36/1/4/1/200900110
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO 41
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 21 AUGUST 2009
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 9-2009)
Date reply submitted : 11 September 2009
Mr M W Makhubela (Cope-Limpopo) to ask the Minister of Police:
(1) Whether the SA Police Service (SAPS) personnel are equipped with
relevant skills to perform operational duties; if not, why not; if so,
what are the relevant details;
(2) whether the SAPS personnel have attended any official training to
enable them to perform all operational functions better; if not, why
not; if so, what are the relevant details?
CW53E
REPLY:
(1) Yes, members of the South African Police Service possess the relevant
skills required to perform operational duties. All functional members
undergo relevant training which equips them with the required skills
to perform operational duties.
It should be noted that skills development is an ongoing process and
that individuals have different levels of skills based on their
experience and training, and their ability to acquire the skills
required. There is always a need to improve current levels of skills
and the SAPS is continuously striving to ensure that members receive
high quality training.
(2) Every SAPS member entering the Service undergoes training. The basic
training of police officers forms the cornerstone of police training
in their policing career. This training programme is a nationally
accredited qualification registered on the national qualification(s
framework (National Certificate in Policing: NQF level 5). The
training covers different dimensions of operational police work to
equip new police officers to function effectively at a police station.
These dimensions are visible policing, crime investigation, crime
intelligence and operational response services that include crowd
management and land, sea and border control. The National Certificate
in Policing therefore forms the basis of all further training of
police officers.
Further training is aligned to the specific work environment in which
an individual would be placed as he or she progresses in his/her
career. Further training includes training of personnel who function
in the various policing environments in the Service and includes:
- Visible and Operational Policing training programmes are
intended to improve knowledge and skills in crime prevention,
sector policing, crowd management, firearm skills, tactical and
survival techniques in medium to high risk situations, animal
training, etc.
- Crime Investigation training programmes are intended to improve
knowledge and skills areas in general investigation and
specialised crime investigation such as vehicle crime, family
violence and sexual offences against women and children,
organised crime, commercial crime, stock theft, etc.
- Crime Intelligence training programmes cover knowledge and
skills areas such as crime information gathering, crime
information analysis, etc.
- Forensics Sciences and Criminal Record Centre training
programmes cover knowledge and skills areas such as forensic
investigation and analysis, bomb disposal, crime scene
management, fingerprinting, etc.
- Protection and Security Services training programmes are
intended to improve knowledge and skills areas in static and
mobile protection, advanced driving, border and railway
policing, etc.
- Support Related Functions training programmes cover knowledge
and skills required for the various support environments in the
SAPS such as human resources, finance, supply chain management,
technical training, computer and driver training, etc.
- Management and Leadership training programmes cover knowledge
and skills required at the various management levels in the SAPS
in respect of operational and generic management and leadership
competencies such as Junior, Middle and Executive Management
Leadership Development, Station Management and Operational
Command.
Reply to question 41 approved by Minister