Department of Police on 2011 Strategic Plan

Meeting report

Department of Police/ South African Police Service: Strategic Plan and budget 2011/12
Lieutenant-General Magda Stander, Deputy National Commissioner, South African Police Service, outlined the strategic direction and priorities for 2011/12 of the South African Police Service (SAPS) / Department of Police. These included improving the image of the police service and establishing specialised units to deal with priority crimes.

Lieutenant-General Stefan Schutte, Chief Financial Officer, SAPS, dealt with the financial figures. He tabled the budget of the Department for the 2011/12 financial year, and gave a comparison with the two previous years’ amounts and the projected amounts for the following two years. The total budget for 2011/12 was R58 billion, which represented a 12.1% increase from the previous year. The projected increases for the next two years were 6.9% and 7.4% respectively, and a 39.9% increase over the five-year period as a whole. Lieut-Gen Schutte then gave a breakdown of the funds allocated to each of the Department’s five main programmes for 2011/12. He set these out as follows: the Administration programme would receive R20 billion, which represented 34.5% of budget, and 11.9% increase. The allocation to Visible Policing  was R24.5 billion, 42% of the budget and 4.9% increase. Detective Services would receive R10 billion, or 17% of the budget, and this was a 10.9% increase. Crime Intelligence had been allocated R2 billion, or 3.5% of the budget, which was a 8.7% increase. Finally, Protection and Security Services  would receive R1.5 billion, or 3% of the budget, a 7.7% increase.

Greater detail was provided concerning the operations of each of the five Programmes.

Programme 1: Administration
Lieut-Gen Schutte outlined the purpose and strategic objectives of the Administration programme, and listed the sub-programmes into which it was divided, as including the Ministry, management, corporate services and property management. The Administration budget of R20 billion was distributed between these four sub-programmes in the following percentages: 0.2%, 0.4%, 87% and 12.4% respectively. Lieut-Gen Schutte listed the targets for 2011/12 of various relevant performance indicators, comparing them with baselines (audited performance for the 2009/10 financial year) where these existed. SAPS would aim to maintain the percentage of personnel in terms of the approved establishment, at 98%. It would aim to maintain the percentage of trainees declared competent upon completion of their training at 88%. 7% of trainees would be trained as detectives. The Department would also aim to maintain the ratio of compensation expenditure to operational expenditure at 71% to 29%, and the personnel to vehicle ratio at 4.51 to 1. A new target for 2011/12 was the procurement and distribution of 6 600 firearms and 9 628 bullet-resistant vests (BRVs) and dot-pin marking of all firearms. The Department would aim to complete 70% of its police facility projects, including new facilities, newly re-established facilities, re-established facilities and repaired and upgraded facilities. 90% of capacity projects, which included reliable electricity and water, and sanitation, and 70% of Information Systems and Information and Communications Technology (IS/ICT) projects would be completed. The number of inspections concluded would be increased from 580 to 600.

Ms Stander said that an examination of the figures relating to the SAPS enlistment programme from 2002 to 2011 showed that there had been an increase of 64.24% in the number of personnel employed. This was projected to increase by another 18% by 2014. The stipend for entry-level constables had been increased from R1 600 to R3 175 per month for the forthcoming financial year. The Department aimed to offer 6 800 courses to 152 000 trainees, placing a priority on training detectives. An existing backlog of 4 845 “untrained detectives” would be reduced by 1 384, with the remainder being addressed over the next two years. Other priorities were training relating to customer service, victim support and violence against women and children.

Lieut-Gen Audrey Mofomme addressed issues around supply chain management in the Programme. She announced the Department’s intention to uniquely identify all BRVs with a unique serial number, linked to the individual to whom the BRV has been issued. By March 2011, 94% had already been numbered. As part of the supply chain management strategy for vehicles, criteria had been developed to ensure that vehicles were appropriate for the physical and organisational environment to which they were issued. No cost figures were given for these projects. 33% would be spent on capital works projects and about 67% on office accommodation, of the R3.7 billion total allocation (which she explained was 6% of the total budget). The Committee had drawn attention to the fact that there were a large number of outstanding payments due to reservists in Mpumalanga.

