behind bars are now walking the streets.
The SAPS' forensics unit has made great strides in dealing with the backlog in forensic cases, and the Minister must be congratulated on this, Nyambose! However, there is still a lot of work to be done until the forensics laboratories are up to date. We therefore urge the Minister to maintain the impetus in this area.
The Independent Complaints Directorate is another area of concern for the IFP. Unnecessary travelling costs incurred by the ICD head office staff, when provincial ICD staff were perfectly capable of attending to the work that was required within the provinces, is an example of wasteful and unnecessary expenditure and this must be eradicated, starting at the top, if we are ever to inculcate in the department a culture of responsible use of resources.
The IFP is looking forward to full and proper investigations being carried out by the ICD into errant members of the Police Service, and we trust that such investigations will be carried out without any third-party interference. The IFP would also like to see the correct measures being taken in terms of policy implementation and strict adherence by the department to directives from the Minister.
Police brutality, negligence and recklessness can only be curbed by the institution having a strict code of conduct to which all Police Service members should adhere. The Minister, the National Commissioner and all other high-ranking police officials must lead from the front and be beyond reproach in all their dealings, so as to set the correct example for other members of the Police Service to follow.
The IFP wants to know how the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation continued to do its work when there was a judgment on its legislative establishment. The consequences are very serious.
IsiZulu sithi: Umvundla ziyowunqanda phambili. Isalakutshelwa sibona ngomopho. [There is an expression in isiZulu that goes: There are dark clouds on the horizon. And there's another one which says: if you do not heed advice, you will learn the hard way.] In conclusion, the IFP wishes the Minister and the entire Police Service a safe and productive year ahead with keeping South Africans safe. I thank you.
Ke a leboga, motlotlegi Mmusakgotla. [Thank you, hon Speaker.]
Let me first deal with two people, two hon members. Hon Kohler-Barnard, you said that the Minister said we must wait. Yes, we will all wait, including you. Hon Ramatlakane, I think the last time you were in touch with police issues was when you were still an MEC, and you have really been left behind.
Motlotlegi Mmusakgotla, Matona a a tlotlegang, Batlatsatona ba ba tlotlegang, Lefapha la Sepodisi, Maloko a Palamente a a tlotlegang, baeng ba rona, nte ke le dumediseng bagaetsho. Ke bua jaana mo boemong ba African National Congress ke re maikaelelo a visible policing ke go thusa ditei?ene tsa mapodisa go diragatsa le go somarela tshireletso le go neelana ka tirelo e e tlhokegang ya go disa melelwane ya naga ya rona. Porogeramo ya sepodisi ke yona e kgolo go di gaisa mo tekanyetsokabong ya sepodisa. Mo puong ya gagwe Poresidente wa naga motlotlegi Jacob Zuma ka Tlhakole monongwaga o gateletse botlhokwa ba go siriletsa bomme le bana. A e baya e le nngwe ya botlhokwa mo pusong ya gagwe, se se swabisang ke gore lefapha le fokoditse tekanyetso. Seelo sa tsa bosenyi ba diporo ke gore railway environment le tlositswe me re lopa le buse ditirelo tse.
Sector policing ga e tsamae ka lebelo le le tshwanetseng tekanyetsokabo e teng lefapha a le sekaseke molawana wa sector policing. Lefapha le re le tla fokotsa go utswiwa ga dijanaga ka 3% le go fokotsa tiriso e e botlhaswa ya diritibatsi ka 3%. (Translation of Setswana paragraphs follows.)
[Hon Speaker, hon Ministers, hon Deputy Ministers, Department of Police, hon Members of Parliament, our guests, I greet you all. On behalf of the African National Congress I would like to inform you that the purpose of visible policing is to help police stations to offer protection services and also to offer necessary services of guarding our country's borders. The visible policing programme is the biggest on the police budget. In his state of the nation address in February this year, the hon President Jacob Zuma emphasised the importance of protecting women and children. He mentioned it as the main focus of his government, but what is disappointing is that the department has reduced its budget.
Crime in the railway transport sector is rife since the removal of security personnel on trains. We therefore request that the security on trains be reinstated and other security-related measures be reinforced by the department. Sector policing is not going at a smooth pace to complement the allocated budget, so the department should discuss the sector policing law. The department says it will minimise vehicle theft by 3% and also minimise the illegal use of drugs by 3%.]
The visible policing programme comprises three subprogrammes, namely crime prevention, border security and specialised intervention.
Mo thibelong ya bosenyi selo se se itumedisang ke gore dikopo tsa dilaesense tsa dithunya di tla tsaya malatsi a le 90 fela. Se se a itumedisa. Ka nako ya metshameko ya lefatshe ya 2010 lefapha le rekile didiriswa tsa boleng jo kwa godimo. Didiriswa tse ga jaana di dira eng. Ga ke reye gore di kabo di sa rekiwa ke raya gore fela di diriswa go dira eng.
Ka ngwaga wa 2007 mo konferenseng ya boset?haba ya ANC kwa Polokwane, ANC jaaka e le mokgatlo o o tshwenyegang ka tshireletso ya baagi ba Aforika Borwa e beile kwa godimo mo lenaneong tshireletsong go lwantsha bosenyi le go itseela e se ka fa molaong ke bua ka corruption.
Dipalopalo tsa bosenyi di a supa mmme di fokotsega mo go kgatlisang. Re a itse re le ANC gore fa re dira mmogo le lefapha go tla tokafala go le gontsi. Sepodisi sa naga ya rona se a bonagala mo mafelong a a kotsi le mo mafelong a tshwana le dimmolo tota le mo mafelong a a itsegeng ka bosenyi ka kakaretso. Re a itumela.
Fa rona ANC re dira mmogo le set?haba re dirisa maitemogelo a go busa dingwaga di le somesupa re tla oketsa lebelo la go lere ditirelo mo bathong ba gabo rona. Mmogo re tla dira go kgona.
Ditekanyetso ke raya dieelo tse di fokoditsweng tse di re tshwenyang re le ANC, bosenyi bo wetse tlase go tswa go 10% go ya go tse di 7% mo ngwageng o o fetileng mme di wetse tlase go 7% go ya go tse 4% monongwaga. Ntlha e e a re tshwenya re le ANC. Dipalo tsa dithunya tse di timelang e a tlhobaetsa. Dithunya di a bolaya ka jalo a lefapha le dire sengwe. (Translation of Setswana paragraphs follows.)
[The exciting thing about crime prevention is that applications for firearm licences will now take only 90 days. This is exciting. During the 2010 Soccer World Cup the department bought valuable resources. What is the use of these resources now? I'm not implying that they should not have been bought but I'm saying, what are they used for?
At the ANC's National Conference in Polokwane in 2007, the ANC, as a party concerned with the safety of South Africans, put fighting crime and corruption at the top of its programme. Crime statistics show that it is decreasing satisfactorily.
We know as ANC that when we work together with the department, a lot will be better. The police of our country are visible in dangerous places and in places like malls and even in crime hot spots. We are happy.
