Agb Voorsitter, eintlik is hierdie debat 'n baie ernstige debat. Ek wil begin deur te s die VF Plus salueer die 77 lede - manne en vroue - wat volgens die jaarverslag gesterf het in die uitvoering van hul pligte en ook diegene wat hierdie jaar reeds die hoogste prys betaal het om ons as burgers van Suid-Afrika te probeer beskerm. Ons salueer ook daardie lede - manne en vroue in uniform - vir wie dit werklik nog 'n passie is om die gemeenskap te dien, en wat goeie werk doen.
Agb Minister, u is nuut. U gaan nog baie ontnugterings in u tydperk ervaar. Ek wil begin om te s die VF Plus verwelkom die antwoord wat u my in die NV gegee het aangaande my vraag oor plaasmoorde. Ons verwelkom die feit dat u, volgens u antwoord, die belangrikheid daarvan besef, en dat u ook verklaar dat dit deel van die strategie van prioriteitmisdaadbekamping in Suid- Afrika sal wees.
Ons verwelkom dit, agb Minister, maar wanneer is 'n polisiediens 'n goeie diens vir sy mense? Dit gebeur slegs as die publiek vertroue het in die lede van die polisie. Ek wil vir u s, agb Minister, dit is skokkend as 'n mens 'n koerant sien met 'n opskrif wat lui, "Polisie skop en slaan gesin oor rybewys". Die publiek kan dan nie vertroue in die polisie h nie.
As ons gaan kyk na die statistiek vrygestel deur die Onafhanklike Polisie- ondersoekdirektoraat, Opod, sien ons, volgens die jongste jaarverslag, dat daar 927 gevalle van geweld is wat deur polisielede teen die publiek gebruik is. Ek wil vandag 'n beroep op u doen. Dit moet die absolute prioriteit wees - die mense van Suid-Afrika moet voel dat hulle beskerm word. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Dr P J GROENEWALD: Hon Chairperson, this is actually a very serious debate. I want to start by saying that the FF Plus salutes the 77 members - men and women - who, according to the annual report, died in the performance of their duties, as well as those who have already paid the ultimate price this year while trying to defend us as citizens of South Africa. We also salute those members - men and women in uniform - for whom it is actually still a passion to protect the community, and who are doing a good job.
Hon Minister, you are new. In your term you are going to experience a lot of disillusionments. I want to start by saying that the FF Plus welcomes the reply you gave me in the NA regarding my question on farm murders. We welcome the fact that you realise the importance of this, according to your reply, and that you also state that it will form part of the strategy of priority crime-fighting in South Africa.
We welcome this, hon Minister, but when is a police service a good service for its people? That only happens when the public has confidence in the members of the police. I want to tell you, hon Minister, that it is shocking when one reads a newspaper with a headline that reads, "Police kick and hit family over driving licence". Then the public cannot have confidence in the police. If we take a look at the statistics as published by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, Ipid, we see that, according to the latest annual report, in 927 cases violence by police members were used against the public. I want to appeal to you today. This must become the absolute priority - the people of South Africa must feel that they are being protected.]
They must feel that the Police Service is there to protect them, not to attack them.
Laastens wil ek aankondig, agb Minister, dat die VF Plus vandag 'n klag gaan indien by die Openbare Beskermer vir 'n ondersoek na die regskoste van Jackie Selebi. Ek het reeds verlede jaar in September gevra, en ek vra al hoeveel jaar, wanneer daardie geld terugbetaal gaan word. 'n Bedrag van R17,5 miljoen plus rente moet terugbetaal word. Dit is tyd dat hy begin betaal vir sy misdade. Ek dank u. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Lastly I want to announce, hon Minister, that the FF Plus will today be lodging a complaint with the Public Protector regarding the investigation into the legal costs of Jackie Selebi. I asked last year in September already, and I have been asking for so many years, when that money is going to be paid back. An amount of R17,5 million, plus interest, has to be paid back. It is time he started to pay for his crimes. I thank you.]