Lieutenant-General Mzondeki Tshabalala, Head: Information and Security Management, SAPS, described the new Integrated Justice System (IJS). This was intended to improve information flow within the Department and assist transversal integration between departmental systems. He pointed out which departmental systems were involved in each stage of the criminal justice process, and suggested how existing systems needed to be integrated and what new systems had to be put in place (see attached presentation for further details, pages 34 to 35). He noted that Property Control and Exhibit Management (PCEM) had received an allocation of R43 million. He also gave a broad breakdown of the funds allocated to the revamp of the Criminal Justice System (CJS). Of the R1.1 billion, 44% had been earmarked for an integrated mobile vehicle command and control centre, 35% for forensic science laboratories, and 21% for a criminal record centre. He also gave financial figures for the National Network Upgrade Programme (NNUP) (see attached presentation document, page 38, for full details). The business agreement with the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) also needed to be finalised, as did that with Radio Technical Services (TETRA) in the Eastern Cape. Lieut-Gen Tshabalala placed an emphasis on the way that new systems would be integrated with one another.

Programme 2: Visible Policing
Lieutenant General Lesetja Mothiba, Divisional Commissioner: Visible Policing, SAPS, outlined the purpose and strategic objective of Programme 2, and listed the sub-programmes into which it was divided as crime prevention, border security and specialised interventions, which would receive 88%, 6% and 6% respectively of the total R24.4 billion budget. He then ran through relevant performance indicators. The Department would aim to reduce the number of reported serious crimes, and the number of reported serious crimes in the rural environment by 2% each. It aimed to reduce the number of contact crimes and trio crimes by 4% to 7% each. SAPS would aim to increase the number of recoveries of stolen and lost firearms, of stolen and robbed vehicles, and of illicit drugs by 3% each, and the number of recoveries of illegal liquor by 10%. It also aimed to reduce the number of stolen firearms and vehicles by 3% and 7% respectively, and to close all shebeens. It aimed to halve the number of escapes from police custody, to complete all outstanding firearm license applications by the end of July 2011, and ensure that future applications were processed in 90 days. Border security operations would be expanded by 3%, and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) would take over the policing of the Free State and Eastern Cape borderlines. Where it engaged in specialised interventions, SAPS would aim to “stabilise 100% of medium to high risk incidents, and to ensure that the 100% success in the protection of valuable and dangerous cargo was maintained. SAPS would also carry out its Rural Safety Strategy and mobilise communities through Community Policing Forums (CPFs).

Programme 3: Detective Services
Major-General Vinesh Kumar Moonoo, Head: General Investigations, SAPS, outlined the purpose and strategic objective of this programme, and listed the sub-programmes into which it was divided, being crime investigation, specialised investigations, the criminal record centre, and the forensic science laboratory. The sub-programmes would receive 69%, 10%, 12% and 8% respectively of the programme’s total R9.8 billion budget. With regard to the crime investigation sub-programme, Mr Moondo said that the Department would aim to change the detection rate for contact crimes, contact-related crimes, property-related crimes, crimes dependent on police action for detection and other serious crimes from 46%, to between 46% and 65%. SAPS aimed at a 3% increase in court-ready case dockets for the same types of crimes, as well as trio crimes and crimes against women and children. An increase in the detection rate of trio crimes from 14% to 18%, a detection rate of 71% to 75% for crimes against adult women (as against the 71.92% targets in 2009/10), and of 66% to 70% for crimes against children (compared to the previous targets of 66.27%) was also sought.

Gen Moonoo then described the Programme’s operational priorities. Training of detectives and the development of a crime scene management manual for detectives, as well as revisions to the manual dealing with specific crime types, were priorities.

General Godfrey Lebeya, Deputy National Commissioner: Crime Detection, SAPS, addressed the specialised investigations sub-programme. The Department undertook to increase the percentage of court-ready case dockets for fraud and corruption by individuals within the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) cluster by 3%, and to ensure that 30% to 40% of case dockets for serious commercial crime were court-ready. The Department aimed to increase the detection rate for serious commercial crime from 37% to between 40% and 50%, initiate 50 investigations into procurement fraud and corruption, make ready 25 court cases, and restrain R125 million in assets. Gen Lebeya then described the operational priorities of the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigations (DPCI), which included a focus on fraud at municipalities, and the identification of specialised equipment for specific environments.

General Julius Phahlane, Divisional Commissioner: Criminal Record and Forensic Science Services, SAPS, dealt with the remaining sub-programmes of the criminal record centre and forensic science laboratory. The Department undertook to increase the percentage of SAPS 69 forms generated from 63% to 80%, and to increase the percentage of case exhibits processed by the forensic services from 86% to 92%. The operational priorities of the forensic services were to improve the quality of records, including fingerprints and criminal records, and to speed up the processing of evidence, and standardise laboratory procedures across the country.