When the ANC works, together with the nation, we use our 17 years' experience of ruling and we will increase the speed of services to our people. Working together, we can achieve more.
The decreased rate that concerns us as the ANC is crime and it decreased from 10% to 7% last year and it decreased from 7% to 4% this year. This concerns us a lot as the ANC. The number of missing firearms is a nightmare. Firearms kill, so the department should do something.]
The department should also have a way of implementing the Turnaround Strategy with regard to the processing of firearm licences, permits and renewals.
Mo tokomaneng ya manifesto wa ANC ya ngwaga ona o, ke a e nopola: [Let me quote this year's ANC manifesto:]
The ANC will strengthen the fight against crime by further increasing the visibility of SAPS personnel and extending the distribution of police stations.
Fa ke bua ka ditirelo tsa tshireletso le pabalesego, maikaelelo ke go sireletsa batlotlegi ka tekanyetso e, mme tekanyetso e e fokoditswe go tloga go dibilione di le 3 mme e fokoleditswe go bilione e le 1 le halofo e e leng R1,5 billion. Tshireletso ya batho ba rona ga e sale e ntse e le kwa setlhoeng mo mokgatlhong wa ANC. E sale e simolotse ka 1912 mme ka jalo re ntse re tswelela pele go rata go sireletsa batho ba rona. (Translation of Setswana paragraph follows.)
[When I speak of safety and security, the aim is to protect the dignitaries with this budget; this budget has been reduced from R3 billion to R1,5 billion. Our people's safety is still at the top of the ANC's agenda. It started in 1912 and we still continue to protect our people.]
Together, we can build better communities.
Fa re bua ka tshireletso ya melelwane sepodisi se re se tla nna se le teng mo madibogong, se tla tloga ka bonya ka bonya. Fa re buisana le mekgatlo ya badiri ba lela ka boima ba sepodisi kwa godimo le gore se tsaya madi a tekanyetso a le mantsi. Mekgatlo e gape ya badiri e bua gore ditirelo tse dingwe ga di fitlhe ka go lekalekana kwa metseng ya magae, lefapha a le nke le tseye tsia.
Kwa bokhutlong bagaetsho nte ke re , kgetse ya tsie e kgonwa ke go tshwaraganelwa, gape ke re, tau tsa tlhoka seboka di siiwa ke none e tlhotsa. (Translation of Setswana paragraphs follows.)
[When we speak of border security, the police say they will always be at the border gates; they will retract slowly. When we speak with the unions, they complain about the high workload of police and that they take a lot of money in the Budget. The unions also complain that the services are not rendered equally when it comes to rural places, and the department should take this into consideration.
In conclusion, I would like to say many hands make light work. Let me also say, if we don't work together, we won't achieve anything.]
Together with the ANC, we can build better communities. The ANC supports Budget Vote No 25: Police. I thank you. [Applause.]
Hon members, let me just appeal to you to please switch off cellphones and laptops, so that we give our time to listening to the speakers.
Agb Voorsitter, ek wil begin om te s ons salueer daardie lede van die Polisie, manne en vroue wat bereid is om selfs hulle lewens op te offer vir die beskerming van die mense van Suid-Afrika.
Maar, agb Minister, as ek dit s, dan sluit ek aan by wat u ges het, dat korrupsie aangespreek moet word, want daar is 'n aantal vrot appels in die kis. Ons moet daardie appels uithaal.
Maar ek wil dan ook vandag vir u s, agb Minister, dat u Nasionale Kommissaris van Polisie 'n verleentheid vir die Polisie is. Ek weet u stel nie die Kommissaris aan nie; die President stel hom aan. Maar ek wil vandag ook 'n boodskap in hierdie debat aan die President gee om aan hom te s, hou op om 'n politikus in 'n uniform te sit om die Polisiediens te lei. Dit het tyd geword dat ons die les geleer het om te weet dat, as jy iemand in 'n uniform sit, die persoon die behoorlike opleiding ondergaan het om daardie uniform waardig te wees.
Die R500 miljoen-skandaal moenie ligtelik opgeneem word nie. Dis 'n verleentheid en dit tas die moraal van ons lede in die Polisie aan.
Daarby aangesluit, agb Minister, die rooi ligte gaan aan en dit is uiters kommerwekkend as 'n vakbond na die Portefeuljekomitee van Polisie kom en s, maar daar is een beleid vir bevordering van vriende en familie in die Polisie, en 'n ander beleid vir die hardwerkende, opofferende lede van die Polisiediens. Hulle noem dit nepotisme. As ons dit nie aanspreek, en duidelik en vinnig aanspreek nie, agb Minister, dan laat ons daardie ander hardwerkende lede van die Polisie in die steek. Dan tas ons hulle moraal aan.
Die volgende aspek wat ek wil aanraak, is die dissipline. Daar is hopeloos te veel siviele eise teen die Polisie ingestel as gevolg van onregmatige optrede deur lede van die Polisie. Ek weet die Nasionale Kommissaris het vir 'n portefeuljekomitee ges dat die reaksiemag op die taakspan hoogs opgeleide mense is en dat hulle partymaal oorreageer. Agb Minister, as jy 'n hoogs opgeleide persoon is, dan is jy hoogs gedissiplineerd, want jy is nie hoogs opgelei as jy nie gedissiplineerd optree nie. As ons dan so hoogs gedissiplineerd moet wees, dan moet ons verder kyk na die opleiding sodat hierdie eise nie ingestel word teen die Polisie, en aan die einde van die dag, teen die belastingbetaler nie. Ek kom ook na die vuurwapens toe, agb Minister. U het 'n taakspan aangestel om die agterstalligheid van aansoeke vir vuurwapenlisensies weg te werk, maar ek word oorval deur klagtes deur aansoekers wat s die dokumente is nou skielik weg. Dit is net nie meer verkrygbaar nie. Ek wil vandag die stelling maak dit wil voorkom asof aansoeke maar net voor die voet afgekeur word, dat die wapeneienaar se aansoek frustreer word sodat hy maar van vooraf moet aansoek doen of dat hy appl moet aanteken. Dis 'n oortreding van die administratiewe wet, van billikheid en regverdigheid.
Ek het 'n vraag aan u gevra: Is hierdie taakspanne, die lede waarvan nou moet besluit of jy 'n vuurwapenlisensie kan kry, opgelei en bevoeg om te kan bepaal of iemand dit kan kry al dan nie? As ons nie aandag daaraan gee nie, agb Minister, dan stel ons 'n swak voorbeeld en lewer ons nie 'n diens aan die mense van Suid-Afrika nie. Ek dank u. (Translation of Afrikaans speech follows.)
[Mr P J GROENEWALD: Hon Chairperson, I want to start by saying that we salute the members of the police force, men and women who are prepared to sacrifice their lives to protect the people of South Africa.
But, hon Minister, when I say this, I agree with your statement that corruption needs to be addressed as there are a number of rotten apples in the basket. We need to remove those apples.
