South African Police Service: Strategic plans & Budget 2009/12

Meeting report

South African Police Services Briefing (SAPS) Strategic Plans and budget
A/C George Moorcroft, Head of Strategic Management Services, SAPS, presented the organisation's strategic plan for the five year period running from 2005 to 2010. SAPS’s focus during a particular financial year within that period would be reflected in its Annual Performance Plan, which indicated the organisation’s priorities and objectives.  The Annual Performance Plan for 2009/2010 therefore extended the policing priorities and objectives within the strategic direction provided by the Strategic Plan for 2005/2010. Assistant Commissioner (A/C) Moorcroft informed the Committee of the key legislative and policy mandates that guided SAPS in formulating its strategic direction. These included the Constitution, the SAPS Act, the Public Finance Management Act, National Treasury Regulations, the State of the Nation Address, the goals and objectives of the Justice Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster and the National Crime Prevention Strategy.

The SAPS Strategic Plan 2005/2010 focused on four key strategic priorities. The first related to combating organised crime such as drug and firearms trafficking, commercial crime and corruption. The second aimed at combating serious violent crime by adopting strategies that would counter the proliferation of firearms, improve safety in high-crime areas, combat taxi and gang violence and faction fighting, and maintain security at public events. It also aimed at combating crime against women and children, focusing on rape, domestic violence, assault and child abuse. It would improve basic service delivery in the SAPS through ensuring that Batho Pele Action Plans and Service Delivery Charters were implemented at all levels.

A/C Moorcroft pointed out selected performance indicators in the 2009 financial year expenditure estimates. These included the rate of detecting contact and property related crimes, the percentage of previous conviction reports generated within 30 days, the percentage of exhibits analysed within 35 days, and the number of arrests per year as a result of police actions to prevent contact crimes, property related crimes and crimes dependent on police action for detection.

The organisation's key strategic initiatives included a strategies in relation to firearms, crime against women and children, prevention of police attacks and killings, risk management, corruption and fraud prevention and a service delivery improvement programme. A/C Moorcroft expanded on the aims of the firearms strategy, which included the reduction and eradication of the illegal pool and criminal use of firearms. Specific projects had been initiated to ensure effective management of the number of firearms in the evidence management stores of the SAPS, the circulation of confiscated or recovered firearms, the number of declarations of unfitness to possess a firearm that had to be processed and the decentralisation of the destruction of confiscated firearms to the various provinces.

The purpose of the crime against women and children strategy was to reduce the incidence of crimes against women and children as well as to ensure the proper investigation of sexual offences such rape and indecent assault. The strategy included initiatives such as the Victim Empowerment Programme and the anti-rape initiative.

The prevention of police attacks and killings strategy focused on the reduction of the incidence of attacks against and murders of police officials. The strategy had three key objectives. It would ensure that SAPS personnel members were equipped to perform operational duties, including the so-called critical items of equipment. It would ensure that SAPS personnel members were trained in operational techniques, as provided by the SAPS Training Division. Finally, it would ensure that the relevant policies and procedures that governed the equipment used by personnel in performing operational duties, and the manner in which those duties were performed, were followed.

The SAPS Corruption and Fraud Prevention Plan had been developed in line with Government's requirements. It included prevention, detection, investigation and restoration elements.

The SAPS Risk Management Framework had also been compiled in line with the requirements of the National Treasury Regulations as well as the Public Sector Risk Management Framework.

The Service Delivery Improvement Programme was focused on improving service delivery within the service, particularly at station level.

South African Police Services Briefing: Budget and Expenditure Estimates
Divisional Commissioner S Schutte, Head: Financial and Administrative Services, SAPS presented the budget allocation for the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) period 2009/10 to 2011/12. He provided a background overview of the end year reporting for the 2008/9 financial year. He referred the Committee to certain indicators in the preliminary outcomes for the 2008/09 financial year. SAPS had increased its personnel by an additional 182 754, whilst its vehicle fleet had been increased by the purchase of about 7 350 vehicles. R85 million had been paid for the acquisition of bullet- proof vests, and there had been spending towards modernisation and expansion of the organisation's equipment.

Divisional Commissioner (D/C) Schutte explained that programmes represented the general purposes or objectives on which funds were spent, whilst items represented the estimated expenditure on goods and services required in pursuance of a department's objectives. The organisational unit was entrusted with the task of compiling an estimate and accounting for expenditure against such estimate.

He set out and explained the payments by economic classification. The current payments were the funds directly spent by departments on compensation of employees and goods and services. Transfers and subsidies were made to provinces and municipalities and departmental agencies. Payments for capital assets related to goods that could be used for at least one year and from which future economic benefits or potential were expected to flow.

D/C Schutte quoted from the Minister's Budget Speech of 11 February 2009 in relation to the SAPS’s spending policy direction. Statements that underlined this, as well as other statements from the President's State of the Nation Address were highlighted in the presentation.

