SAPS Station Monitoring Questionnaire ; Police Portfolio Committee Programme

Meeting report

Adoption of Committee Programme 2010/11
Mr Jeremy Michaels, Committee Secretary, provided an overview of the Committee’s draft strategic plan for 2010. The report included details about the budget for the Committee.

The Committee was scheduled to conduct oversight visits and at the same time carry out surveys at all police stations before the end of the first term. In addition, the Committee had decided to undertake a study tour to the United Kingdom and Canada. This tour would cost approximately R680 000. All in all, a total sum of R1 262 135 00 was needed by the Committee in order for it to fulfil its mandate. The figure would be submitted to the Office of the Chairperson of Chairpersons for approval.

Discussion
Mr G Schneemann (ANC) examined three issues. Firstly, he asked what the actual budget for the Committee was. Secondly, he asked what the reason was for the high figures set aside for public hearings as they were to take place on one day. Thirdly, he questioned whether it was possible for the Committee to reduce the costing of catering.

Mr Michaels was not certain what the actual budget allocation was. However, he recalled that most committees were usually allocated R450 000. He reminded Members that in the previous year, the Committee’s funds had being depleted and had to be supplemented with funds from the consolidated funds. In addition, he agreed with the observation that catering was expensive but there was nothing that could be done about it.

Ms D Schafer (DA) disagreed with the comment that nothing could be done about the cost of catering.

The Chairperson alerted Members to the fact that much of the funds were also spent on advertising, which was very expensive to carry out with limited funds.

Ms A Van Wyk (ANC) proposed that the Committee adopt the draft programme as that would allow it to carry out its functions. The Committee had no alternative choice but to approve the draft.

Mr Schneemann pointed out that the Committee would not have enough time to visit all police stations around the country. Since the Committee was functioning from Cape Town, it should make an effort to try to visit as many police stations as possible within the Western Cape region. Given that the study tour to the UK and Canada was not just a normal tour, the Committee should meet with the House in order to ascertain their opinions and recommendations on issues relating to security.

The Chairperson reminded Members the study tour was still to be made official.

The programme was adopted as amended.

Consideration of Committee Strategic Plan

The Chairperson tabled the draft strategic plan for consideration. The report highlighted the Committee’s core objectives and emphasised its oversight role.

Members wanted to discuss the plan further and therefore did not approve it.

SAPS Station Monitoring Questionnaire

The sub-committee had made a few revisions to the questionnaire. The questionnaire covered a variety of areas including the accounting stations, training of station commissioners, escapees, absenteeism, pass rate of student constables, fitness levels, the number of dockets opened and closed, conviction rates, the number of active reservists, fire arm renewals, disciplinary personnel, grievances by police and the public, the number of vehicles and possible additions, licences for state vehicles, vehicles involved in accidents, infrastructure, fire arms issued at training colleges, the number of deaths occurring in cells, ages of youngest and oldest detectives and archiving of documents.

Discussion
The Chairperson reminded the Committee that the tool had been adopted by Parliament. Also, he cautioned Members that there was a tendency to overstate the issue of resources when police were asked to participate in the questionnaires.

Mr H Chauke (ANC) expressed concern about the security of the monitoring tool as it contained details about the state of the countries security.

The Chairperson agreed with this observation and called for a further discussion on this matter at a later stage.

Mr Schneemann proposed that the “water wing” (coastal and marine patrols etc) be included in the tool. In addition, he commented that there were sporadic incidences where the station commissioners made it difficult for Members in terms of access. He therefore encouraged the Chairperson to ask the Minister of Police to instruct those officials to co-operate with Members.

Ms Van Wyk agreed to include the “water wing” in the revised version of the tool. Furthermore, she requested that the Committee look into making post-trauma counselling obligatory. In most countries, police were not allowed to be in the possession of a firearm before consulting a professional counsellor after a traumatic incident while on duty.

The Chairperson stated that during the next meeting after the Easter break, the Committee would continue with outstanding issues, in the mean time, the questionnaire would be altered accordingly.

Invitation

The Chairperson announced that the Committee had been invited to a meeting with the Committee on Internal Affairs of the Federal German government. The meeting was scheduled for 12 April 2010. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the security issues relating to the 2010 World Cup tournament and also to strengthen Germany’s relations with South Africa.

Ms Van Wyk said that consideration should be made for Members residing in Gauteng, as those living in Cape Town would most probably be able to attend the meeting.

Mr X Ndlovu (IFP) indicated that the party leaders convened on Mondays; therefore it would be appreciated if the Chairperson could delegate other Members to attend the meeting.

Ms Schafer stated that she would attend the meeting

Ms Schneemann proposed that the meeting should take place in the afternoon so that Members who were in Gauteng could have the possibility of attending.

It was decided that the meeting with the party leaders would make a decision on this proposal.

 
The meeting was adjourned.