Hon House Chairperson, hon Minister Nhleko and Deputy Minister Sotyu, members of executive councils, MECs, hon members of the House and fellow South Africans, the Portfolio Committee on Police received briefings from the SA Police Service, SAPS, on their 2014-15 budget on 3, 4 and 5 July 2014. Briefings were also received from the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, the Ipid, on 4 July 2014 and the Civilian Secretariat for Police on 8 July 2014. The briefings were preceded by inputs from civil society and trade unions. The report with relation to these three entities was adopted by the committee on Friday, 11 July 2014.
Apart from the findings and observations that were made, firm recommendations were adopted by the committee. In the case of the SAPS 28 recommendations were made; with relation to the Civilian Secretariat for Police 14 recommendations; and in the case of the Ipid 16 recommendations.
I want to thank all members of the committee for their contributions during this process. The recommendations are in line with the key priorities of the National Development Plan, NDP, with respect to building safer communities by, firstly, strengthening the criminal justice system; secondly, making the Police Service professional; thirdly, demilitarising the Police Service; fourthly, building safety by using an integrated approach; and fifthly, building community participation in community safety.
The portfolio committee will monitor the responses and implementation plans of the three entities relating to the adopted recommendations.
Reflecting on the past 20 years of democracy, the ANC recorded in the 2014 January 8 Statement that:
The politically-inspired violence that engulfed many parts of our country before 1994 was brought to an end. Overall levels of serious crimes have been reduced. We are working together to transform our security forces and judicial system to ensure that they reflect the national and gender character of our country.
Over the past five years, progress has been made in reducing the levels of serious crimes such as murder, aggravated robbery, and crimes against vulnerable groups, especially women, children and people with disabilities. Key targets for the Medium-Term Strategic Framework period include, firstly, a 2% reduction in the number of reported contact crimes; secondly, an increase in the percentage of citizens who feel safe walking alone during the day from 86% in 2012 to 88% by 2019, and at night from 37% in 2012 to 39% by 2019, as measured by Statistics SA surveys; and thirdly, an increase from 62% in 2012 to 70% by 2019 of households that are satisfied with the Police Service in their areas.
The clarion call is indeed that all people in South Africa must be and feel safe. The ANC therefore welcomes the approach emphasised in the SAPS' strategic plan, as part of the justice, crime prevention and security cluster, namely reducing the number of all serious crimes, contact crimes and trio crimes; increasing activities to prevent and combat crime; increasing the number of court-ready dockets for all serious crimes, contact crimes and trio crimes; increasing the detection rate for all serious crimes, contact crimes and trio crimes, including organised crime and crimes against women and children; and increasing the conviction rates for all serious crimes and contact crimes by bringing the SAPS service points closer to communities.
Two pivotal priorities indicated by the Minister of Police today relate to the professionalisation of the SAPS and its demilitarisation. In a 1993 discussion document, the ANC outlined the movement's vision for a democratic Police Service. It called for the transformation of what it saw as a militaristic, secretive, unaccountable, racist and violent institution. In its place, the ANC envisaged a demographically representative, locally accountable and visible, nonpolitical service, focused on prevention and problem-solving.
In 2014 the focus should be to further sharpen our priorities to ensure that we reach this goal. Professionalism as described in the literature includes the following: a duty to serve; maximum preparation before entering service through training; constant improvement of skills and information through continual training; hard, selfless work; guarding the profession's image at work and in private; and constant attention to self- discipline.
The NDP is clear about the professionalisation of the Police. Firstly, in the short term the code of conduct should be included in disciplinary regulations and performance appraisal systems and periodic checks should be conducted into the level of understanding and practice of the code; secondly, a code of professional and ethical police practice should be developed and members should be trained and tested; and finally, all officers should undergo a competency assessment and be rated accordingly.
The NDP states that the professional police practice code should state that the officer's fundamental duties are in the Constitution. They are there to serve the community; safeguard lives and property without discrimination; protect those who are peaceful against violence and the weak against intimidation; and respect the constitutional rights of all to equality and justice.
We believe that the establishment of the police academy in Paarl would contribute to developing training appropriate to the professionalisation of the Police. We welcome the community-based recruitment and selection strategy to minimise unsuitable candidates making it into the SAPS. The calibre of new candidates who enter the SAPS should contribute to a new generation of policemen and women who are committed to the ideals of the 1996 Constitution, namely to act in accordance with the Bill of Rights and the law. The committee supports the demilitarisation of the SAPS. It is in line with the NDP. The revisit of approach and doctrine is vital. A Police Service that is trusted by the community should be the ultimate outcome.
In a 2012 paper by Andrew Faull and Brian Rose on Professionalism and the South African Police Service they indicate that the SAPS must focus on ensuring that members engage with the public, whether client or suspect, in a manner that encourages their acceptance as a neutral and legitimate authority. This can be encouraged by improving recruitment and training; encouraging a culture of integrity; professionalising the use of force; ensuring that policing is integrated with, but not controlling of, other social and community services; and improving police communication and interaction with civilians.
In the January 8 Statement of 2014, the ANC committed itself to the ideal that:
... South Africans are safer and feel safer, and will further reduce the levels of crime and increase the capacity of our police and criminal justice system. We will also continue to work with our communities to make our neighbourhoods and cities safer, especially through strengthening anticrime awareness and introducing stronger legislation to combat substance abuse.
