Minister of Police Budget Speech & responses by ANC and IFP

Briefing

15 May 2015

Minister of Environmental Affairs, Mr Nkosinathi Phiwayinkosi Thamsanqa Nhleko, gave his Budget Vote Speech on 15 May 2015.

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THEME: Building a united front to help and protect communities

House Chairperson
Deputy Minister: Ms Makhotso Magdeline Sotyu;
MECs
Chairperson: Portfolio Committee on Police;
Honourable Members;
Management and Members of the South African Police Services; Independent Police Investigative Directorate; Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation; the Civilian Secretariat for Police; and the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority.
Esteemed guests
Fellow South Africans

A tree of knowledge and wisdom has fallen. Isithwalandwe Mme Ruth Mompati, one of the leading lights and moral compass of our generation passed on this week after serving the people of this country with distinction, honour and selflessness.

We take solace in the fact that we will continue to derive inspiration from a life well lived – a life that taught us that the human soul is a balance between reason, spirit and desire.

Let me also honour the young learners from North West who are invited to this budget vote, following their demonstration of interest in policing matters during one of our Marikana outreach programmes.

The three learners in the gallery are: Kealeboga Tisane, Mbuso Luphondwana and Itumeleng Morolong and they represent the future we want. I would also like to honour Mr Alpheas Masemola from the Ministry who retired this year after 33 years in the service. May he enjoy a less hectic life.

We present this Budget Vote in the year in which we are celebrating 60 years of the Freedom Charter. For this reason, it is important to reflect and look back at the obligations of those men and women in relation to what this means in our present day South Africa.

The Freedom Charter mandated us as the security cluster to ensure that ‘all shall be equal before the law’. In this regard, the South African Police Service are to be helpers and protectors of the people.

We may have differing views on the successes that we have registered in this sector, however as South Africans we should take comfort in the fact that our men and women in blue, alongside other law enforcement agencies continue to make our country proud as they have demonstrated in the recent xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals; which in themselves are indicative of the amount of work we have to do in reversing the extent and levels of underdevelopment in our society.

Not only were our security forces propelled by legal and institutional arrangements in dealing with this situation; but as human beings and fellow South Africans; they are convinced that all of us are one people and belong to one humanity. It is our fervent wish that our members continue to do what our Constitution requires of them and that all people within our borders embrace the work of the police.

All that we have stated above is against the backdrop of continued killing of police members - with 86 having lost their lives in this past financial year – 35 on duty and 51 while off duty. This is an overall increase of close to 12% compared to the previous year. As society it is important to inculcate in our selves that killing police is killing the nation.

Equally, we are not oblivious or blind to police infractions against citizens that have been reported to IPID – infractions which are being dealt with and continue to be dealt with expeditiously.

The African National Congress in its Ready to Govern Policy document identified specific priorities defining the future perspective on policing in a democratic context. Some of which are:

Policing shall be based on community support and participation;
Police shall be accountable to society and the community it serves through democratically elected institutions;
Policing shall be subject to public scrutiny and open debate;
Allegations of police misconduct shall be dealt with by independent complaints and investigations mechanisms;
The police service shall strive for high performance standards.

These strategic priorities were further submitted as final inputs on June 15 1995 in drafting the current Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.

We have in the past year revisited these ideals and combined them with the mandate given to us by the National Development Plan (NDP); to develop a framework that is aimed at revisiting our trajectory with a view to keep on transforming.

In this regard, we have focused our efforts on strengthening the police and policing in general in the country. This effort is also being mobilized on the basis of the publication of the White Paper on Safety and Security and the White Paper on Policing.

This financial year marks 20 years since the promulgation of the South African Police Service Act. As we do with all legislation, we have to review it continually to make sure that it addresses our present day challenges.

In this regard; the White Paper on Policing is aimed at the review of the Act to make it relevant to modern day challenges and operational requirements. It also seeks to align SAPS act with the provisions of the Constitution.

The White Paper on Safety and Security emphasizes an integrated approach to policing and will form the basis for our policy and legislative review process. We continue to aspire to the creation of a state where our people are free, safe and able to raise their children in a stable society. In doing so, we are informed by our commitment to the creation of a just society and state – a state that according to Socrates will exhibit four qualities of “wisdom, courage, discipline and justice”.

