Hon Chairperson, Minister and Deputy Minister of Police, and the chairperson of the portfolio committee, let me start by saying that the NFP wishes to extend its concern at the high levels of crime, where South Africans are no longer safe.
Freedom can only be achieved if all South Africans live in a free, safe and secure environment. Contrary to reports, crime is on the rise in South Africa. Never a day goes by without our hearing of serious and violent crimes, including murder, rape, domestic violence and armed robbery being experienced by any of the citizens of South Africa.
However, let me commend the new Minister, the chairperson of the portfolio committee and all members who were responsible for drafting the strategic plan and for the progress they are hoping to make in making South Africa a free and safe country for all of us to live in, side by side. Whilst we must acknowledge that attempts are being made - or at least, are being talked about - the success rate still remains relatively low.
Whilst we have been making these suggestions, coming from the top, I must advise that cascading this information from the top down to the bottom seems to be a serious concern. When one enters a police station, what one sees and experiences are totally different from what we want to achieve for the people of this country. Let me go further to say you would be lucky to get one telephone call from the detective, and you would be very, very lucky to get two telephone calls from the detective, or if you ever meet a detective, after having lodged a complaint at a police station.
Community participation is minimal, due to a lack of confidence and trust in the police in general. Now, the question one needs to ask is: Why is this the case? The answer is very simple. It is as a result of the trust that they have lost because of fraud, corruption and maladministration by the police in general. However, I am confident that the Fifth Parliament of the Republic of South Africa will be different from the previous four Parliaments and that there will certainly be constructive engagement and changes that will address the needs and concerns of South Africans in terms of their safety.
Let us not be misled by assuming the crime rate is declining. On the contrary, many, many victims fail to report these cases. As a result, one believes that the rate is coming down.