Programme 4: Crime Intelligence
Dr Chris de Kock, Head: Crime Intelligence, SAPS, described the purpose and strategic objective of Programme 4, and listed the sub-programmes into which it was divided, which were crime intelligence operations, receiving 40% of the budget, and intelligence and information management, which took 60% of the budget of R2.1 billion. The Department undertook to increase the number of network operations resulting from intelligence files by 10%, and the number of crime intelligence products by 8%. The Programme’s operational priorities included a focus on crime syndicates and the recovery of illegal firearms.

Programme 5: Protection and Security Services
Lieut-Gen Mothiba described the purpose and strategic objective of Programme 5, and listed the sub-programmes into which it was divided – VIP protection services, static and mobile security, and the government security regulator, which would receive 35%, 46% and 4% respectively of the Programme’s R1.5 billion budget, with the remaining 15% to be used for operational support. The Department undertook to maintain the percentage of security breaches related to VIP protection at 0%, and eliminate all breaches of static and mobile security. The Department also aimed to audit 50% of strategic installations (as compared to 75% in 2009/10), evaluate 98% of National Key Points, and compile 95% of requested advisory reports. He also pointed out that railway policing and ports of entry had been moved under Programme 2.

Discussion
Mr M Makhubela (Limpopo, COPE) asked if the police had a strategy to combat Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) crime particularly the fatalities.

Lieut-Gen Mothiba pointed out that police killings had decreased, and noted that the Department took this issue very seriously.

The Chairperson alluded to a recent newspaper report which claimed that although deaths in the police had decreased, killings by the police had increased, and demanded an explanation.

Lieut-Gen Mothiba said that the recent incident in Ficksburg was the subject of an investigation. As far as SAPS was concerned, incidents of police brutality were isolated.

Mr D Bloem (Free State, COPE) said that even isolated killings of civilians by police, who were supposed to protect society, were totally unacceptable. He reiterated the Chairperson’s demand for an explanation of the fact that although deaths in the police service had decreased, killings by the police had increased. He also asked how far the investigation of the six policemen accused of killing Andries Tatane had progressed.

Lieut-Gen Mothiba said that the investigation into the Ficksburg incident was being conducted by the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD), not SAPS. He agreed that any loss of life was regrettable, but disputed the accuracy of the newspaper report alluded to by the Chairperson. He said the SAPS was conducting its own research into killings by police.

Mr Makhubela said that while he was aware that families received compensation if someone was killed in the line of duty, he wondered whether officers who were injured also received compensation.

Lieut-Gen Stander said that SAPS took responsibility for meeting any medical costs resulting from injuries incurred by policemen on duty.

Mr Makhubela also inquired about training in the use of rubber bullets, pointing out that they often caused serious injuries and fatalities.

Mr Makhubela said that a specialised unit dealing with crimes against women and children already existed, and asked whether the mention of the establishment of such a unit (on page 5) was not in fact a re-establishment.

Mr Makhubela asked how many officers possessing scarce skills had been retained in the police force.

Mr Makhubela remembered that there had been a problem with the provision of bullet-proof vests to women, and asked whether this had been addressed.

Lieut-Gen Mofomme said that there were bullet-proof vests specially designed for women, but the Department was investigating complaints related to their weight and comfort.

Mr Makhubela said that during an oversight visit the Committee had witnessed uniformed police officers push-starting vehicles. He doubted therefore that the Department’s commitment to providing vehicles that were appropriate to the terrain was being fulfilled. He also asked whether officers working on the baSotho borders were provided with special equipment to deal with the low temperatures in that area.

Lieut-Gen Mofomme said that the Department would ensure that new vehicles purchased would be suitable for the environment in which they were stationed, but existing vehicles might not be. The National Commissioner was in talks with the National Treasury with the aim of funding the replacement of vehicles. She said that officers working on the baSotho border were issued with special uniforms.

Mr Makhubela asked what the Department’s plans were for the 12% of learners in police training programmes who were not declared competent.

Lieut-Gen Stander said that as many as possible were retrained, until it was possible to declare them competent. The rest were removed from the police service.

Mr Makhubela asked which police stations would benefit from the planned capacity projects, and in which provinces these stations were based.

Mr Makhubela said that he did not think the number of inspections concluded was as important as having a strategy to address identified problems.

Lieut-Gen Stander said that the inspection teams did follow up on their inspections to see if the problems they identified were addressed.

Mr Makhubela hoped that the re-skilling of warrant officers (as mentioned on page 26) would enable long-serving officers to be promoted. He said that it was demoralising for officers to have held the same rank for 30 years.

