Sihlalo, i-DA iyalixhasa iVoti Lesabiwomali 23 - Lophiko Lwamaphoyisa Oluzimele Lwezokuphenya, phecelezi i-IPID. [Chairperson, the DA supports Budget Vote 23 of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, known as the IPID.]
However, we must qualify our support in the light of two concerns: Firstly, the questionable appointment of Robert McBride as the Director of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, IPID, in March this year had all the defining features of an ANC cadre deployment; secondly, the DA remains very troubled by vacancies in senior posts and past underspending in the department. Given the IPID's inadequate geographic coverage and increasing workload, it is vital that capacity shortages are urgently addressed.
However, allocation growth trends and organisational realignments since the 2013-14 financial year show movement in the right direction. The fact that the investigation and Information Management programme, the core role of the IPID, has received the largest nominal increase of the four programmes is encouraging. It means that if the money is spent correctly, investigations into police misconduct and criminality can be conducted more effectively and concluded faster.
Ultimately, and in spite of its shaky start, the IPID's key challenge appears, at present, to be capacity constraints rather than fundamental institutional sclerosis. The IPID is the spearhead of accountability efforts in the SAPS and is crucial to dilute both the culture of impunity and to promote the professionalisation of the Police Service, as required by the National Development Plan, NDP.
We trust that this budget will be a step forward to the IPID becoming a stronger and more capable department. Thank you.