Our integrated approach to policing emphasises the involvement of our communities in the fight against crime and corruption. This is a responsibility we all share with the police being lead agents in this regard. That is why we have in the current financial year placed the bulk of our spending towards visible policing which will receive just under R39-billion for this financial year.

In the coming financial year, we will also be placing a stronger emphasis on the need to review specialised units that are dedicated to fighting specific forms of crime and specialised investigations. We have heard the outcry of communities ravaged by drugs.

Already the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit has made great strides and continues to secure life convictions, progressively. We place such an emphasis and review taking into account that the commission of crime has become more specialized, advanced and sophisticated. Therefore our response should be a level higher than the criminals.

Just under R16-billion has been committed to our detective services, which will witness a growth of 5.8% in the medium term. This budget will also be supported by the increase in capital equipment aimed at improving the capital infrastructure and technological advancements particularly in the forensic science and investigative functions.

Our policing shall always be intelligence led in the war against crime and corruption. It is for this reason that crime intelligence will also receive an 7.8% increase of its budget allocation in the medium term.

We are also placing an emphasis on improving investigation capacity for crimes committed against children and the elderly. R840-million will be dedicated to this with further increases expected in the outer years of our (MTEF) Medium Term Expenditure Framework.

The Civilian Secretariat for Police has been established as an independent entity with effect from 1 April 2015 so that it can effectively discharge its duty of civilian oversight over the police and inducing community activation.

A transfer payment on the Vote amounting to approximately R105-million has been provided to the Civilian Secretariat for Police whose work on policy and legislative front is invaluable.

CSP contribute towards the NDP envisaging that people living in South Africa should feel safe at home, at school and at work, and enjoy an active community life free of fear. The plan promotes tackling the fundamental causes of crime through an integrated approach between state and non-state institutions, with active involvement from civil society.

The Constitutional Court directed that we should enhance the independence of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations. In this regard, we have commenced the establishment of the DPCI as an independent Budget Programme. The new programme will be introduced through the MTEF process in June 2015. A task team has been established with a target for a new programme by 1 April 2016.

Alongside this process is the need to capacitate the Hawks by significantly ramping up investment in capital infrastructure, which involves the upgrading of information technology network and the creation of human capability to assist in the effective combatting, investigation and prevention of priority and trans-national crimes and corruption.

House chair

Tom Butler-Bowdon in introducing Plato, states that; “Doing what is right is not a moral good to be traded in order to gain something or to be sacrificed when it has no apparent benefit, rather, correct action is a necessity – one cannot live a good life without it”.

In this regard, the oversight role played by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) cannot be overemphasised. Its role in conducting investigations and making recommendations on the conduct of the police is being enhanced through the establishment of the National Special Investigation Team (NSIT), which will focus on the investigation of systemic corruption cases at national level.

It remains our commitment that IPID conducts its investigations without fear, favour or prejudice. It is only through such unquestionable professionalism and integrity that our people will have faith in the police and our institutions of oversight such as the IPID and Civilian Secretariat for Police.

Policy and legislative formulation plays a vital role in shaping the future of policing in our country. In this regard, a Consultative Forum chaired jointly by the Executive Director of IPID and the Secretary of Police as per the legislative requirements has been established; with a view to also recommend and advise the Minister on issues of policy and legislation.

One of the milestones registered thus far is the National Critical Infrastructure Bill, a piece of legislation that seek to repeal the National Key points Act, Act 102 of 1980 which currently is with Cabinet.

We are also amending the Firearms Control Act as a way of curbing the prevalence of gun culture and high levels of violence in our society. There are far too many guns circulating in our society.

You would be aware that the Private Security Industry Amendment Bill is in process. The Bill is currently being considered for assent by the President.

The Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority like many other institutions is experiencing financial pressures due to a number of challenges and legal contestations from business. We have however reached a settlement on the new fees that are due to be implemented in the current financial year.

In the current financial year we will also be looking at the new funding model aimed at ensuring the financial sustainability of the Authority. We will conduct research and benchmarks with other countries to look at best mechanisms and the recommendations of such a process, which will assist in crafting a way forward on the financial model to be followed.

The Authority has in the previous financial year completed a three-year research project that was funded by the International Research and Development Centre (IDRC), namely, Promoting Partnership for Crime Prevention between State and Private Security Providers in Southern Africa. This study is comparative in nature and covers Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland and South Africa. Around June 2015, the Authority will be publishing the research output in a form of a monograph and this will also be available online.

