36/1/4/1/201100090
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO 1139
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 1 APRIL 2011
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 10- 2011)
Date reply submitted: 26 April 2011
1139. Ms E More (DA) to ask the Minister of Police:
(1) Whether there are any minimum standards for the Family Violence,
Child Abuse and Sexual Offences (FCS) units with regard to (a) the
number of police members deployed at the FCS unit, (b) office space
for each police member, (c) the number of cases that an investigating
officer is required to be investigating at any given time, (d)
telephones, (e) vehicles, (f) office equipment, (g) playrooms for
children, (h) interviewing/statement rooms and (i) any other specified
minimum standards; if not, why not; if so, what minimum standards;
(2) whether every FCS unit is required to have a forensic social worker;
if not, why not; if so, (a) how many FCS units do not have a forensic
social worker and (b) what are the minimum standards of the facilities
needed by forensic social workers to perform their duties such as (i)
assessment rooms, (ii) office space, (iii) vehicles, (iv) the maximum
number of cases and (v) any other specified minimum standards?
NW1263E
REPLY:
(1)(a) Yes. A post structure was developed on the basis of workload
and external environmental variables. An environmental impact factor
was determined, multiplying the workload with the external
environmental factors. The environmental impact factor consists of
the following variables:
* Workload (number of FCS-related crimes reported as per
mandate).
* Environmental variables e.g.
* population density
* area size
* distances traveled e.g. courts, NGOs, other police
stations
* investigations â rural/urban
* environmental analysis - factors impeding police
investigations e.g. conditions of roads, lack of
infrastructure
* business rules e.g. categorising of levels of FCS units
* granting posts in terms of MTEF prescripts.
The post levels of FCS units at cluster level (see table below)
were determined by means of the said environmental impact factors
categorised in the following subsequent interval categories:
|Post levels of |Environmental |Post level intervals in|
|FCS units |impact Factor |terms of ideal |
|(clusters) |intervals |personnel figures |
|Lieutenant |0,36 and higher |22 posts and higher |
|Colonel | | |
|Captain |0,11 to 0,35 |7 posts to 21 posts |
|Warrant Officer |0 to 0,10 |1 post to 6 posts |
According to the above table, FCS units are categorised into three
levels. FCS units with a maximum of up to 0,10 fall in the warrant
officer category and they present the smallest FCS units. However,
stations with a minimum environmental impact factor of 0,36 fall in
the lieutenant colonel category and they represent the largest FCS
units. It is clear from the above table that commissioned officers
command FCS units.
It is important to note that post levels of FCS units at cluster
level were determined and granted in accordance with the
environmental impact factor intervals. The granting of the
establishment of these units was done in accordance with MTEF
prescripts. Physical resources with regard to vehicles and
computers were determined in terms of a criteria e.g. one vehicle
for every second member, one computer for every third investigating
officer.
(1)(b) No. The following norms apply to all members of the South
African Police Service, which includes the FCS members:
| |Post level |Square meters |
| |(SAPS and PSA) |(Office space) |
|Colonel |40858 |20 |
|Lieutenant Colonel |40795 |16 |
|Captain/Warrant Officer|40731 |12 |
|Sergeant/Constable |40580 |8 |
(1)(c) No.
(1)(d) No.
(1)(e) Yes. The ratio is two detectives per vehicle.
(1)(f) No.
(1)(g) No.
(1)(h) No.
(1)(i) Yes. There are several documents/instructions dealing with
minimum standards for the rendering of services, i.e. Standing
Operating Procedures for reporting FCS-related crimes and National
Instruction 3/2008 (Sexual offences).
(2) No. The social workers specialising in forensic work have to
render services to all language groups in the service area. They do
not fall under the command and control of the FCS units (cluster
level). They fall under the command and control of the provincial
structure. This will enable them to render a service to more
language groups in the province.
(2)(a) Not applicable.
(2)(b)(i) The assessment room at each unit must have a one-way mirror
preferable with a video camera and television set, to tape/record
the assessment for future use to avoid children being re-
questioned, which leads to secondary traumatisation.
(2)(b)(ii) Each social worker focusing on forensic social work should have
a child-friendly office, with a desk, lockable cabinet to safe keep
the files and a cupboard to store all the toys, cellphones,
telephones, laptops and printers as well as the following basic
equipment for assessment such as a small table with four small
chairs, anatomical correct dolls (one white family; one black
family; one coloured family), a carpet for children to sit on,
educational toys and tools such as Geostacks, crayons, colour in
books, colour in pencils, puzzles, anatomical detailed puzzles,
hand puppets, educational books to work from â Bridging from Smile
to test cognitive development; Logi shapes; 1 x same different â
Smile educational toys; a skipping rope, stickers with different
faces; 1 x dollhouse, dolls for the dollhouse; plastic animals;
Flip and Catch â from Smile educational toys; one big and one small
ball; paint; clay, glue, typing paper, writing pads.
(2)(b)(iii) One vehicle per forensic social worker to do home visits if
necessary and to obtain corroborating information from other
sources as part of the assessment process as well as for court
attendance and court testimony;
(2)(b)(iv) Ten new cases per month.
(2)(b)(v) The minimum standards for the appointment of a social worker
focusing on forensic social work-
* Must be registered with the South African Council for Social
Service Professions (SACSSP) as a social worker.
* Must have a four year Degree/diploma in Social Work with
additional diplomas/certificates in child development/play
therapy/child sexual abuse/child assessment
* Must have at least five years practical experience as a
social worker with a minimum of two years in the field of
children, eg. child sexual abuse and court testifying
* Must be in possession of a Portfolio of Evidence of 20
Continuous Professional Development (CPD) points for the
applicable calendar year;
* Must be in possession of at least a code B driverâs licence;
* Must be suitable in terms of the requirements as set out in
the Childrenâs Act, 2005 (Act No 38 of 2005) and Criminal Law
(Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007
(Act No 32 of 2007);
* Must be willing to undergo a polygraph, a psychometric test
and/or security clearance vetting, whenever required to do
so;
* The appointment of the forensic social worker must be aligned
with the language of that specific area.
Reply to question 1139 approved by the Minister