But then, hon Minister, I also want to say to you today that your National Police Commissioner is an embarrassment to the police. I know you don't appoint the Commissioner; the President makes that appointment. But today I also want to send a message to the President in this debate to tell him that he should stop appointing a politician in uniform to lead the police service. By this time, we should have learned that when you put someone in a uniform, that person should have undergone the proper training to be worthy of that uniform.
The R500 million scandal should not be taken lightly. It's an embarrassment and it affects the morale of our police members.
In addition to this, hon Minister, the red lights are flashing and it is extremely worrying when a trade union approaches the Portfolio Committee on Police and states that there is one policy with regard to the promotion of friends and family in the police and another policy when it comes to the hard-working members of the police service who make sacrifices. It's called nepotism. If we don't address this clearly and quickly, hon Minister, then we fail those hard-working members of the police. Then we affect their morale.
The next aspect I would like to address is discipline. There are far too many civil cases against the police because of wrongful acts by members of the police. I know the National Commissioner told a portfolio committee that the reaction force on the task team consists of highly trained people and that they sometimes overreact. Hon Minister, when you are a highly trained person, you are highly disciplined, as you cannot be highly trained when you don't act in a disciplined manner. If we are supposed to be this highly disciplined, then we need to further examine this training so that these claims are not brought against the police, and, at the end of the day, against the taxpayer.
I'll address firearms next, hon Minister. You appointed a task team to reduce the backlog with regard to applications for firearm licences, but I'm inundated with complaints by applicants who claim the documents are missing all of a sudden. They simply cannot be found. I want to make the statement today that it seems as if applications are simply rejected out of hand, and that the owner of the firearm is frustrated by having to reapply from scratch or lodge an appeal. This is a transgression of the administrative law, of fairness and justness.
I asked you a question: Are these task teams, the members who need to decide whether you are allowed to be granted a firearm licence, trained and equipped to determine whether a person is eligible or not? If we don't address this, hon Minister, we are setting a poor example and not delivering a service to the people of South Africa. I thank you.]
Thank you, Chairperson. I'm told I must behave. I am no longer a chairperson but a Deputy Minister, and I will behave.
Hon Chairperson, hon Minister of Police, my comrade Tat' uMthethwa, all Ministers and Deputy Ministers who are here to support us today, my chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Mrs Sindi Chikunga, the National Commissioner of Police, Ntate Cele, and your team and all your provincial commissioners, Members of Parliament, ladies and gentlemen, I am filled with a sense of gratitude to deliver my maiden remarks in my capacity as the Deputy Minister of Police.
It could not be more appropriate than during this year when our President, the honourable Zuma, declared government's commitment to job creation.
As a Ministry that is indirectly responsible for job creation, we will play a vital role in ensuring that we create an enabling and safe environment for businesses to flourish and for South Africans to feel safe and secure, irrespective of where they are. This is our commitment and our vision.
We are cognisant of the fact that crime networks have grown in their reach and sophistication across national boundaries. To us as South Africans, the 2010 Fifa World Cup event once more confirmed our belief in collective effort in the fight against crime.
The challenges and negative perceptions that were peddled by some negative prophets of doom, those who sought to discourage people of the world by claiming that South Africa would not succeed in hosting a secure tournament, have failed. There was never a Plan B, Plan C, or even a Plan X or Z. We did it. We had a very successful soccer tournament because of the men and women in blue.
We understood their concerns about crime, but we kept our eyes and minds focused on the challenge at hand. When we began in earnest with our preparations, we did not ignore these concerns, but ensured that we did not get distracted and remained firmly focused.
In order to attest to that, the outside world believes that South Africa, the people or the community of South Africa, are safe because of the kind of men and women we have providing security in the country. The fact that National Police Commissioner Bheki Cele will be leaving tomorrow for Equatorial Guinea with a high-profile delegation of the Security cluster members, where they are tasked with providing security for the heads of state during the African Union summit that will be held there within a month from today, shows the confidence the world has in us as South Africa. [Applause.]
A number of complaints, especially from widows of police who passed away, have been received about the delay in pension payouts. The National Police Commissioner has undertaken to reduce the period of finalisation to three months; they used to wait for more than four years for the payout of pensions. Work is already under way to remove the current bottlenecks in the value chain of pension payouts. This involves other key role-players like the Government Employees Pension Fund and the SA Revenue Service, which will assist in the forward integration of systems to expedite pension payouts.
The department, through the leadership of the National Police Commissioner, also approved an increase in the stipend payable to entry-level police trainees, from R1 600 per month to R3 175 per month, with effect from 1 October 2010. This substantial increase in the stipend is aimed at improving the quality of life of police trainees and at offering an improved incentive to prospective applicants to the SA Police Service.
Yiyo loo nto xa sisamkela abafundi abafuna ukuba ngamapolisa sijonga ukuba umfundi uphuma kwikhaya elinjani na ngokwesimilo kwaye uphila njani na nabahlali ekuhlaleni. Ubupolisa ayingomsebenzi nje, lubizo olufuna ukuzinikela emsebenzini. Olu bizo lufuna amadelakufa, amadoda nabafazi abanyanisekileyo nabazinikeleyo ekukhuseleni ilizwe lethu. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)
[That is why, when we approve applications of students who want to be police officers, we look at the kind of family in which they were raised, in terms of respect and the way she or he interacts with the people in her or his community. Being a police officer is not just a job, it's a calling which needs dedication at work. This calling needs bold, honest and dedicated men and women to protect their country.]
As agreed to by hon Groenewald, that is the kind of police officer we need. We are committed as the department and the Ministry to making sure that we have the best police officers in the country.
The SAPS strives to make being a police officer a career of choice and excellence, not just another job. The SAPS is focusing on moving away from being a single-point decision-making authority towards involving the community in recruitment through structures such as community policing forums - as my chair has said here - the relevant NGOs, schools, churches, etc. The reason we mention schools, churches, etc, is because when we decide that we are taking so-and-so as a student into the Police Service, we need to consult with all these stakeholders to make sure that we are not recruiting a criminal.
During the 2011-12 financial year, the SAPS will appoint 6 168 entry-level police trainees and 1 452 administrative support personnel. The focus of these new appointments is to address capacity shortages of analysts, detectives, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations environment, and to address backlogs in investigations and to improve service delivery. The recruitment of these personnel members will focus specifically on quality, not just quantity.
The department will embark on a process of identifying role models within the community, who can assist the SAPS in communicating specific messages to the broader community relating to the Police Service's strategic priorities. One way of achieving this would be for communities to provide information on criminals to the police and vice versa in order for the police to be proactive in investigations. The government has been clear in its gender and equity representivity requirements, as alluded to by Minister Nathi. To this end, the SA Police Service will, as part of its transformation drive, advance its women empowerment programmes. Continued efforts will be made to promote gender equity by developing and appointing women to management posts. As we have seen, that has already been done by the National Commissioner by appointing two strong women to high-ranking posts within the Police Service.
