Chairperson, members of Cabinet, Minister and Deputy Minister of Police, Members of Parliament, Acting National Commissioner and the South African Police Service management, invited guests and comrades, and ladies and gentlemen, section 205(3) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa states, and I quote:
The objects of the police service are to prevent, combat and investigate crime, to maintain public order, to protect and secure the inhabitants of the Republic and their property, and to uphold and enforce the law.
The question is, then: Are police members able to fulfil this constitutional mandate? The factual answer is yes, they are, and I want to provide just a few clear examples of their achievements.
The steady decline in serious crime is clear and important proof. Also, the number of SAPS members has increased tremendously, from just over 116 000 in the financial year 2001-02 to more than 193 000 as of 31 March 2011. Most police stations have community police forums and they are functioning well, despite some teething problems. This means we have managed to get the community to work with the police. In areas and police stations where sector policing has been implemented properly, sector managers work even more closely with the sector's communities. We also have executive members who go to communities to listen to their joys, frustrations and suggestions. We have policing policies that are informed by what most South Africans think should be done. The portfolio committee visited provinces and we saw state-of-the-art police stations in townships and sometimes in rural areas. Esikhawini, Ezakheni and KwaMashu police stations in KwaZulu- Natal are just a few examples of such state-of-the-art stations. Today we are debating a Budget of R62,4 billion. May I remind all South Africans that in the financial year 2005-06, when we had 148 970 policemen, the budget was only R28,4 million.
I have mentioned just a few achievements, but they are very important and we sometimes take them for granted. We have come a long way and over the years we have achieved a police service that people view as their own. Of course there are challenges - we expect that - but we have achieved so much.
Before I say more about our budget, let me also mention a matter that is in the public domain. We are told that Lt-Gen Mdluli is being considered for the position of national commissioner in the event that Gen Bheki Cele does not come back. Firstly, nobody knows what the outcome of the investigation of Gen Bheki Cele will be. Secondly, South Africa has a national commissioner, namely Gen Bheki Cele. Because of his suspension, South Africa has an acting national commissioner, namely Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. What this means is simply that there is no vacancy in the position of national commissioner. So, clearly, nobody is headhunting a national commissioner. Let me state clearly to all South Africans out there that under the circumstances there is no vacancy in the position of national commissioner and therefore Lt-Gen Mdluli is not being considered for the national commissioner position.
However, if in future a vacancy does exist, what would make anyone even speculate that the President would appoint Lt-Gen Mdluli? There is absolutely no basis for this speculation. If people want to raise concerns about allegations around Lt-Gen Mdluli, let them do so, but for them to say that he is being considered for the position of national commissioner is equal to deliberately misleading the nation.
Regarding other issues and allegations against Lt-Gen Mdluli, I want to put it on record that the Portfolio Committee on Police did receive a briefing on the matter by the Acting National Commissioner on 17 April 2012. Members of the portfolio committee were given the opportunity to ask questions, which the Acting National Commissioner responded to clearly.
Following the briefing, members of the portfolio committee - except for the DA, to be precise - told the Acting National Commissioner that they would be supporting him all the way in the investigation of the Cato Manor unit, dubbed the Death Squad; the head of the Hawks in KwaZulu-Natal; and Lt-Gen Mdluli. We meant it and still mean it.
Furthermore, we have taken serious note of the alleged tension among senior managers in the SAPS, including the apparently negative impact these matters might have on the service as a whole. In this regard, we want to reiterate our position, which I announced on Monday, 7 May. It is that we do not believe that inviting Gen Mdluli to appear before the portfolio committee would serve any purpose, for reasons we have clearly outlined. Yet it is in the interest of the committee to be assured that no damage is caused by these matters. We appreciate the decision the Minister has just announced. We will look into the matter and decide our way forward.
The ANC will support the Budget Votes for the Department of Police and the Independent Police Investigative Directorate. In support of these Budget Votes, let me take this opportunity once more to remind all of us of what the President said in Pretoria on 29 September 2009, when he met with station commanders from all the 1 117 police stations. He said: it is not business as usual for public servants who are at the coalface of service delivery. All police management must work harder and nonperformance should result in action being taken against management. Police stations must be the hope of communities.
Our support for these Budget Votes is informed by the fact that police stations need to continue to provide a service to communities and to be the hope of communities.