The recommendations of the study will also enhance our approach and partnership in the fight against crime in the country.

House chair

This country has witnessed a spike in service delivery and or community protests for service delivery. Police resources were committed to 14 740 incidents of which 12 451 were peaceful and, 2 289 turning violent. The fact of the matter is that these protests continue to strain the resources of the SAPS. We are also mindful that citizens have a right to air their grievances; however, society needs to understand that the solution to these protests do not lie with the police.

They lie with the ability to exercise leadership and the effective address of service delivery issues and other developmental needs in our communities. In this regard, we urge all political parties of different persuasions to play a constructive role in stabilising our communities.

On the other hand, as the police we will continue to play our role and duty in ensuring that in the exercise of such rights, life, limb and property are secured.

In the year under review, we have criss-crossed the length and breadth of our country listening and interacting with communities on issues of policing. Thus far, the Police Ministry, in a space of about six months conducted more than 67 community outreach programmes. This in itself demonstrates our commitment to our policy which places policing at the centre of community responsibility.

We listened and intervened successfully in Kuruman where children were being denied a chance for schooling. We did the same in Malamulele. We were there when we were required in Grabouw.

We continue with the We Are One Humanity programme that seeks to deal with the wrong psyche that has seen a neighbour turn against neighbour. The fact of the matter is: we have a shared destiny.

In the year under review, DPCI registered the following successes:

Of the 3 959 commercial cases handled, 2 749 individuals arrested with the conviction rate of 97.1%.
With 56 individuals for money laundering, with 44 convictions, which saw the value of assets, forfeited to the state of R98 156 756, 52.
Cyber-crime unit successfully saved Eskom and GAUTRAIN R3, 5-billion and R800-million respectively.
57 clandestine drug laboratories were dismantled
324 held for drug related crimes and 98 convictions.
436 held with 56 convictions for precious stones/metals
192 arrested for endangered species and 68 convictions
42 arrested for Human Trafficking with 2 convictions.
2090 held for organized crime with 558 convictions.

Through our Visible Policing division we have ensured national security and territorial integrity of the Republic; through 3 775 crime prevention and combating operations at ports of entry.

For South Africa to be safe, stable and developmental, it requires that all of us must play a role on issues of policing and ensuring a safe and secure environment, taking into account that the quality of a nation arises from the combined attributes of its citizens.

I thank you

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Speech by the Deputy Minister of Police, Hon. Ms. Makhotso Maggie Sotyu (MP) on the occasion of the Budget Vote No. 23 and No. 20

15 May 2015, Parliament, Cape Town

Speaker/Chairperson
Minister of Police, Hon. Mr. NPT Nhleko,
All Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Mr. Beukman,
Honourable Members of Parliament,
All MECs present,
National Commissioner of Police, General Phiyega,
All SAPS Top Management,
All SAPS Agencies Heads (IPID, PSIRA and the Civilian Secretary),
All police officers,
Members of the CPFs
Traditional Leadership and Civil Society,
Youth,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Chairperson,

We are pleased to indicate to South Africa at large, that the Ministry of Police and its Department heeded the call by His Excellency, President Zuma, to go out to our communities for engaging and addressing with our people to curb and to totally stop the attacks on foreign nationals.

One of the places we visited was the Alexandra Township in Gauteng on 24th April 2015, where we urged our people to show solidarity with our fellow displaced Africans, and to come up with recommendations for Government to effectively and efficiently reintegrate them back to their respective communities.

During this Imbizo, a recommendation was made by a South African youth from Alexandra.

Chairperson,

This young community member urged Government to bring youth developmental opportunities closer to youth in the townships, to enable them to compete equally with the foreign national business.

The Department of Police is part of the broader Government, and as such, it is also obliged to give ethos to youth development in South Africa.

In this instance, the Department of Police has established internship and learnership programmes.

Chairperson,

For the financial year 2013/2014 and 2014/2015, SAPS had a total 1190 intake of internships for unemployed graduates and needy matriculants.

SAPS can proudly announce that out of this combined total, 61 interns were successfully absorbed as full-time employees of the Department.