In addition, we will endeavour to achieve the 2% target of people with disabilities. Some time ago, when I was still a chairperson, I visited the Northern Cape, specifically their 10111 centre. I was impressed to discover that 90% of the people responsible for the 10111 service were disabled people. I hope that we all copy that province and do the same. [Applause.] Improving the gender ratio has been prioritised by the National Police Commissioner and his team. He has instructed top management at all levels to ensure continual improvement in the gender equity ratio as a matter of utmost priority. As the leadership of the Police Service, we believe there are lots of capable women within the department, and we shall continue to drive women advancement through the SAPS Women's Network.
We also need to take this opportunity to highlight the SA Police Service's endeavours to move towards having 50% women representation in leadership. Currently, we are at 32,3% with regard to women in leadership positions, and we are striving towards 50%. As the Minister pointed out, we need to ensure increased representation of women in operational and specialised environments. This is a duty that must be carried out by the management of this department. As the leadership, we remain confident that it will be achieved.
In order to ensure collaboration amongst departments in the justice, crime prevention and security cluster, the SAPS must continue to ensure active participation in the interdepartmental forums which have been established across various spheres of government. To mention but a few, Police Service teams are active in task teams dealing with child justice, sexual offences, child care and protection, child labour, human trafficking, domestic violence, restorative justice, victim empowerment, social crime prevention forums and community safety.
The SAPS is finalising a youth crime prevention manual which will guide police stations on the partnerships they need to engage in to ensure that young people build resilience and are resistant to crime. We are expecting Members of Parliament to visit police stations in their constituencies, instead of them running around and getting obsessed with the National Commissioner of Police.
The partnership between the Department of Basic Education and the SAPS continued in the course of 2010-11 and resulted in a draft protocol between the two departments being developed. The school safety programme requires that we go to the schools, have a look at those programmes and forget about Bheki. Bheki is doing what he is supposed to be doing. [Laughter.] The school safety programme addresses both the immediate safety concerns of school communities and provides a platform for the SAPS to contribute to education as a long-term investment in safe and sustainable communities.
New offences such as those relating to sexual activities of consenting under-age children, grooming of children, engaging the sexual services of adults, and trafficking for sexual purposes are examples of matters that require consolidated efforts. We also need to know that the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development is also considering reviewing the relevant legislation on the issues I have mentioned because of ukuthwala. We know that in some areas of this country, there are children as young as 12 years old, who are raped by men who say bayabathwala, ngabafazi [they are taking them as their wives.] You can't have an umfazi [a wife] who is 12 years old. Continued support will be provided to the Department of Social Development for the drug-demand reduction programme. This programme involves all departments and targets communities, parents, young people and other networks of support to people who are vulnerable to the abuse of substances. It is aimed at reducing drug and substance abuse. For example, we support the call by the Minister of Social Development, the hon Dlamini, to increase the legal age for liquor consumption from 18 to 21.
The SAPS has signed a memorandum of understanding with Business Against Crime SA, Bacsa, which focuses on service delivery improvement at community service centres and 10111 centres. Other business communities continue to assist the Police Service in the fight against crime by sponsoring crime- related projects, for example crime reporting boards, Soul City, Primedia, Vodacom, etc. I also acknowledge the fact that we have two high-ranking gentlemen from Vodacom, who have come here to support us during this Budget Vote debate. We all have an obligation to deal with the perceptions of crime and build a positive image of South Arica.
Likewise, since the 2010 Fifa World Cup, communities now believe that we have the ability to deal with crime in South Africa. These positive perceptions by our people, especially in rural communities, are supported by the consistent decrease in many areas of crime, including murder and aggravated robbery.
We, as the SAPS, need to speak to the crime statistics, patterns and tendencies and decreases in crime in the context of where communities live. We can no longer dare to generalise about crime levels as if South Africa is unsafe, no matter where, as communities, we live or travel. It is very funny that we say we are not safe in South Africa, but the world out there feels very safe to be guided by South Africa with regard to security. We must provide speedy reaction ...
Hon Deputy Minister, you have a minute left.
We must recognise the excellent work of the majority of our police officers who put their lives at risk daily for each one of us in the interests of safety. Our efforts of rooting out corrupt and criminal individuals in our organisation will intensify. You talk about corruption, but you don't say anything about the people that we, as the police, dealt with within our ranks last year. More than 120 police officers were dealt with by the department, but nobody mentions that because you are obsessed with uBheki, uJackie; who's this?
As government we have a compelling obligation to put crime in South Africa into the right perspective, and to keep our communities informed on the efforts by government to provide for safer communities and to have people feel safe. Working together with communities, we trust that we will have safe and successful local government elections.
Uyibambe, Cele. Uyibambile, mntan' asekhaya. [Laphela ixesha.] [Kwaqhwatywa.] [Keep it up, Cele. You've got it, my brother! [Time expired.] [Applause.]]
Chairperson and hon Minister, the ACDP would like to begin by commending the SAPS for the very successful manner in which they protected the citizens of South Africa and visitors and teams during the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup. We commend you for doing an excellent job.
However, Minister, you have pointed out the issue of corruption and many of the speakers have focused on it too, and I would just like to mention a few issues in this regard.
Former New York City Police Department Commissioner Patrick Murphy said:
The rotten apple theory won't work any longer. Corrupt police officials are not natural-born criminals, nor morally wicked men, constitutionally different from their honest colleagues. The task of corruption control is to examine the barrel, not just the apples - the organisation, not just the individuals in it - because corrupt police are made, not born.
I wish to commend you, Commissioner, and the Minister, for looking into this issue and relooking at the whole organisation.
We share the view that the level of corruption is extremely disconcerting and, to the credit of the Commissioner, he has investigated and asked the Special Investigating Unit to investigate the significant irregularities relating to 33 police stations. We also see the President has asked the SIU to investigate IT procurement.
However, Minister, can we expect anything less when we have serious questions being asked about the top management level? For instance, there are those relating to the Pretoria and Durban office leases, which we know will be dealt with by Parliament; the possibility of there being senior rogue officers, following the unauthorised visit to the Public Protector; and, of course, the issue of the head of crime intelligence, who is now being investigated for murder.
As the battle for the survival of crime intelligence boss, Lt-Gen Mdluli, gathers storm, it is clear that the spies are once again busily assembling dossiers on each other and on senior politicians. We saw that with the Scorpions. They seem to be tracing intricate networks of corruption, patronage and party-factional agendas. As pointed out in the media, the result is that, "Organised crime and corruption find both their occasion and their excuse in the war of spies, whilst democratic choice is stolen from citizens and handed over to plotters."
Chairperson and Minister, I am sure you will agree that this is a very serious situation and it must be addressed urgently. With crime and violence at unacceptable levels, we cannot afford to have crime intelligence embroiled in bitter factionalism and fighting. We would urge you to intervene urgently in this regard.
To conclude, we and other speakers have highlighted the shortcomings in the SAPS. However, we agree that the vast majority of police officials are not corrupt and are prepared to lay down their lives to protect citizens. The ACDP would like to thank them, and offer condolences to the families of those officers who made the supreme sacrifice last year. I thank you.
