Chairperson, one of the principal roles of the state is to safeguard its citizens. However, we all accept that the levels of crime are unacceptably high and that citizens do not feel safe in their homes, on the road or at their businesses. It is for this reason that this report is opportune.
Serious deficiencies regarding sector policing, vehicle management, training and community service centres were highlighted.
The ACDP particularly welcomes the attention given to reporting on deficiencies in training, in reporting to Parliament on domestic violence issues, and more seriously, various instances of operational members not being issued with bulletproof vests and deficiencies with 10111 call centres.
The ACDP commends the department on its speedy response on some of the issues highlighted. The question arises, however, as to why it took a special Auditor-General's report and then the Scopa hearing to bring the spotlight to bear on these issues. Surely, the portfolio committee should also have looked into these issues. Possibly they did, but not with the desired outcome leading to the request for the Auditor-General to investigate. Well done, hon Dianne Kohler-Barnard, for bringing this issue to Parliament and to the attention of the Auditor-General and Scopa.
One wonders how many of the members who died or were injured in the line of duty could have been protected had they been properly trained and equipped. Considering the seriousness of these issues, the ACDP fully supports Scopa's recommendation that the department's accounting officers submit a report on all these outstanding issues to this House within 60 days after the adoption of this report. I trust that the portfolio committee will also follow up and work with Scopa in this area.
In conclusion, I wish Inspector Uncle Charles Verryne of the Parliamentary Police Unit a very happy retirement tomorrow after more than 30 years of service, many of them here in Parliament, and I am sure many of you have seen him walking around very smartly in his full dress and his medals. That is an example of a very dedicated and committed official. I wish him well with his retirement. Thank you. [Applause.]