Agb Voorsitter, dit is eintlik ontstellend as 'n mens vandag in die media moet lees van hoeveel lede van die publiek verkeerdelik gehanteer word deur lede van die polisiediens. Die enigste plek werklik waarna die publiek kan gaan is die Onafhanklike Klagte Direktoraat, OKD, om 'n klag te gaan l teen lede van die polisie.
Wat verder ontstellend is is dat as ons gaan kyk na die statistiek die afgelope vier jaar dan is daar 'n 72% toename van kriminele klagtes teen lede van die polisie. Dit behoort al die rooi ligte te laat aankom.
Die derde mees ontstellende aspek is dat die OKD reguit s dat hulle nie die mannekrag of finansies het om hierdie sake behoorlik te ondersoek nie. As ons gaan kyk na die sake dan sien ons hulle ondersoek maar ongeveer 50% of 51%. Daar is elke keer 'n klomp sake van die vorige jaar wat oorgedra word; hulle kan net nie die stryd wen nie.
Die VF Plus sal hierdie begroting steun vir die OKD, want hulle het die geld nodig, maar ons wil 'n beroep doen dat daar indringend gekyk word dat daar meer geld gegee word sodat die publiek ook 'n beter instrument het waar hulle hul klagtes teen polisielede kan gaan l. Dankie. (Translation of Afrikaans declaration of vote follows.)
[Mr P J GROENEWALD: Hon Chairperson, actually it is very disconcerting if one has to read in the media today about how many members of the public are mishandled by members of the police service. The Independent Complaints Directorate, the ICD, seems to be the only resort for the public if they wish to lodge a complaint against members of the police.
Even more disconcerting is that if we were to look at statistics of the past four years, we would see that there has been an increase of 72% with regard to criminal charges laid against members of the police. This fact already serves as a danger sign.
The third most disconcerting aspect is that the ICD claims that they do not have the manpower or finances to investigate these issues properly. If we were to look at the cases, we would see that they only investigate 50% or 51% of the cases. Every year cases from the previous year are carried over; they simply cannot keep up.
The FF Plus will support this budget for the ICD, as they need the money; but we want to urge that it is important that more money is given, to ensure that the public can have a better instrument by way of which they can lodge their complaints against members of the police service. Thank you.]