D/C Schutte then highlighted the trends in the budget from 2003/04 to 2011/12. The budget would experience a nominal growth of 32,6% from 2008/09 to 2011/12. This strong growth mainly reflected the employment of large numbers of personnel, investment in capital assets and improvements in conditions of service. The Committee was shown different illustrations of the budget allocation through various categories, and also the figures for reductions in baselines that had been introduced by National Treasury in the form of efficiency savings in response to the global economic crunch. The Committee was also shown a view of the budget from the perspective of programmes, in terms of year-on-year increases, and the trends for each of the different programmes, including administration, visible policing, detective services, crime intelligence and protection and security services. D/C Schutte also presented the expenditure trends with respect to items, showing year-to-year increases for current payments, transfers and subsidies and payments for capital assets.
 
The figures for the compensation budget were presented according to categories of expenditure that included the wage bill, enlistments, allowances, overtime, rental allowance, medical schemes and incentives, scarce skills and promotions (see attached presentation for details).

D/C Schutte presented the SAPS enlistment programme for 2002 to 2012, showing the personnel figures and noting targeted milestones since its commencement. The SAPS enlistment programme was also broken down in a table format to show the numbers of entry level constables and civilians enlisted. This programme represented a significant capacity expansion, with figures showing that there had been 64 180 personnel appointed, an increase of 53% between 2002 and 2012.

For the programme on border-line security, Mr Schutte pointed out the expenditure estimates for the period 2009/10 to 2011/12. Detached duties for the functional deployment of members would be introduced to encourage rotation. The Committee was also shown the figures for reservists in the SAPS, who supported policing and reflected the development of a part-time capacity, mainly to supplement the station environment.

Estimated expenditure on the SAPS Automated Vehicle Location (AVL) system was also presented. The AVL would provide an enhanced command and control system for operational response vehicles. It provided for automated vehicle location or positioning updates. Its implementation was in progress and 25 000 units had already been implemented.

The expenditure estimated for the 2010 World Cup tournament provided for the deployment of large numbers of police officials, prior to, during and after the tournament.

The budget also incorporated property management and devolved funds from the Department of Public Works, in respect of maintenance and property rates, municipal services, property leases and capital works.

The budget made provision for training to cater for rapid growth in personnel numbers. Vast numbers of people were trained, ranging from annual enlistments to detective and station commissioners. Training was categorised into a number of fields, as shown on slide 30. The budget also spoke to the issue of Integrated Justice System (IJS) related expenditure, showing trends and estimates for the period from 2005/06 to 2011/12. The Committee was also briefed on the main IJS programmes and the establishment of the Division, Protection and Security Services. The specific budget estimates in relation to each of the four initial projects that were approved by Cabinet for baseline allocation were also shown on slide 35.

The budget estimates and expenditure trends for the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) were given to the Committee. D/C Schutte explained that the trends appeared to show a progressive reduction and this was because the FSL had received an initial allocation that was over and above the budgeted amount in the 2008/09 financial year, resulting in lesser amounts for 2009/10 to 2011/12. He explained to the Committee that the FSL was a budget priority because of the importance of scientific evidence to the investigation of cases. The revamping of the criminal justice system, which would lead to an integrated and cumulative approach contributing to a modernised criminal justice system, was another priority. The SAPS also budgeted for the upgrade of hosting and network infrastructure to increase capacity.

Discussion
Mr T Chaane (ANC, Northwest) commended the SAPS for a job well done during the FIFA Confederations Cup Tournament. He commented that the report that SAPS had just presented did not reflect any significant challenges or critical areas of concern that could require Parliament's intervention or assistance. The Committee would as a result be unable to suggest cuts or increases in the budget.

Mr Chaane asked, with respect to the budget for compensation, whether there was anything else that was included. He commented that there quite often was an abuse of overtime claims, and cited examples of police officers responding to calls at the last possible instant before the personnel’s shift ended, so that they could then claim overtime.

Mr Chaane asked that a exact figure be provided for the vehicles purchased by SAPS.

SAPS Deputy National Commissioner Ms Magda Stander responded that the exact number of police vehicles purchased was 41 295

Mr Chaane furthermore enquired about the reliability of the vehicle tracking system in curbing abuse of police vehicles by police officials.  He was concerned about reports from his province that police officers failed to respond to public requests for assistance because they claimed that there was no vehicle available, whilst at other times a police vehicle could be seen parked at someone's house for long periods.

D/C Schutte responded that the utilisation of vehicles was a challenging issue. The AVL was working and the cost for vehicles with AVL was lower than for those without. The tracking system therefore brought down the cost.

Mr Chaane asked that SAPS provide statistics in terms of its achievements.

Comm Stander responded that the statistics for the current financial year would be released at the end of September.