Hon Chairperson, hon Ministers and Deputy Ministers, Minister of Police, Ministers and Deputy Ministers of sister departments, chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, and chairpersons of other portfolio committees of sister departments, members of the SAPS present, stakeholders in the Department of Police, fellow colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, the motto of the SA Police Service, "together squeezing crime to zero", seeks to strengthen the fight against crime. However, we need to ensure that there is strong civilian oversight of the police, so that the basic rights of our citizens, which we have fought so hard for, do not get violated by the police in their fight against crime.
It is for this reason that the ANC undertook to strengthen our civilian oversight institutions, namely the Independent Complaints Directorate, ICD, which is soon to be known as the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, IPID, as well as the Police Civilian Secretariat. The mandate of these institutions expands to the municipal police service as well. The mandate of the directorate is to investigate offences, whether real or alleged, committed by members of the SAPS. The offences include death as a result of police action, misconduct and noncompliance with laid-down prescripts.
We have noted a number of changes in the functions of the ICD, for instance the transfer of certain functions, such as station audits, cell inspections and the Domestic Violence Act, to the Police Civilian Secretariat. The ANC urges the directorate to ensure that there is a smooth and proper transition, and a proper handover to the relevant institutions.
A concern of the ANC remains the large number of vacant posts as a result of staff turnover, especially in Programme 2, which deals with the processing, monitoring and investigation of complaints, and also the use of consultants, which depletes the budget allocated to the directorate. It is therefore recommended that the directorate strengthen the capacity-building and skills development programmes at both provincial and national levels. After all, these are some of the priorities mentioned in President Jacob Zuma's state of the nation address in February this year.
This should also be coupled with recruitment and retention strategies, especially with regard to the relevant expertise in those respective structures. This will also fast-track the clearing of backlogs and the filling of vacant posts, highlighted in the estimates of national expenditure for this year.
The ANC appreciates the commitment made by the directorate towards ensuring that there is no backlog in the completion of cases of different offences committed or allegedly committed by members of the SAPS. However, it urges the directorate to review the target that it has set itself. This will ensure that some of the ANC's priority goals of the 2009 election manifesto, that of ensuring safer communities, reducing crime and defeating corruption, are achieved.
The Estimate of Expenditure of 2011 indicates that there are three researchers under Programme 3, each of whom conducts one research project per year. To avoid wasteful expenditure, it is suggested that, as important as research is in any institution, it should be conducted only when there is a need to do so.
It is important that the ICD develop a clear strategy for marketing and publicising the directorate throughout the country, considering its important and prudent functions. This should be done especially in far- flung rural areas. In the next financial year, the ANC recommends that the directorate consider the proposal of the National Treasury regarding the 1:5 ratio of support to line-function staff.
The Police Civilian Secretariat is currently operating as a cost centre under the SAPS budget. Once the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service Act has been promulgated, the structure will be a designated department reporting directly to the Minister of Police. The ANC commends the work done by the Secretariat and the ICD. Since the Civilian Secretariat will be establishing provincial secretariats, it is urged that the process be accelerated to ensure optimal functioning of these structures.
The ANC appreciates the contribution that the community policing forums, the CPFs, are making, and for the work that they have been doing in helping to fight crime and corruption. I can say without fear of contradiction that they are the brainchild of the ANC. However, the ANC has also been concerned that the work they have been doing has been very unco-ordinated. We are proud to learn that the Secretariat is developing guidelines that will assist the CPFs in executing their functions. It is hoped, indeed, that this process will be fast-tracked.
The ANC supports the Budget Vote, and I thank you. [Applause.]
Chairperson, the DA appreciates the work done and effort made by the government to support constitutionally independent structures such as the Independent Complaints Directorate.
The ICD plays a very important role in protecting the constitutional rights of all citizens, including prisoners and civilians, against abuse of power and police brutality. This is in line with the DA's open-opportunity society for all in which all citizens have the right to be secure, to be protected and to feel safe.
ICD e ?irelet?a ditokelo t?a bahloki. E ?irelet?a set?haba kgahlanong le maphodisa ao a gatakago ditokelo t?a batho. [The ICD protects the rights of the poor. It protects the public against the police officers who violate people's rights.]
We welcome the budget of R151,6 million allocated to the ICD. The budget increased from R80,9 million in 2008-09 to R131,4 million in 2010-11 - an average of 17% - to cater for increased activities over the years and for the formulation of the new Independent Police Investigative Directorate Bill in terms of enhanced capacity in support services and expanded office accommodation.
The current budget of R151,6 million will grow to R160,98 million in 2012- 13, and to R170,36 million in 2013-14. It is noted that the percentage increase to the budgetary baseline per programme shows that Programme 2, the investigations component, will experience the smallest increase compared to the other programmes. It will be 2% in 2012-13, and 6% in 2013- 14. The slight increase does not seem to reflect the shift in the budget focus expected from the shift in the strategic priorities in terms of the new legislation.
It was stated previously in the performance indicators contained in the Estimates of Expenditure, taken from the ICD in the 2010 to 2013 strategic plan, that the target remained quite static apart from minor changes of 5% in certain programmes. It is noted that the legal service subprogramme targets were not listed in the indicators.
The DA is concerned that despite budget increases, no provision has been made in the 2011-12 budget for the implementation of the new Independent Police Investigative Directorate Bill. The Bill is crucial in extending the ICD's mandate to focus on more serious and priority crimes committed by SA Police Service members, to improve management structures of the directorate, to improve reporting and accountability practices in the directorate, to establish a formal liaison capacity between the ICD and the secretariat, and to enforce compliance by the SA Police Service of recommendations made in respect of Police Service members.
The DA is concerned that the shortage of staff in the ICD compromises its mandate to investigate criminal offences and improper behaviour committed by the Police Service. The ICD had a total staff component of 292 funded posts as at 30 September 2010.
According to the Estimate of Expenditure, the number of funded posts increased to 311 over the medium term owing to the strengthening of financial management. The Estimate of Expenditure notes that the data provided by the department may not correspond with the official government personnel data. It is stated that there are 23 vacancies, most of which fall under Programme 3 on information management and research.
The DA noted with dismay that the overall spending trend has revealed underexpenditure. This is owing to the relocation of the national office which is spread across three programmes. The DA is concerned that in the light of the need to focus resources on key services which fall primarily under Programme 1, administration receives the highest percentage increase in the ICD budget for 2011-12. Cause for concern are the 2 656 cases carried over from the previous financial year, with no measurable targets and clear timeframes for these cases, and backlogs with the strategic and annual performance plans.
The National Treasury advised the ICD to focus expenditure on services rather than administrative support, which is in line with the government directive. The DA agrees that the legal services subprogramme should be a fully fledged programme on its own and that the appropriation for 2010-11 of R1,9 million increase in 2011-12. This will have an increased impact on legal services. We need a dedicated legal services programme to provide legal opinions to investigators, to improve service delivery and to speed up investigations.
