Chairperson, I hope you will give me the one minute that I have lost. Thank you.
It is not enough for Cabinet to condemn the ongoing public spat between senior police officers, including the head of crime intelligence. Cabinet must be seen to be united behind fighting all forms of corruption, particularly among the police, who have a constitutional mandate to prevent, combat and investigate crime. They are obliged to uphold and enforce the rule of law at all times.
Johan Burger, senior researcher with the Institute for Security Studies, is reported to have said that dozens of officers who speak to him daily are allegedly saying the following:
They are embarrassed to put on their uniforms and go out in public. They are ashamed to be associated with the police because of the criminal activity and corruptness of their bosses. The officers have absolutely no confidence in their top structures and this ultimately hampers their own willingness and ability to carry out their daily duties.
Chairman, I believe you will agree with me that this is shameful and totally unacceptable. It demotivates those good police officers who want to render effective service to the communities.
While the ACDP welcomes the Minister's announcement this afternoon that Lt- Gen Richard Mdluli will be moved to another division to be determined by the Acting National Commissioner, Lt-Gen Mkhwanazi, we nevertheless believe the announcement has come a bit late, because much damage has already been done to the police morale. Also, the Minister should have informed the House of what division Lt-Gen Mdluli will be moved to, so that all those concerned about the prevailing atmosphere in the police will be put at ease.
The ACDP calls on the Minister of Police to help drastically improve the image of the police by publicly supporting Acting National Commissioner, Lt- Gen Mkhwanazi, who was reported to have vowed to expose and deal with criminals within the police. The Acting National Commissioner must also be supported by the President and his Cabinet in his reported resolve to "... prove that there are people strategically operating like a mafia and I will deal with these people. I will ensure that justice is delivered."
I know the Minister has dismissed allegations of a cover-up in the probe into the head of crime intelligence. Sir, what should the public think when they hear about the intimidation of National Prosecution Authority anticorruption prosecutor, Advocate Glynnis Breytenbach, which includes being shot at, almost being driven off the road, being followed and also being suspended for what appear to be frivolous allegations? Why shouldn't we believe that her suspension is connected with her resistance to the dropping of charges against the crime intelligence boss?
The ACDP believes that prosecutors and all police officers, particularly detectives, must be able to perform their tasks without fear, favour or prejudice. The ACDP further believes that the SAPS and all structures of government should be people who are committed to integrity, and upholding the rule of law and professional ethics.
In the light of the perceived increasing corruption in the police, the perceived protection of accused generals who should be fighting to clear their names in a court of law, and the alleged harassment of detectives and prosecutors who want to root out criminality from the top echelons of the SAPS and other security establishments, the ACDP is not going to support this Budget Vote. Let the powers that be refrain from sweeping the rot under the carpet. Clean up the SAPS house and then the ACDP will support the next Police Budget Vote. [Applause.]