This project focuses primarily on learners who have completed Level 4 Safety Programme from Technical Vocational Education and Training Institutions. This is a police driven qualification, which prepares the learners for a career in policing.

In addition to the internship programme, the Department has, in this financial year 2014/2015, took in a total of 375 unemployed learners, of which 250 were successfully trained by an accredited training institution. They have acquired an NQF 2 Automotive Maintenance and Repair.

Chairperson,

The Ministry of Police has also specifically recommended to the Department to approve an intake of 20 funded interns for the Financial Year 2015/2016.

These unemployed young matriculants and graduates will be placed at the Firearm, Liquor and Second-Hand Goods Control Component to assist with the backlog collections and sorting of all related applications.

With these programmes, Chairperson, the Department of Police is supporting youth development in South Africa, a future that must continue to build a caring, sharing, and prosperous South Africa, for a stable, safe, welcoming, and most of all, a law-abiding nation.

Chairperson,

Emphasis is made on the aspect of a nation of law-abiding citizens, precisely because maintenance of law and order should be a pre- requisite to the enjoyment of all Government successful efforts in developing, empowering and prospering our youth, the future of this country.

We are emphasizing on this, because, almost all the few perpetrators of foreign attacks and infrastructure vandalizing that happened last month, were mostly youth and minors.

Our progressive Constitution allows public protests and demonstrations, but these must be done within the confines of the law.

And our police officers are always challenged to find ways to address public safety, as people must demonstrate or protest without detriment to democratic rights of other inhabitants.

But, ideally, citizens, especially our youth, should not be engaging with the state through violent and anarchist public protests and demonstrations.

Chairperson,

Our people must be encouraged to convey their grievances through their elected public representatives (local councilors, members of parliament and executive committee (MPs and MECs), and other relevant community leaders.

But, this can only be achieved if there is a willingness from all three spheres of Government to work together, integrated and coordinated.

Chairperson,

The President saw this dire need for integrated and coordinated work, that he introduced two critical new departments within his Office.

One is the Ministry of Planning, where its department was tasked to develop a long-term planning document, so that Government could accordingly align at all levels, its policies. The other was the Ministry of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation.

Chairperson,

The Department of Police commits itself to this call by the President. That is why on 11th December 2014, the Department launched its Front-Line Service Delivery Project.

This Front-Line Service Delivery Project is a dedicated programme aimed at improving the experience of all the communities in the country when they need services provided by the SAPS.

Nine police stations from nine provinces have been identified for the pilot launch of this project: Philippi in the Western Cape; Wolmaransstand in North West; Thabazimbi in Limpopo; Hartswater in Northern Cape; Kopanong in Free State; Alexandra in Gauteng; Amangwe in KwaZulu- Natal; Kabokweni in Mpumalanga; and Butterworth in the Eastern Cape.

Chairperson,

The programme includes addressing the professional conduct of police officers, how they treat the public, ensuring that police stations are accessible to the public, and that the first point of interaction between police and public is a positive one.

National Instructions are also circulated to all police stations in the country on wearing prescribed uniform, which include wearing chest badges/name plates to identify a police officer.

We regard as a serious offence if a police officer refuses to identify him/herself to a complainant, because these are the culprits who tend to ill- treat, secondary traumatize and abuse victims of crime when they report cases, especially those related to sexual offenses and domestic violence.

Chairperson,

It is important to note that all police stations, including the identified 9 for pilot project FSD, are located at local government level, a primary site for service delivery and related protests and demonstrations; if service is deemed unsatisfactorily by the citizens.

This means, Chairperson, to improve service delivery at front-line service Departments, including SAPS, we constantly need public servants that are committed to delivering quality service to our citizens; and we need Departments who are willing to work together, so as to move away from departmental silo-based frameworks.

Chairperson,

The SAPS, as other Departments, is urged to adjust its monitoring and evaluation framework to include mechanisms for incorporating the views and experiences of the citizens on service delivery.

The SAPS is continuing therefore, to engage our citizens through the imbizos and other public platforms, to resolve complex service delivery challenges to fight crime.

Chairperson,

We can assure the nation, that these SAPS Imbizos are never talk-shops. These are the platforms where we receive, NOT only complaints, but also very useful pragmatic recommendations from the public on how we as the SAPS can improve on our mandate.