Minister Nathi Mthethwa has just announced that the 2012-13 financial year is the Year of the Detective. Let me remind all of us that Programme 3: Detective Services received a budget of R13,1 billion. Under Programme 3, I just want to talk about issues regarding the SAPS Forensic Services programme, which has a budget of R1,8 billion. The department told us that they were 50% of the way towards meeting the requirements for the accreditation of the forensic laboratories. Even though we understand that accreditation is not a legal requirement according to the Act, and also that it is a costly exercise, we strongly feel that we must work harder in order to obtain it. It is in this spirit that the department thought it necessary to employ the last 850 analysts, as of yesterday.
Minister, the Marshal system was dismantled without following proper procedure. We have been raising this matter since January 2010. Commissioner Du Toit has since resigned. We are told that Commissioner Joubert has been dismissed. Minister, we think this is not enough. There is more serious corruption in this matter. In South Africa, some people who commit serious corruption are allowed to get away with it. In future, we will call upon Gen Dramat to explain to us why corruption associated with the Marshal system is not being investigated and why criminal charges are not being instituted.
We received a validation report for the continuous integration lane, which is supposed to tell us whether the CI lane is efficient or not. This time around, it looks like the department is trying to make sure that we do not falter again.
There is progress in the Forensic Science Laboratory. Minister, I agree with you. We see it and would like to thank Lt-Gen Phahlane and his team. We also want to thank the analysts and scientists in our forensic laboratories who have put up with situations that are sometimes less than favourable in terms of accommodation and working conditions, but have continued to discharge their duties professionally.
The installation of closed circuit television cameras in the strategic areas of all our labs is a priority. We believe this should be done without fail in this financial year. We do not want to raise this matter again next year. This is vitally important if we are to fight drug dealing. We must make sure that drugs do not leave our labs and go back onto the street.
We are satisfied with the targets set in the annual performance plan. The department aims to process 93% of case exhibits within 28 nonworking days. In 2010-11 it was 35 working days. We will definitely monitor the attainment of these targets.
We are also pleased to hear that the Department of Police has built a state- of-the-art forensic laboratory here in the Western Cape. We believe it will contribute to ensuring that case exhibits are processed timeously and within a short space of time. Well done, Gen Mofomane and your team, for building this laboratory.
For this financial year the SAPS has a total budget of R62,4 billion, up from R58,5 billion for the 2011-12 financial year. This represents a nominal increase of 6,7% and an increase of 0,77% in real terms. Of the R62,4 billion, R45 billion is for compensation, which accounts for 72% of the total budget. That leaves R17 billion for other projects, such as goods and services and capital assets, which is 28%. We believe that this situation needs proper management and attention so that it does not escalate and get out of hand.
I want to talk about the programme Administration, which takes R16,2 billion. A lot has happened in the SAPS. During 1995-96, there were 140 955 SAPS members. Today we have 193 892 personnel members in the Department of Police. The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union, Popcru, and the South African Policing Union, Sapu, have been raising the issue of a top-heavy structure in the SAPS.
As of 31 March 2011, we have had five deputy national commissioners and now there are six. So, we have one national commissioner and six deputy national commissioners. However, five of the six deputy national commissioners report to one deputy commissioner and it seems that provincial commissioners have copied this as well. So, if you like, in terms of the organogramme today, you have one national commissioner, one deputy national commissioner, and then five deputies reporting that deputy national commissioner, then 15 divisional commissioners, nine provincial commissioners, 126 major-generals and 519 brigadiers. It is important for us to know what all these senior managers do every day and whether job evaluation is being conducted. In June we will meet the department, together with the unions, to explore human resource matters.
On 31 May 2011 there were vacancies in the ranks of major and lieutenant. We were told that these would be used to promote deserving people. Indeed, we have been told that there were promotions to these ranks but that the results have been disappointing. In June the department will be briefing the committee on this matter as well.
We acknowledge the fact that the building of police stations is not an easy task to manage, but it is worrying to learn from the Auditor-General that no contracts were signed for the building of police stations during the 2011-12 financial year. In 2010 we asked the department to come up with an effective strategy that would ensure the building of devolved police stations. However, we noted that the department resolved to refer back to the Department of Public Works the construction of all police stations, including devolved police stations. We will await the finalisation of the logistics and the processes. There is a budget. Police stations must be built and refurbished - nothing less.