The use of consultants when a function can be done in-house indicates a misuse of funds. The ICD's budget is too small to cover the Independent Police Investigative Directorate's investigative work. The number of members of the Police Service is thousands of times more than that of the ICD. How on earth is it possible for the ICD to do its work efficiently and effectively? And why has this independent unit suddenly given in, for the first time, to political pressure with the hiring of the Minister of State Security's younger daughter - an inexperienced relative as CFO, rather than a director of the National Treasury? What were you thinking?
The DA welcomes the move of the Civilian Secretariat for Police to a new structure which is independent from the Police department. The Civilian Secretariat for Police will work with civilians and the Minister of Police. It will provide efficient and effective civilian oversight over the SAPS and enhance the role of the Minister of Police. It will transform and make the Police Service accountable and reflect the values of our Constitution. The move to a designated department will require a significant increase in the budget of the reorganised secretariat. The personnel budget will increase from R14 million to R27 million in 2011-12, and to R37 million in 2012-13. Therefore the total budget of the Civilian Secretariat for Police will increase from R25,2 million to R41,5 million. Currently, the secretariat is facing serious challenges such as a lack of human resource capacity which impacts negatively on the secretariat's ability to function effectively.
The DA welcomes promising reports from the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority's new council. The PSIRA council's turnaround strategy seems to address problems faced by the organisation. The new turnaround strategy has reduced burdens, debt and fraud in the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority. It addresses the issues of corruption and maladministration.
The DA would want to see the new council concentrating on correcting thorny issues pointed out by the Director-General in terms of adhering to legislation and other requirements. We applaud the PSIRA's new council for working tirelessly in rooting out corruption. We welcome the arrests of PSIRA staff members who were involved in corruption, fraud and theft; the dismissals and suspensions of other staff members; the new measures brought in to recover debt; the deregistration of dormant service providers, illegal operators and firearms in the industry; and the vetting of applicant service providers in terms of criminal records.
The PSIRA council and management have set a target of R1 million per month which will be monitored with a view to increasing their performance so as to stabilise the liquidity of the PSIRA. The council is on the move to overhaul the PSIRA. The DA would like to see the PSIRA strategic plan of 2012 to 2014 in order to be able to measure and do oversight based on the plan. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Hon Van Wyk, you have 20 minutes. [Interjections.]
Thank you, Chairperson; if you behave you get 20 minutes. Hon Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister, hon Members of the House, unlike last year, I would like to start off with what I've got to say before I react to what the opposition had to say.
Even the most pessimistic and negative amongst us will find it difficult to ignore the progress made in addressing crime and transforming the SA Police Service that we have. The number of active police officers has increased significantly, and trust by communities in the police has improved to such an extent that community involvement in the fight against crime now forms part of one of the pillars of our crime-fighting strategy. The SA Police Service has been modernised, not only in regard to the equipment it is using, but also in terms of the approach it has adopted in combating crime.
We have an ANC government which is committed to putting an end to the high levels of crime and which demonstrates that commitment with a handsome budget that has been allocated to the Police Service. We have a crime- fighting strategy developed by the ANC that is integrated not only within in the cluster, but that is extended to other critical role-players, such as the Departments of Basic Education, of Economic Development and of Social Development.
Last year during this debate I indicated that in the ANC we believe that crime is not an event, but a process and that in order to be effective and to want to successfully fight crime, you need to disrupt the process at as many levels as possible. It is therefore clear that the numbers game or throwing more resources at the problem will not solve the issue. What is required is that every role-player within the crime-fighting chain, from the community amongst whom the criminal might live, right through to the prosecutor seeking justice, should play their part to the best of their ability. We indicated that it starts with the police officer who takes the call from the victim, the first officer arriving at the scene, securing the crime scene, the crime scene investigator who must make sure that all the evidence is collated at the scene, the detective following up on the leads, forensics, ballistics, our DNA laboratories, the Criminal Record Centre, and the fingerprint experts playing their role in building a strong case against an accused that can result in successful prosecution.
I'm dealing with two programmes here, namely Programme 3: Detective Services, and Programme 4: Crime Intelligence. Detective Services receives R9,8 billion of the R58 billion of the overall budget. That will increase to R11,4 billion in the outer financial year - 2013-14. While we appreciate this increase, we believe - as some of the members have said - that more needs to be spent on Detective Services specifically. Crime Intelligence receives R2,1 billion, and in 2013-14 its budget will increase to R2,4 billion.
Last year during this debate we indicated that we needed to determine what the ideal number of detectives should be in relation to the nature of crimes, the strength of the Police Service, the allocation of resources, and any other determining factor. The department indicated to us that that arrangement is expected by October this year, and if it's finalised earlier it will be provided to the committee by then. We believe that it is important to determine this so as to ensure that we achieve that figure and then retain it.
The department did indicate that it was identifying suitable detective candidates during the basic training phase through a battery of tests. For the previous financial year, a total of 252 successful candidates underwent training at the Graaff-Reinet training institution. They are now placed at stations under a mentor for a period of nine months. The department further indicated that, as a result of input by the portfolio committee, the mentorship programmes have now been formalised.
We have often raised concerns regarding the loss and the shortage of experienced detectives at station level. The ANC would therefore like to welcome the fact that the policy to retain experienced detectives has been developed and will now be implemented. According to this policy, experienced detectives who find themselves in management positions will now be able to be reinstated as detectives at the same salary level they earned as managers. We want to thank the Minister for introducing this policy. We have long been arguing that we should make it possible for a detective to be promoted within the detective environment without moving into management: scale promotion without the necessary rank promotion. The ANC believes that this will go a long way in retaining experienced detectives. The monitoring of detectives will be improved over this financial year, with quarterly reviews. The training of branch commanders will also receive attention so as to properly capacitate them and improve the command and control at this level. We welcome this as we believe it will go a long way in making sure that more effective services are received from detectives.
Furthermore, a booklet of the crime scene investigation manual was developed and should be finalised by the end of October. This booklet will be distributed to all provinces for utilisation by members who attend a crime scene. We welcome this initiative, but believe that distributing the booklet alone will not have the desired effect, but that there should be workshops on the booklet, continual work with crime scene investigators and with the people first on the scene.
There remain challenges within the detective environment, none more so than an equal distribution of resources within this environment to specifically the rural areas, but it is clear that we are moving in the right direction. The ANC believes that these interventions will bear fruit and that we will soon see and experience an increase in the conviction rate.
In support of the work of the detectives, is the work of the forensic science laboratories and the Criminal Record Centre. Both the Minister and the chairperson have already highlighted some of the impressive progress that has been made in the field of specifically the forensic science laboratories. In addition, within the forensic science laboratories the environments that recorded the most significant declines in backlogs are the biology and ballistics environments with decreases of 82,2% and 81,55% respectively. This is something to appreciate.
I would like to focus on the Criminal Record Centre. The Criminal Record Centre has rearranged its working hours to work flexitime, which has helped to finalise backlogs. The Criminal Record Centre is now working on a 24- hour basis. The waiting period for finalisation of fingerprint checks used to be more than 30 days, but is now down to 14 days. During the month of March the Criminal Record Centre was able to clear the entire firearm backlog and processed more than 78 000 fingerprint records. Now, I don't care how desperate you are to get votes, this is an impressive feat in any person's book and deserves acknowledgement. We ask of Gen Pahlane and his team not to lift their feet from the accelerator. We will be closely monitoring them to ensure that they continue with their excellent performance.