Lieut-Gen Stander said that approximately 5 100 officers would benefit from the new rank system in the SAPS. Years of service would be taken into account.

Mr Makhubela also hoped that the re-skilling would help to lessen the Department’s reliance on consultants where possible, because they were expensive.

Lieut-Gen Tshabalala said that although SAPS employed many consultants, for example, in the area of technology, which was constantly changing, and they were expensive, they were currently indispensable.

Mr Makhubela was delighted to see the progress made on the IJS. He said that he hoped the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) would work closely with SAPS to maintain a register of known criminals who had served their sentences or been released on parole.

Mr Makhubela asked how the targeted 2% decrease in reported serious crimes, and the Crime Investigation budget increase, were calculated. He also asked whether there was a strategy in place to meet the 90-day target period for finalising firearm licenses.

Gen de Kock said that the figure of 2% was estimated on the basis of previous years’ performance.

Lieut-Gen Schutte said that the Resource Allocation Guide (RAG) was used to calculate increases. Personnel compensation was the primary cost driver.

Lieut-Gen Mothiba repeated that the target period for finalising firearm licenses was 90 days.

Mr Makhubela requested an explanation of the function of the Integrity Management Unit.

Gen Lebeya explained that it was intended to ensure that the members of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation were beyond reproach.

Mr Makhubela asked about the duration of the DPCI’s Anti-Corruption Task Team (ACTT), and asked if it was intended to remain in place indefinitely?

Gen Lebeya said that the ACTT would run from 2010-2014.

Mr Makhubela asked whether the building of new police headquarters on a piece of land near the Union Buildings was going ahead.

Lieut-Gen Mofomme said that this land had been found to be unsuitable after a traffic impact assessment had been carried out. The building of new headquarters had been put on hold. She also noted that, in line with the National Commissioner’s statement, the Department’s priority was to provide policing, not comfortable headquarters.

Mr A Watson (Mpumalanga, DA) asked whether the Department’s commitment to completing all outstanding firearm license applications by the end of July 2011 included those applications which had been lodged when there had been talk of changing the law.

Lieut-Gen Mothiba assumed that Mr Watson was referring to the Firearm Control Act of 2004. He said that these applications were included in the Department’s commitment.

Mr Watson said that there were a large number of outstanding payments due to reservists in his province, and that he had not noticed any mention of remuneration of reservists in the budget.

Lieut-Gen Schutte requested further details.

Mr Watson agreed to provide them. He also drew the committee’s attention to an unoccupied police station  at Tweefontein on the R573.

Lieut-Gen Mofomme said that a contractor had not delivered, with the result that it was not yet usable. The project was the responsibility of the Department of Public Works (DPW), and as such was outside the control of SAPS.

Mr Bloem, referring to slide 12, was concerned about the apparent absence of funds dedicated to crime intelligence for 2011/12. He noted that this was a key, if under-appreciated, part of the crime fighting process.

Lieut-Gen Schutte said that the zero figure on page 12 did not imply that no money had been allocated to crime intelligence, but only that none of the additional funds requested from the Treasury to meet the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) baseline for 2011 had been allocated to crime intelligence.

Mr Bloem wanted to know how much money would be spent on training officers in crowd control  or public order.

Lieut-Gen Schutte did not have precise figures at hand.

Mr Bloem requested specific information about the location of the eleven new facilities referred to on page 18 of the presentation, as planned by the Department.

Lieut-Gen Mofomme referred members to the Department’s strategic plan 2010/14. She said that there was a focus on providing facilities to rural areas.

Mr Bloem asked why remuneration of entry-level constables was referred to as a stipend, not a salary, and asked if these constables were not on the payroll.

Lieut-Gen Stander said that until they had completed their training, entry-level constables were not full members of the SAPS.

Mr Bloem asked what the cost of training a single detective was.

Lieut-Gen Schutte did not have precise figures at hand.

Mr Bloem asked where Crime Intelligence training took place.

Mr Bloem asked who police vehicles belonged to, and whether they were owned by SAPS, or by an outside company.

Lieut-Gen Mofomme said that all SAPS vehicles were State-owned.

Mr Bloem responded that Mr L Nzimande, an ANC Member of Kwazulu-Natal, had informed him that vehicles had been outsourced by SAPS in the Eastern Cape.

Lieut-Gen Mofomme said that the Department was not aware that any outsourcing of vehicles was taking place.

The meeting was adjourned.