Chairperson, Minister and Deputy Minister, hon members, it is important to increase the victim-friendly facilities at police stations to cater for the needs of the victims of crime. Domestic violence victims must not be exposed in a manner that is not conducive to their needs, especially children. These facilities should be linked to the courts where their cases are heard.
The Minister must facilitate, as a matter of urgency, the appointment of a National Police Commissioner. I am very glad that the Minister said "within the month". This should have been done a long time ago.
Visible policing is a programme that we should all applaud, as it plays a big part in preventing crimes before they take place. Calling it "crime prevention" is more appropriate than "visible policing".
The department has failed to fully implement sector policing in all 169 high-contact crime stations. Sector policing has only been implemented at 78% of the 169 high-contact crime stations. The country is fortunate that incidents have not happened at all the big matches and tournaments held, and as a country we have not been embarrassed. But let us be prepared for the 2010 World Cup. It is time that police reservists are compensated. The department is losing their services because compensation is inadequate.
Regarding street committees, the IFP is totally against street committees ... [Interjections.] Howlers, please listen! The IFP is totally against street committees, because of the behaviour of members of those street committees. The public cannot be held to ransom simply because they do not agree with those street committees. Some of us have been victims of those street committees before and we know how they function. Therefore, we cannot in any way whatsoever accept it.
Regarding border policing, the border police have admitted previously that they had neither sufficient resources nor the human, financial, material or even technical skills required to undertake this mammoth responsibility. The IFP will, therefore, recommend that there should be an integrated plan which will include the SA National Defence Force and the police performing the task, until such police are equipped to perform this function.
Regarding detective services, most cases are thrown out of court because of poor investigation. The IFP welcomes the improvement in the training of more detectives in all spheres of the work, coupled with the proper integration of the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigation. There should be a link between the investigation and the prosecution, so that the prosecutor will be able to understand the case, enabling the prosecutor to finalise the case in court. The police are the first leg of prosecution. Therefore, when detectives fail to perform their jobs properly, the courts are unable to prosecute and criminals roam the streets.
The result of the integration of the criminal justice system should be better co-ordination between the police and the justice system. Criminals should not be arrested by the police, only to be freed by the courts imposing bail conditions on reasonable doubt.
Uboshwe ntambama kepha kusasa ekuseni sesidla nawe isidlo sasekuseni.[Uhleko.] [You are arrested in the afternoon, but in the morning we are having breakfast with you. [Laughter.]]
Regarding discipline of members, the department should take into account the behaviour of the police. Police stations are short of vehicles, yet police vehicles are seen parked at shopping malls and outside private homes, with members arriving drunk at work, and colleagues shot at while on duty. Disciplinary action should be swift and not delayed unnecessarily.
There is only one sentence I want to say about the Independent Complaints Directorate, ICD. The ICD is a bulldog without teeth. No manpower should be given to the ICD. The core function of the ICD is to investigate offences. The ICD should be able to take a matter to court directly for the prosecution or punishment of offenders, removing costly procedures and referrals back to the police for action.
Ungenza kanjani ukuthi ubophe elinye iphoyisa uthi alihlulelwe elinye iphoyisa? Ungakwenza kanjani lokho? [How could you arrest a police officer and say he must be judged by another police officer? How could you do that?]
The ICD offices that have been opened should be improving service delivery, especially in those areas where they are; if this is not happening, why not? These offices must be able to give us details on whether the number of deaths during police action is increasing or not. South Africans have witnessed increased shootings by the police and on the police. Therefore, the ICD's work is cut out.