Crime intelligence has made significant contributions to the fight against crime. Some of the most significant of these is the arrest of individuals who planned to commit acts of terror in South Africa. Crime intelligence was instrumental in the indictment of couriers transporting drugs across our borders and the discovery of arms caches in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and the Western Cape. It is increasing the role that it plays in bringing to book those who are involved in rhino poaching, and has already achieved some success in this field.
Crime intelligence will increase its emphasis on intelligence operations specifically in the field of trio crimes, organised crimes involving drugs, vehicles, weapons, diamonds, human trafficking, corruption, commercial crimes and illicit mining.
As indicated previously, we believe that intelligence should be strengthened and should form an integral part of policing. It should be the nodal point of policing. In this regard, more can be done to improve the capacity at specifically the station level. One must note, however, that in 2011-12, 783 entry-level personnel will be appointed. The division will be further strengthened with technology to match the sophistication of crime and criminal groups. We call on the Minister and management to ensure that the current situation that we are experiencing within crime intelligence does not impact on the good work that this division should be doing. Let me turn to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, or the Hawks, as they are known. You had better end that and start listening now. As expected, the hon Kohler-Barnard was making huge noise around the Constitutional Court ruling, entertaining this House with her own interpretation of the ruling. Let me say from the outset that the ANC respects the ruling of the Constitutional Court and will ensure that they adhere to the 18-month deadline. But to create the impression that the court indicated that we have to re-establish the Scorpions is not only disingenuous, it is blatantly misleading. The Constitutional Court found that it was within the power of Parliament to establish an anticorruption unit in the SA Police Service. The Constitution does not prescribe to Parliament where to locate this unit.
Furthermore, the court found that the decision by Parliament to disband the Directorate of Special Operations and establish the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation within the SAPS was entirely consistent with the objectives of the SA Police Service as set out in the Constitution, in section 205(3).
The Constitutional Court also ruled in favour of Parliament and the public participation process that Parliament embarked upon during this process. I find it alarming that this hon member could stand here and say that every single public opinion, every legal institution, every advocate or lawyer, everybody who was against this was ignored, that all their opinions had been ignored.
I wonder whether the hon member attended, with us, the public hearings that we held during that period of time, where thousands of people - literally thousands of people - came to the public hearings supporting the disbandment of the Scorpions. The problem with the DA is that only those opinions in line with their own, they consider to be opinions.
I also don't understand why it is such a problem for the hon Kohler-Barnard as to who is going to police the police. If you listened to the figures that the Deputy Minister gave you, in terms of the rotten police officers, the police are more than capable of policing themselves. In the committee, we have put two oversight bodies in place: the Secretariat and the Independent Complaints Directorate to further strengthen that role.
The hon member Kohler-Barnard lowers the level of this debate. She has reduced a budget debate to a soapie. [Laughter.] Last year it was a soapie that involved the Minister. This year the main player in her soapie is Commissioner Cele. She is not contributing to the very important debate on how we spend the budget of the police. She is failing the people who put her in this Parliament. [Applause.] I have never seen a more confused person in my life. [Laughter.] She started her speech with the meltdown of the Police Service, and ended by thanking the SAPS for the stunning job they had done. Eish! On corruption, she talks about Mdluli, Cele, Mtimkulu, Tshabalala, but what about the Du Toits, the Meyers, etc? [Applause.] I smell a rat, and the rat is called racism. [Interjections.]
Regarding the Minister's performance agreement: hon Kohler-Barnard, I watched you when the chairperson said that we had said last year already, before the Minister signed his performance agreement, that we rejected these figures. It is in this report of us; it is in there that the committee rejects these figures. Yet, you sat there! You listened! You nodded your head! But when you stood up, it was part of your drama, it was part of your script: You couldn't even leave it out.
Regarding Police Day, I hope the more than 190 000 plus police officers listened. There is no appreciation. It is not right that we show no appreciation for the police. We can argue about whether it is the best way to do so, but give us alternatives; provide us with alternatives. [Interjections.] When? You had the opportunity to do so and you did not do it.
Hon Kohler-Barnard, if you have any idea or any information about irregularities around the Police Day, provide it to the committee. Let us look at it. You yourself acknowledged that the chairperson does not shy away from those things.
The Public Protector report is another one of these playing-to-the-gallery issues that I absolutely don't understand. The hon member was part of the committee when that decision was taken. In fact, I think minutes will reveal that the hon member actually seconded the suggestions. I am trying to remember who actually proposed it. The hon Greg Schneemann proposed it, and the hon member Kohler-Barnard seconded that we wait for the second report and that we deal with the two reports correctly. [Interjections.]
Chairperson, the hon Kohler-Barnard must calm down; I am not done yet. The court did express itself on the independence of the Hawks, and specifically had reservations regarding the role of the ministerial committee, and that the decision to involve prosecutors would lie with the National Commissioner. It furthermore had concerns regarding the security of tenure of the staff of the Hawks. These are issues that we must address within the next 18 months, and the ANC is committed to addressing them.
The court gave Parliament 18 months to remedy the defects. That deadline will be met and in the meantime the Hawks will continue with what they do best - making life for criminals unbearable.
There is a virus going around. It is especially harmful during an election year. It results in normally rational individuals becoming irrational and arguing in an incoherent manner. The hon Kohler-Barnard must relax; I am not talking about her. I did say "normally constructive" individuals. During the virus season, in the absence of substance of their own, they look for a horse to flog. As a result of the emotional impact of crime, they exploit that emotional trauma and flog the police. They lose the ability to look objectively at progress made; to recognise and evaluate that progress; and to give credit where credit is due.
I would like to welcome the hon Leonard Ramatlakane to this debate, but also to this committee. I need to make use of this opportunity to welcome him, because I am not sure how long he will be there before the court will rule that the other Cope must come back. [Laughter.]
The hon Ramatlakane had quite a number of questions that he asked the Minister, but I have one question that I want to ask him. I want to ask him whether the hon Mr George assisted him with his speech. [Laughter.]
Chairperson, the ANC will continue to look objectively at our performance within the department. Our focus will remain to do thorough oversight without fear or favour. We will acknowledge progress and excellence. Aristotle said, and I quote: "We are what we repeatedly do; excellence then, is not an act but a habit."
All of us, politicians and officials, management and the most junior of police officers, the community, young and old, should live by the wise words of Gandhi: "We must become the change we wish to see in the world." I thank you. [Applause.]
Thank you, Chairperson, and thank you, hon Members of Parliament, with ... [Interjections.]
Ngiyeza kuwe Gatsheni, linda nje kancane. [I will come to you, Gatsheni, wait a minute.]
I am glad you are back. I was getting worried because you raise issues all the time, then you disappear. I am glad that you are here. [Interjections.]