In his seventh state of the nation address delivered on Tuesday, 17 June 2014, the President of the Republic mentioned that the current administration will prioritise and address safety in schools, and will continue to fight drug and substance abuse in schools and communities. The NDP highlights that all schools should have learner safety plans. The SAPS has been engaging in school safety initiatives, notably the Safe Schools Programme, to ensure that schools, parents and communities join the SAPS to work in partnership to ensure safety at schools. The Safe Schools Programme focuses on drugs, crime and violence in primary and secondary schools. School-based crime prevention co-ordinators visit schools and facilitate the creation of awareness of the negative impact of drugs. Schools are encouraged to establish and maintain safe school committees comprising internal stakeholders of the school - learners, educators, school governing bodies and school security personnel, as well as external stakeholders.
At its 52nd national conference, the ANC resolved that Community Safety Forums should play a vital role in campaigns around peace and stability issues. The NDP's actions would increase community participation in crime prevention and safety initiatives. Safety audits should be done in all communities, focusing on crime and the safety conditions of the most vulnerable in the community. The ANC wants to call on all learners, students, parents, teachers, Community Policing Forums, CPFs, and communities to participate in this initiative. Community participation is essential to promote community-centred policing.
The changing face of society requires all institutions to evaluate, on a constant basis, their ability to deal with new realities. We believe that it is vital that the capability of the state to investigate and prosecute violent conduct in public protests be strengthened as a matter of priority. The Portfolio Committee on Police resolved that the SAPS should prioritise the strengthening of the Public Order Policing Units as soon as possible, and to fully integrate crime intelligence capabilities in their activities.
The budget allocation for the SAPS in the 2014-15 financial year is R72,5 billion. Visible policing receives R37 billion and the subprogramme, specialised interventions, receives R2,7 billion. The portfolio committee will monitor the progress in strengthening the Public Order Policing Units on a quarterly basis. Incidentally, this is one of the ministerial priorities, namely to continue strengthening public order policing to ensure that human rights are protected at all times when policing community protests.
The legislative architecture that is in place to promote an accountable and professional Police Service includes the Ipid and the Civilian Secretariat for Police. Both these institutions have the necessary legal framework in place to fulfil their duties. The Treasury made allocations of R234 million and R99 million to the Ipid and the Civilian Secretariat for Police respectively. We need to see in the outcomes of these two institutions that they implement their legislative framework in full and that they contribute to a Police Service that operates in accordance with the Constitution and the law. We need to see better collaboration and co-ordination. We need to see action.
In ensuring that there is also an adequate legal framework and appropriate roadmap for policing in the future, all role-players are awaiting the White Paper on Policing and the White Paper on Safety and Security as part of the review of the South African Police Service Act. Proper consultation and effective input from the citizenry and interest groups would be a prerequisite for the success of the process. The review of the South African Police Service Act will be a major priority of the Portfolio Committee on Police during the lifetime of the fifth democratic Parliament. We will have to take stock of what has worked since the implementation of the 1995 Act; what has not worked; what must be improved; and what new innovations must be included.
The recommendations of the NDP and other policy imperatives already referred to will guide us during that important process. The finalisation of the said documents and legislation will undoubtedly contribute to the strengthening and modernisation of proper police conduct in South Africa.
Finally, let me extend a word of thanks to the committee secretariat, content adviser and researchers of the Portfolio Committee on Police for their hard work and dedication.
Voorsitter, ons as Suid-Afrikaanse nasie moet ook vanoggend ons afgryse uitspreek oor die wrede moord op die vierjarige Taegrin Morris, wat deur skobbejakke vermoor is. Dit is 'n afgryslike daad, en in stryd met waarvoor ons as 'n Suid-Afrikaanse nasie staan.
Ons wil graag ons innige simpatie en sterkte namens die komitee en die Parlement aan die Morris-familie en die gemeenskap van Delmore Park, Boksburg, uitspreek. Ons vertrou dat die nasionale kommissaris en haar span alles moontlik sal doen om te verseker dat die booswigte wat hierdie verraderlike daad gepleeg het, opgespoor sal word en met die volle gereg te doen sal kry.
Dit is baie belangrik dat morele regenerasie 'n prioriteit moet wees. Dit is nie net die taak van die polisie nie, maar van alle gemeenskappe om te verseker dat ons opstaan teen hierdie soort optrede deur enkelinge in die gemeenskap. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Chairperson, we as the South African nation this morning wish to express our disgust regarding the cruel killing of the four-year-old Taegrin Morris, who was murdered by scoundrels. This was a hideous act and violates that we as a South African nation stand for.
On behalf of the committee and Parliament, we would like to express our sincere sympathy and wishes for strength to the Morris family and the community of Delmore Park, Boksburg. We trust that the national commissioner and her team will do everything possible to ensure that the thugs who committed this heinous deed are traced and meet with the full might of the law.
It is extremely important that moral regeneration should be a priority. It is the task not only of the police, but of all communities to ensure that we stand up to this type of action from individuals in the community.]
Today we also want to pay tribute to those members of the SAPS who have died, hence paid the highest price, in the fight against crime since the last Budget Vote debate. We want to extend our condolences to their next of kin. They need to be honoured. They need to be remembered and revered for their contribution to a safe and more secure South Africa.
Communities should support the police - men and women - who fight to keep their communities free of crime. They are part of the community. The ANC supports Budget Vote No 25 for Police and Budget Vote No 23 for the Independent Police Investigative Directorate. Thank you. [Applause.]