Leased accommodation is presenting a challenge for the department. We believe the department is trying its best. They have tried, on their own, to get copies of the contracts of almost all leased buildings. This is largely thanks to Gen Mofomane and, in particular, Maj-Gen Matsi, who seems to be prepared to do everything in her power to correct this situation. I hope Maj-Gen Matsi will continue to believe in this hands-on type of management, rather than "office-bound" management. Well done. [Applause.] Their approach has assisted the department to get these contracts. So far they have managed to convince the Portfolio Committee on Police that they are trying to correct the situation, but there are limitations. We acknowledge this from our side, but we are indeed seeing improvement.
In this regard, I want to say something about the City Forum building, which is occupied by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate. We woke up one Sunday to headlines that claimed that Roux Shabangu owned the City Forum building and that inflated and exorbitant rent was being paid to Mr Shabangu for this building. I even received a letter from an MP, the hon Dianne Kohler-Barnard, suggesting that Mr Roux Shabangu, together with the Department of Public Works, should be hauled before the portfolio committee to provide a long overdue explanation for what had become a deeply suspicious relationship between him and a government department.
Mr Roux Shabangu informed the portfolio committee that the City Forum building had been bought by a Mr Van Niekerk in 2009 at R59 million and therefore the inflated and exorbitant rent was in fact going to Mr Van Niekerk. Immediately, what was regarded as serious corruption and a sin if the building belonged to Mr Shabangu became "normal rates" and a blessing if it was Mr van Niekerk. I am still waiting for a letter suggesting that we also invite Mr Van Niekerk to come and answer for his blessings. [Applause.]
As I have stated, in 2005-06 the department had a budget of R28,4 billion. Today, R28,6 billion is for the Visible Policing Division only. This is our tax. It is contributed by an old woman somewhere out there who has R10 for buying candles and has to pay 14% VAT. It is only fair of the portfolio committee to demand value for money on behalf of that woman. I do not know what to say here. At station level the Visible Policing programme is happening. I think it is important at this point to thank our police officers who bear the brunt of the battle against crime in difficult and often dangerous circumstances, yet are often not appreciated. We thank them very much. We also dip our banners in remembrance and honour all our police officers who have died in the line of duty. We once more extend our heartfelt and sincere condolences to their immediate families, colleagues and communities. Let us also appreciate the work of the community police forums, who volunteer their services only for the love of their communities and the country. We say, "Well done!" to the CPFs.
Hon members, in its 2010-11 annual report the department and the Visible Policing Division in particular acknowledged that illegal liquor outlets and the sellers of illicit drugs and alcohol were the drivers of serious crimes. However, the Visible Policing Division's management saw fit not to set targets for these drivers, because if they did and then did not meet those targets, they would get "qualified". Also, there were no targets for the rolling out of victim support centres, for reasons I don't even want to remember. Furthermore, I do not know what to say about the sector policing strategy, which the department started implementing in 2002. Ten years later it is still not fully implemented and has not been assessed for its impact. There is also no clear plan on what will be happening going forward. Minister, at the national level I don't know what to say. In regards to performance there is simply a lack of commitment and seriousness. It is just unacceptable and that is all I want to say, I think.
We want to congratulate the Acting National Commissioner for the decentralised National Police Day. We think it is reaching more people and is probably more cost-effective. Well done, Acting National Commissioner. [Applause.]
As I conclude, and even if the hon Annelize van Wyk will be dealing with the Detective Services Programme, DSP, may I, on behalf of the ANC, express our excitement about what was presented to Parliament regarding the Detective Services Programme. Minister, your department told us, the portfolio committee, that they were giving us what we have been recommending, but they wanted to prove to us, the portfolio committee, that they, the department, were the experts in this field and would surpass our expectations. Minister, the presentation was done by people who knew what they were talking about. They had clear targets. Every person who spoke on that exciting Thursday, 19 April 2012, displayed clarity, seriousness and commitment. It was as if they had gathered a team of experts who had been appointed for their qualifications, experience, skills and performance. Minister, we are excited and optimistic now. We want to congratulate the Minister and the Deputy Minister, the Acting National Commissioner, and Deputy National Commissioner Lebeya and his team.
We remain unshaken in our commitment and call on all responsible citizens to become soldiers in the war against crime. Victory is certain! Amandla awethu! [Power to the people!] [Applause.]