The hon member Groenewald raised an issue about there not being training for police management. Mind you, I am talking about management. I am not talking about operations. I'm talking about management - senior management. I don't know whether you checked up on the background of the National Commissioner before his appointment in terms of training. I honestly think that you should know and understand that we did not just go to the veldt and pick someone. No, listen to me. I listened to you, do not panic. Just listen. That was the first issue.
If an applicant says that their application has disappeared - is not in the firearms registry: the simple thing you should do is direct them to us. In fact, you must always inform them that you are not a Minister yet - in your other life maybe - but always direct them to the Minister. What is the use of people complaining to you when you are not going to do anything? You know that when Members of Parliament raise issues, we take them up, as we have done in the past. So please do just that. [Interjections.] No, listen. Listen! Chair, please tell the hon member to listen; he panics a lot. Just listen. [Laughter.]
I have said that the civil claims, hon member, are worrying. I think we share that with you. It is a mixed bag because in some instances some of these claims come to naught; some are genuine and others are not. That is why we also emphasise, from the legislative point of view, that the civilian oversight structures have to be strengthened. We agree with you on that point.
Bab' uNdlovu, Gatsheni, Boya benyathi, hhayi ngicabanga ukuthi kulo mbuzo owubuzile usuke washo igama elibi kakhulu uma uthi 'umvundla ziyowunqanda phambili'.
Ehhe, zihamba zihambe zifike ziwunqande, yisisho nje saKwaZulu esidala ...
UNGQONGQOSHE WEZAMAPHOYISA: Kodwa ngicabanga ukuthi iLungu eliHloniphekile lePhalamende likuchazele ngale nto, lichazile ukuthi ihamba kanjani. Ezikhawini ezintathu, kukanye nje kuphela lapho kuye kuthiwe koHeshane mabahambe baye koyilungisa. Angithi uyabazi oHeshane, ama-Hawks? Awubheke usubakhohliwe ... (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)
[Hon Ndlovu, Gatsheni, Boya benyathi, I think in your question you said something very bad if you said, "There are dark clouds on the horizon".
Yes, as time goes by what you are doing will catch up with you, which is an old isiZulu proverb ...
But I think the hon Member of Parliament has, on three occasions, explained this to you, as well as how it works. It is only when the Hawks are told to rectify it. Do you know the Hawks? See, you have forgotten about them ...]
And we are going to - as I said - go back to the drawing board to rectify that and also ensure, as the member said, that the concern of the ministerial committee in the eyes of the Constitutional Court makes things independent. We will correct that.
Hon Ramatlakane, the former MEC of safety and security, regarding the point you began with: the Fifa World Cup issue, I couldn't agree with you more. In fact, to remind all of us: when we were preparing for this we had already been told about option B and even the country. We were also told that South Africa was not going to be able to host the World Cup and that Australia was option B. But Australia was amongst the first countries that came to South Africa and experienced something they had never experienced before. Even the Fifa executives said so. [Applause.]
Hon member, it did not end there. They then touted the so-called xenophobia and drummed it into the ears and minds of people in such a way that anyone who would have listened to them would have concluded that South Africa was unfit to host the World Cup. We proved them wrong, but even before the World Cup itself - a few weeks before the World Cup - we were told about terrorist attacks in South Africa. So all sorts of spooks were thrown our way, but we soldiered on. So I am glad that the hon member noticed that, but it did not end there.
Some of us were able to go to other developed nations of this world, particularly Europe. This perception persisted especially because they were saying most of these things come from your country; it is your fellow countrymen and women who are saying these things. So how are you going to deal with these things?
Now, when we went back after the World Cup, it was a changed atmosphere altogether. I also noticed that they even knew about Bafana Bafana. They were talking about Bafana Bafana. [Interjections.]
Yamnandi lento we Bab' uRamatlakane. [That is very nice, Mr Ramatlakane.]
Now, you raised two other matters regarding not politicising the police and that of senior officials accused of criminality. I want to say regarding the latter that it is not only senior but junior too: any member of the Police Service should not be accused of criminal acts, because if it happens, it means that person does not belong in the service. I agree with you on the issue of politicising the Police Service. It is well documented. I have dealt with that a number of times and we have been receiving support from the public.
To the hon Kohler-Barnard, first and foremost I think the hon member is living in her own world. These men and women in blue ... bayasebenza, ubabona bela bayasebenza. [... are working, as you see them here, they are working.]
And they are not going to be distracted by your comments; not today, not tomorrow. You can scream and do all sorts of things; they will soldier on because they know that there is a task at hand and nobody will distract them. Let me recap on what I said last year: people who make such comments as you do, hon member, people who want to distract the police from what they do, must know that they are not going to succeed. Those who say it cannot be done should not distract those who are doing it.
Siyenza manje ... [We are doing it now ...]
Tomorrow, I am going to tell you the same thing. We are working and we are not going to be deterred. In the bigger scheme of things, I do not see you fitting in in the fight against crime, or taking a positive stance in the fight against crime. This is because everything about the police to you is wrong, is bad. The only good person is yourself; you know, when you look at yourself. [Laughter.] But every other thing is wrong. If one of your colleagues were to say something is wrong with the police, we would attend to it. But with you ... yonk'into yimbi. Babi laba bantu ... [Uhleko.] Abazukufika ndawo. [... everything is bad. These people are bad ... [Laughter.] They are not going to succeed.]
They are not going to get anywhere. In fact, I am going to advise you that more and more people are not going to take you seriously on whatever you say. That is what you are going to be remembered for, because whatever you say is of no consequence. To support my statement, you can ask the MECs - I can see some of them amongst us.
In fact, in the Western Cape you can ask the former MEC what these men and women are doing. He will tell you a good story, which will tell you that you are living in your own world. Go and ask the current MEC what we are doing and what the police are doing that you see as wrong and everything else. They will tell you exactly what is happening. And this is not going to end there. You can ask your leader, the Premier of this province, Madam Helen Zille. In terms of the police and the management of this province - Petros, and now Lamoer, who is the PC in the province - she sings the praises of both of the managers and she has done so on more than two occasions. So, this tells me that you are living in your own world.
Uziphilela emhlabeni wakho nje wedwa, Lungu lePhalamende eliHloniphekile futhi lokho kungenza ngiphatheke kabi kakhulu ngizibuze ukuthi konje singasiza ngani bakwethu ukuze iLungu lePhalamende likwazi ukubona ukuthi umhlaba uya ngakuphi. (Translation of isiZulu paragraph follows.)
[You are living in your own world, hon Member of Parliament, and that worries me and it makes me wonder what we can do so that the hon Member of Parliament can see which direction the world is heading.]
The National Commissioner you are referring to is the first National Commissioner who is producing results in the fight against crime. [Applause.] He leads the service from the front. He does not sit in his office and hide behind his desk. Unfortunately, you will not see him because you are in your office.
Hon Chairperson, I am very grateful for the wise words from the wise Members of Parliament, but those words that lack wisdom, I will not take into consideration. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.