Consequently, the Department of Police has come up with a host of inter-departmental projects and programmes, thanks to the advices received from the public at these imbizos.

For instance, during an Imbizo in 2009, citizens begged Government to bring back the abolished Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences Units (FCS Units). The public insisted that crimes against women and children still needed special handling and investigation.

Promptly so, Cabinet agreed, and the then Minister of Police re-established these FCS Units the following year in 2010.

Chairperson,

The SAPS is continuing on the successes of the FCS programme attained since its re- establishment.

Not only is the Department of Police succeeding in inflicting maximum sentences on these heinous criminals who rape, molest and murder our most vulnerable (women, children, disabled and elderly).

The Department is ALSO putting extra measures to improve the FCS on its mandate.

In this instance, Chairperson, a th National Conference on FCS was held on 14 August 2014, and three fundamental resolutions were undertaken to ensure improved efficiency and effectiveness of its programmes:

Separate FCS performance from the Division of Detective Service to give true assessment of crimes against women and children.

Relocate accommodation from police premises to minimize secondary traumatizing of victims; and increment of sexual offences courts to increase privacy.

Increase capacity at National office for special focus on sexual offences and policies; cyber crime; and the elderly; and retain skilled and experienced members

Chairperson,

This is indeed a show of commitment from the Department of Police in ensuring that there is a sole mandate for investigating case against the most vulnerable of our society.

Cognizance is also taken on the concern raised by the Portfolio Committee on Police, on the low target number set for schools to be linked with police stations through the SAPS Schools Safety Programme, for the Financial Year 2015/2016.

Notwithstanding, Chairperson, the Department will also advance the school safety programme through intense monitoring and evaluation process.

Chairperson,

The monitoring will promptly address challenges raised by different provinces on the roll-out of the Safety School Programme, which has already seen a total of 16169 schools linked to police stations country-wide, since the National Launch in 2011.

The SAPS is planning to hold an inter- departmental meeting with the Departments of Basic Education and Public Works to address related problems of boundaries and infrastructure.

Chairperson,

Such taking of stock and accountability can only assist the Department of Police in securing the confidence, respect, and trust of the South African public.

No police force can discharge on its mandate without the cooperation and confidence of the public, because it is the people who lay charges, who make statements, who testify in court, and who ultimately and inevitably assist the police in the performance of their duties.

Chairperson,

We must, nevertheless understand and appreciate that the police-people trust should be mutual and reciprocal.

Yes, we agree that police officers must always ensure to use their given mandate with responsibility and sound judgment.

At the same time, we call upon our communities to better understand the value of the police, and the severe strenuous circumstances they work under.

We need to understand that not all police officers are corrupt, not all police officers are brutal.

Chairperson,

So, as the Ministry of Police, we will continue to pay special attention to police officer wellness in its entirety.

Already, we have requested the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Police to assist the Department to lead the restructuring of various outdated policies of the SAPS.

This will ensure that, amongst other things, the DPSA National Strategic Framework of Employee Health and Wellness is aligned to the SAPS Employee Health and Wellness Programme.

Chairperson,

Chairperson,

The main goal of this project is to remedy the injustice and discrimination exercised against former members of the NSF when they got integrated within the SAPS during the years 1994 and 1995.

We are thus delighted to register the following progress in this regard:

The Re-Ranking and Appeals Committee have been established, and their respective Working Terms of Reference are currently being finalized. The Committees will assume their mandates no later than 1st June 2015 to consider 488 former NSF members.

Recognition of Full Service: Appointment dates are now being adjusted to reflect a combined service. Already 692 out of 1075 have been rectified on Persal.

Skills Development: 36 bursaries have already been awarded to qualifying former NSF members to further their studies.

Leave and Medical benefits are now currently being adjusted on Persal System and considered by the SAPS Medical Scheme, respectively.

Chairperson,

With the SAPS NSF Project, we, as the Ministry of Police, are setting an unequivocal example when it comes to the exercise of our given mandate and our daily interaction with both our public and police officers.

Where there is a need for Government action, the Police Leadership will continue show the political will to take that action decisively.

Chairperson,

As we continue to celebrate 20 years of SAPS existence, let us all as a nation be inspired for a safe, secure, stable and prosperous South Africa, through the words of the late Father of the Nation, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela:

The Budget Vote is hereby supported in its entirety.

I thank you all.