Sekela Somlomo, neNdlu ehloniphekileyo ... [Madam Deputy Speaker, and this august House ...]
... the Independent Police Investigative Directorate Bill is an essential component of an effective and accountable Police Service. As its very name suggests, it must be independent and, by its definition thereof, impartial. This is critical to both the directorate and the Police Force's success in delivering an effective and accountable service to the public of South Africa. Therefore, the Bill must not only establish the investigative directorate, but it must also give it teeth and measures of protection from those who would otherwise be able to use and abuse political powers and persuasion to thwart the directorate in its investigative functions.
The IFP is vehemently opposed to any form of interference with the investigative directorate from either the secretariat or the Ministry. We concur very strongly with the Minister of Police when he said at the beginning of August that the Bill must address the past weaknesses of the directorate and that the directorate must act as a check on police powers. Police misconduct and criminality will be relegated to the past where it belongs as it has no place and is most unwelcome in our democracy.
However, the Bill is not a universal panacea and will not be able to correct all the problems on its own. It must be supported by effective legislation and sufficient resources, and left to its own resources in the carrying out of its duties as only then will it be a truly effective tool for the oversight of our Police Service.
The provincial head of the directorate must report to both the MEC and the premier in order to make sure that the head of government in the province knows exactly what is going on within the Police Service.
In conclusion, the IFP wishes to stress the importance of the total independence and apolitical alignment of this directorate as this is the only manner in which it will be able to carry out its mandate successfully. We further state that, as a party, we do not wish to see or hear about any favours being granted to any individual or group of individuals. The law must apply equally to all as all are equal in the eyes of the law. Thank you. [Applause.]