Mr Chaane asked whether there was any stipulation as to when bullet proof vests had to be used by police officials.

Mr Chaane made a complaint about the slow pace of investigation by police officers, something that he had personally experienced, and the lack of any feedback, whether positive or negative, as to the results of any investigation. The failure to keep the public informed about the progress of an investigation created a negative perception about the competence of the SAPS to deal with crime, and this could be addressed by improving communication.

Mr Chaane indicated that he was not supportive of the reservists being used as part-time labour by the SAPS. There was a danger that bad elements might use this access to police stations and information to collaborate with criminals. The reservists were voluntary, and there was the risk of a temptation to resort to criminality as a way of making a living.

Comm Stander responded that that the Minister had issued a moratorium, and the enlistment of reservists was currently under review.

Mr C De Beer (ANC, Northern Cape) suggested that SAPS should also present a non-financial performance plan, and that this should always be submitted together with SAPS’s strategic plans and budgets. He furthermore suggested that there had to be a synergy of best-practices at police stations so that there was uniformity in service delivery by SAPS. He suggested that there should be team building for station commissioners.

Mr De Beer lamented the absence of port control in a port area in the Northern Cape. He complained that drug trafficking and other illicit activities were on the increase in that area. He also suggested that there should be visibility of police in new communities.

Mr W Faber (DA, Northern Cape) agreed with Mr Chaane that the problem of insufficient police vehicles must be addressed, as it was impractical to expect four police officers to rely on a single vehicle, or from them to be limited to certain allocations of fuel or mileage, as occurred in certain areas. He commented that SAPS efficiency would be improved not only by increasing the numbers of police officers, but also by ensuring that it was a good quality police force. There was no use, for instance, in deploying a Tswana speaking constable to a predominantly Xhosa speaking community.

Mr Faber asked what was being done about police firearms that were lost or stolen.

D/C Schutte responded that SAPS had specific programmes, such as a marking initiative, to identify police weapons. SAPS also had programmes such as the Debt recovery approach and awareness campaigns to improve firearms registrations and the reporting of lost or stolen firearms. SAPS hoped to reduce incidents of loss or theft by requiring the police officers to pay back the cost of a lost or stolen firearm.

Mr A Watson (DA, Mpumalanga) was concerned about the high levels of expenditure as reflected on page 8 of the budget presentation. He asked whether SAPS had also instituted some savings measures.

D/C Schutte responded that National Treasury had already imposed reductions of the budget on SAPS. Other savings measures to reduce costs included the reduction of AST technical systems, and reallocation of costs in the goods and services environment, which were the discretionary aspects of the budget.

Mr Watson asked whether SAPS had made provision for possible monetary claims that could arise from litigation on the gun licensing laws, if any of the SAPS’s actions were declared unconstitutional.

Mr Watson commented that, during oversight visits to areas of Mpumalanga on the borderline with Mozambique, SAPS had uncovered various criminal activities that took place in front of police officials who were responsible for manning the border. These included child trafficking, contraband and drug trafficking. SAPS had written a memorandum to the Provincial Commissioner. However, apart from acknowledging receipt of the memorandum, that Provincial Commissioner had not done anything else. Mr Watson therefore asked what strategies SAPS had in place with respect to the control of borders.

The Chairperson commented that the security at the OR Tambo airport was rather lax. He was also concerned that a mercenary organisation had taken off from a South African airstrip to fly to Equatorial Guinea, and asked if there was any monitoring of the airstrips being done.

Mr M Mokgobi (ANC, Limpopo) also commented about the security of the country's borderlines and added that better security would control the influx of illegal nationals, which had the potential to lead to problems such as xenophobic attacks.

Mr M Makhubela (COPE, Limpopo) asked how much money had been set aside in the budget for police informers.

Mr Makhubela asked whether all police stations received their own budgets, or whether SAPS were clustered, since he had observed that there were some stations within a cluster that were poorly funded compared to others in the same cluster.

Mr Mokgobi asked how crime intelligence worked. He was under the impression that crime intelligence was preventative, in the sense that information gathered from crime intelligence could, for example, be used to prevent the eruption of taxi and gang violence.

Mr A-G Matila (ANC, Gauteng) felt that it was difficult to justify the huge figures in SAPS budget given a previous report that there were police stations, such as Mamelodi, that had remained very poor in terms of service delivery and performance for several years. He asked the SAPS delegation to make links between specific strategies and the budget.

Mr D Bloem (COPE, Free State) congratulated the police for their excellent handling of the security arrangements for the FIFA Confederations cup.

The Chairperson stated that the Auditor-General had raised certain issues, including a report on one police station where 74% of the drivers did not have a valid driver's license. He asked for a response.

In view of the time constraints, the Chairperson asked that SAPS respond to all unanswered questions in writing.

The meeting was adjourned.