36/1/4/1/201100137
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO 268
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 29 JULY 2011
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 20- 2011)
268. Mr D B Feldman (COPE-Gauteng) to ask the Minister of Police:
Whether he will furnish details relating to the killings of 201 police
officers that has been reported in Gauteng from 2003 to 2011; if not, why
not; if so, (a) how many (i) cases are still pending and (ii) of the
pending cases are older than three years, (b) what are the challenges
experienced with cases that are pending, (c) how does his department intend
to (i) address this issue and (ii) ensure justice for those affected and
(d) what measures are in place to ensure (i) a rapid reduction of this
number and (ii) police safety in the future?
CW331E
REPLY:
a) Yes, the South African Police Service has the overall statistics for the
period 2003 to 2011 for police officials that have been killed In South
African Police Service. However, the South African Police Service is
still in a process of verifying the information and can therefore only
provide the status on the investigation that has been conducted for the
period 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011 in Gauteng which has been verified.
Thirty-four (34) case dockets of murder where police officers were
killed, including on and off duty, were registered in Gauteng Province
for the period 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011.
i) The status of the above-mentioned investigations is as follows:
19 Docket are now in court
14 cases are still under investigation
I case has been withdrawn
(ii) Information in process of verification.
(b) The following challenges are experienced with the finalization of the
pending cases:
⢠Witnesses are still to be traced.
⢠Suspects must still be traced.
⢠Suspects are unknown, but informers have been tasked to assist
with the identification of possible suspects
⢠Pending in the inquest court and the inquest findings are
awaited.
⢠Post mortem reports and forensic reports are still outstanding.
(c)(i) Investigating Officers are utilizing reliable informers to
assist with the identification and
tracing of possible witnesses and suspects. Communities and the public
in general are engaged and encouraged to supply anonymous information
through Crime Stop, Crime Line and the Lead SA Campaign. The
investigations of these case dockets are prioritised and experienced
Investigating Officers are tasked to conduct the investigation of
these cases.
(c)(ii) As of July 2011, all cases of murder (killing) of police
officers are investigated by the Directorate of Priority Crime
Investigation (DPCI). Dedicated investigation teams within the DPCI
are tasked to conduct these investigations. The murder (killing) of
police officers is also dealt with as a priority agenda point at the
JCPS cluster. The National Commissioner of the South African Police
Service issued instructions that a National Tracking Team must be
established to attend to all crime scenes where police officers are
murdered together with the dedicated investigation teams of the DPCI,
in order to immediately follow up information regarding possible
witnesses and suspects. Bail applications of arrested suspects are
vigorously opposed by the Investigating Officers and in this regard
there is excellent support and co-operation from the National
Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
(d)(i) The following measures are in place that could contribute to a
rapid reduction in the number of police members being killed:
⢠A Fitness Maintenance Programme for all members of the South
African Police Service (SAPS) was developed and implemented to
ensure high level of physical fitness and mental alertness.
⢠Adequate bullet proof vests were procured for all male and female
police members, including reservists, to be issued on their
personal inventory.
⢠A National Police Safety Strategy was developed on the prevention
of attacks and killings of police officials. The purpose of the
strategy was:
o To address attacks on and killings of police officials; and
o To ensure that the various initiatives were consolidated into
three broad categories namely:
⪠Prevention;
⪠Reaction; and
⪠Restoration.
⢠National directives were issued in terms of command and control, eg
compulsory wearing of bullet proof vests, response to high risk
crime, maintenance of equipment, etc.
⢠Employee Support Programmes were developed and implemented by the
Division: Personnel Management, Employee, Health and Wellness to
enhance the physical well being and mental preparedness of all
police members.
⢠The Division Visible Policing is notified of all attacks and
killings of police members for in depth analysis and development of
preventative and corrective actions.
⢠Safety hints and posters were developed and distributed throughout
the South African Police Service to create internal safety
awareness.
⢠The Entry level training for police members were amended from 12 to
24 months to include theoretical and operational tactical aspects
to support the operational readiness of all police members to react
to high risk and other situations.
⢠The firearm proficiency of all members was enhanced to ensure the
proficient and safe handling of a firearm in an emergency
situation.
(d)(ii) The following police safety measures will receive attention in
addition to the above in future:
⢠The adoption of a Multi-disciplinary Police Safety Committee to
analyse all incidents and develop operational methodologies to ensure
a zero tolerance on attacks and killing of police members.
⢠A vigorous National Communication Strategy against the killing and
attacks on police members was developed for implementation.
⢠A 10 âPoint Programme of Action was communicated by the Minister of
Police following the Summit, held on 8 July 2011, against attacks and
killings of police members, which encompasses the following actions to
be implemented:
o Adopt- a- Cop awareness campaigns;
o Establishment of Multi-disciplinary Committee within the South
African Police Service;
o Reviewing of the 2000 Ministerial Task Team findings;
o Police killings as a priority agenda point for the JCPS and
Cabinet;
o Psychological and Human Resource support for families and
colleagues;
o Improve training of police officers;
o Strengthening partnerships with researchers;
o Hosting of Provincial Summits to mobilise communities;
o Review of the SAPS Annual Commemoration for fallen police
heroes; and
o Flying national flags at police stations at half mast in honour
of killed police officers.
⢠A National Task Team will be established to visit the scene of crime
when a member is killed in the line of duty to assess the
circumstances, make further recommendations on the implementation of
preventative and corrective measures to eradicate attacks and killings
of police members.
⢠More focussed attention to specialised training and firearm handling
and ensuring that police members are properly equipped to respond to
high risk incidents.
⢠The negotiation with the Department of Justice and Constitutional
Development to review bail applications and harsher sentencing of
offenders.
Reply to question 268 approved by the Minister