36/1/4/1/201100030
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
FOR ORAL REPLY
QUESTION NO 125
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 2 MARCH 2011
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 5- 2011)
Date reply submitted: 11 March 2011
125. Mr L P M Nzimande (ANC-KZN) to ask the Minister of Police:
(1) Whether any progress has been made in implementing the rural safety
plan which includes the (a) building of a new police resource base,
(b) building of police stations and (c) expansion of police personnel
to rural areas; if not, why not; if so, what progress;
(2) whether the police in rural areas are engaging communities to expand
the net for curbing stock theft; if not, why not; if so, (a) what is
the response of rural communities in this regard and (b) what are the
further relevant details?
CO121E
REPLY:
Yes, the Rural Safety Strategy that was recently developed to enhance
safety and security levels in rural areas is being rolled out at a
provincial levels. The Plan will be implemented from 2011. The Strategy has
already been launched in Gauteng and launches are being planned in the
other provinces.
Enhancing service delivery and accessibility to policing in rural areas, is
an objective of the South African Police Service and this involves
increasing both human and physical resources in rural areas. As part of
this objective an intensive audit of all resources in rural areas, to
identify resource needs and establishment of a resource base will be
undertaken. During this audit, the current police station buildings,
available resources and personnel allocated to the rural areas, will be
assessed.
Building and upgrading of police stations will be addressed, as part of the
long term Infrastructure and Capital Asset Plan of the South African Police
Service and includes police stations in rural areas.
According to the Medium Term Human Resource Management Plan, the personnel
strength of the South African Police Service will be expanded. As part of
this process, newly recruited members will be placed at identified police
stations, in rural areas.
The South African Police Service is constantly engaging with the
communities concerning crime, including stock theft. This engagement with
the community is further entrench through the roll out of the Rural Safety
Strategy.
Rural community generally support crime prevention and other activities, at
local level. Due to the unique conditions that exist in rural areas, the
involvement of the community in Sector Policing and other crime prevention
initiatives will be implemented as part of the roll out of the Rural Safety
Strategy.
Reply to question 21 approved by the Minister