Chairperson, while the ACDP appreciates the new Minister of Police's declared intention to develop capacity for fighting and reducing crime, we are, however, still concerned about the continual reports of corruption in the police. Hon Minister, the reported high crime levels and corruption within the police that lead to the disappearance of guns and dockets and to irregular promotions need your urgent attention.
It was reported that in 2008, 3 000-plus firearms - 43 from one station alone - went missing and of the 8 000-plus that have disappeared during the past three years only 900 have been recovered. This is shocking indeed. Are there police members who have been fired because of the disappearance of these firearms? Police are saying, and I quote:
A number of people who are not fit to be in the SAPS ... have risen rapidly through the ranks while others, with proven track records, are not recognised or rewarded.
Mary de Haas, who runs the KZN Violence Monitor, was quoted as saying:
There seems little doubt that some police members are involved in taxi businesses, or operate private security companies, through fronts. There is not much incentive to fight crime if one is benefiting from it through taxi or security interests.
As it is not the first time that these issues have been raised, I want to know how the Minister is planning to address them. The ACDP also wants to raise concerns about the establishment of street committees. The Deputy Minister ran out of time while he wanted to talk about this. It is a serious concern. The Minister obviously said that he wants to use street committees to take crime combating and crime prevention to every corner of our streets.
Many such commitments have in the past been made and many such committees have been in the past resorted to vigilantism and in some cases were even involved in illegal actions. We argue that anticrime activities are the primary function of the police and not of street committees.
Therefore, it is incorrect for the police who must take crime combating and crime prevention to every corner ... [Time expired.]