Chairperson and hon members, thank you for your contributions. Perhaps I should say that there has been both constructive criticism and some acknowledgement of good work done by the police. I found today's debate different from the ones we had before. When people criticise us, they present some views on the table, and not just oppositionist kinds of postures.
The hon Gunda presented some key issues about the discipline and professionalism in the police. There wouldn't be any proper policing if this matter was not taken on board. The part of the transformation that we are talking about is that of the cadre of cop which we would like to create at this time.
Hon members should take note of the fact that, ultimately, we would like our streets to be safe. The Deputy Minister has already indicated that whether it is in the morning, at night or whenever, our people should all feel safe in their own country. That is our ultimate objective.
The hon Chairperson raised an issue about wrong elements within the SAPS. We have interacted with the ruling party and other political parties in this Parliament. We have undertaken an audit on the police personnel we have. At the end of the day, we should ensure that those who are not supposed to be in the force are nicely asked to go home or elsewhere. We should only be left with members who know what they are supposed to do, and who understand that the hopes of the entire nation rest upon their shoulders.
The hon Watson said something about a building that is lying empty in Middelburg. We are going to make a follow-up on that and try to find out what is happening. I must say that it cuts across the issue of rural safety. There is a plan. In his speech, the hon Wiley indicated that the DA leader has some points. Those points are welcome and we would like to see them in strength.
We are challenging everybody in the community to submit their views in order to strengthen the rural safety plan. If there are such views, we would welcome them. That is why we are going to be visiting provinces very soon, together with AgriSA and the Food and Allied Workers Union, Fawu, organisations from both sides, namely the farmworkers and farmers. We would be able to put across the views of both constituencies as they are. With that approach, we believe that we would be able to deal with the challenges.
The hon Wiley also raised an issue about accommodation. One of the things we have spoken about is that of the building and construction of the new police stations. We should have some barracks. It should not only be based on accommodating people who are there.
Hon Bloem, if police management decided to move some police from your constituency to KwaZulu-Natal and vice versa, they should be able to do that without any hindrance. We are also looking into those matters as well.
In as far as the issue of the criminal justice system, CJS, is concerned, there are outcomes of the criminal justice review and we are implementing them. For instance, today it was reported that, in as far as police are concerned, during the review the matter of detectives was highlighted. Last year, we set a target for ourselves that within a year we were going to employ 19% of the detectives and upskill those who were there. We have surpassed that because we have recruited 24% as compared to what we initially planned for.
I agree with Commissioner Makhubela, on the issue of SMART planning, hotspots and mapping. [Laughter.] In fact, it should be strengthened because as you know, even from the police station point of view, the hotspot areas, mapping and so on, are looked into. The programme, When Duty Calls, is one way of communicating with the public, because all people are hearing are negative things about the police. We have noted your satisfaction about the preparations and we are also looking forward to the actual games.
The hon Mokgobi raised an issue about the reintroduction of family units. We are going ahead with that and we will ensure that indeed our children and women are safe in our country.
Some of the terror threats are hoaxes, and are meant to scare people away. Somewhere in some tabloids in Britain, others said that there was going to be a blood bath in South Africa because Mr Terreblanche had been killed. They furthermore said that there was going to be a black and white full- scale war. They just created some imaginary wars in their minds which did not match what has been put in place when preparing for this. That is not going to deter us.
I noted the point raised by the hon Nesi when he indicated that racism was rife on the farms. For instance, when we met with Fawu, they clarified that point. In order to deal with the issues raised by workers, dwellers and farmers we have decided to approach that matter from all the parties' point of view.
Bab'uMageba angazi nkosi yami kuleliphuzu obulibeka laKwaNongoma ngoba siyesazizwa lezo zikhalo, kwathi phambi kokhetho sawucela umphakathi ukuthi ufike sizoxoxisana nawo. Sabiza izinhlangano zepolitiki, i-IFP noKhongolose kanye nezinye ezazikhona ukuzokhuluma ngalolu daba.
