Hon Speaker, today, on the eve of Human Rights Day on which the brutal apartheid police killed 69 people, we state unequivocally that we are opposed to police who act outside the Constitution and the rule of law. Decisive action is being taken against police officials who violate the rights of the people. While we all condemn such actions, we also acknowledge that not all police officers engage in such behaviour. The vast majority work within the law in performing their difficult tasks of protecting the Republic and the public.
There are a number of steps that have been taken by the Minister of Police to address the issue of SA Police Service, SAPS, members who are involved in such activities. In 2010 the Minister of Police introduced two new pieces of legislation, namely, the Civilian Secretariat for Police Act, Act 2 of 2011 and the Independent Police Investigative Directorate Act, Act 1 of 2011. Both have now been enacted and strengthen civilian oversight of the police.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate has now replaced the Independent Complaints Directorate to investigate police officers who are involved in human rights abuses. Under this new legislation the police are required to immediately report to the new directorate any cases of abuse of powers by police officers. This new directorate can also initiate such investigations. They do not have to wait for the police. Such independent investigations are in line with international best practice in this regard.
The Minister of Police has also introduced a new public order policing policy which was presented to Parliament in 2011. This policy clearly states how the police should respond in dealing with citizens in the context of public order policing. At the end of 2012 the Minister of Police instructed the Civilian Secretariat for Police to look closely at the issues of minimum force in the police service and a full policy on this aspect of policing is at the final stages of completion. Operationally, the Minister of Police is ensuring that disciplinary processes and procedures are effective in dealing with both criminality and corruption within the service.
Training is also critical. From 1994 the human rights ethos of police training received specific attention so that we could transform the SAPS into a democratic era police force.
Let me take this opportunity to commend the majority of the 200 000 strong police force for performing their difficult tasks diligently, leading to a reduction in serious crimes, and also for acting within the law. They deserve the support of the whole nation.
I thank you, hon Speaker. [Applause.]