Kodwa-ke futhi asizukuvuma ukuthi abantu bahlukunyezwe - izinto ezinjalo azifuneki. Siyafisa Mageba nani niyigcizelele into yokuthi amaphoyisa ayesebenza laphaya ngaphambi kokhetho abuye ngoba enza umsebenzi omuhle. Ngoba yiwona athola intaphana yezibhamu ezatholwa laphaya Mageba zangethusa, ngacishe ngaquleka ngempela ngizibona zibekwe ngononina ngokuhlukana kwazo. Kusukela kwesincane ukuza kwezinkulu - ngathi hhawu! lezi bhamu madoda ziphumaphi. Zifunani izibhamu phakathi kwabantu ngoba phela yizona ekufanele zingabibikho emphakathini.
Sengisholo ukuthi-ke nalapho enza khona amaphoyisa kahle kufanele siwancome bakwethu ngoba angazi ukuthi leziya zibhamu bezingaphuma nemiphefumula emingaki. Ngaze ngabuza ukuthi ngempela ngiKwaNongoma - ngaphuma kancane nakuleli hholo esasikulona. Ngabuka ngabona ukuthi cha sikhona impela - sisekhaya. Sase siyahamba siya edolobheni sakhuluma nabantu, iningi labo Mageba likugcizelele ukuthi amaphoyisa awabe khona ngoba asiza njengoba imimoya yayiphakeme ngaleziya zikhathi zokhetho, ukuba khona kwawo kwasiza ekutheni kube nokuthula.
Nokho satshelwa ukuthi ukhetho lwahamba kahle, Mageba. Ngingazi-ke noma sasingatshelwa kahle yini kodwa nathi sasikhona. Lwahamba kahle ukhetho kodwa lokhu akusho ukuthi abantu mabaphule umthetho futhi akusho ukuthi asebehlukumeza umphakathi akufanele bathathelwe izinyathelo kodwa njengoba uchazile Mageba, uma phela amaphoyisa esefika kuthiwa uMageba uphethe isibhamu esikhulu, uqhwasha noma i-AK awavamisile ukufika ekhaya athi hhe baba mnumzane sizocela izibhamu. Azicelwa kanjalo izibhamu kodwa uyazi-ke ukuthi sicelwa kanjani isibhamu, Mageba. Ngiyabonga sihlalo. [Ihlombe.](Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)
[Hon Mageba, my goodness, I am not sure about the point you made about KwaNongoma, because we heard those complaints and we asked the community to come forward to discuss this. We also called the political parties like the IFP and the ANC and others that were there to talk about this issue.
However, we are not going to allow our people to be harassed - such things are not tolerated. We hope that you will also emphasise, hon Mageba, that those police who were working there before the elections should be brought back because they did a good job. They found heaps of guns there, hon Mageba. I was shocked by the sight of those guns and I nearly fainted on seeing them grouped in their different sizes, from the smallest to the biggest. I said, "gee whiz, where do all these guns come from!" What business do these guns have amongst the people because they should not be in the communities?
I am saying this because, good people, we should also commend the police when they are doing well. And I am still asking myself how many souls would have been lost through those guns. I enquired if we were really in KwaNongoma and even went outside of the hall to look around, when I realised that we were really at home. We then left for town and spoke to the people, and most of them, hon Mageba, emphasised that the police must be present as they are a great help. Since the elections, tensions were high and their presence helped in bringing about peace.
We were informed that the elections went well, hon Mageba. I am not sure whether we were told the truth, but we were also present. The elections went well, but that does not mean that people should break the law and that those who are harassing the community should not be punished. But as you have already mentioned, hon Mageba, when the police arrive after being told that hon Mageba has a big gun - a self-made one or an AK-47 - they do not normally come to your place and ask nicely by saying, "Hello sir, we are here to ask for a gun." That is not how you ask for a firearm - you know how to ask for a firearm, hon Mageba. Thank you, Chairperson. [Applause.]] Debate concluded.