Postponed: Briefing on the South African Police Service Budget Vote 28:

Meeting report

The Chairperson convened the virtual meeting and welcomed Members and the delegation from the Department of Police who were in attendance. The purpose of the meeting was for the Committee to be briefed by the Department of Police on the Budget Vote 28 for the South African Police Services (SAPS) and to engage with the Department of Police and SAPS on its Annual Performance Plans (APP) and budgets for the 2022/23 financial year.

The delegation from the Department of Police consisted of Gen Godfrey Lebeya (National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (the DPCI)), Lt-Gen Francinah Vuma (Deputy National Commissioner: Asset and Legal Management), and Brig Michelle Matroos (the Provincial Commander for Corporate Communication).

The Chairperson noted that the Committee received an apology from both the Minister and the Deputy Minister of Police. She asked for input from the Members regarding whether or not the Committee should continue with the meeting with no attendance of the Ministry of Police.

Mr G Michalakis (DA, Free State) stated that the Committee previously set a precedent stressing the importance of having the Ministry of Police attend the meeting where the APPs and budgets are discussed for the Department of Police. Because the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) schedule was quite full, it was necessary for the Committee to have the proper opportunity to engage with the Department of Police with the Minister and the Deputy Minister in attendance, as the Executive Authority of the Department of Police. He expressed his view that the Committee should postpone the meeting and agenda items for a time when the Executive Authority can appear before the Committee to engage with the Members, especially given the virtual nature of the meeting. He requested that the Committee consider postponing the meeting. He expressed concern about whether the Executive Authority would have been present if this were a meeting of the National Assembly’s Committee instead of a Committee from the NCOP.

Ms M Bartlett (ANC, Northern Cape) supported the proposal that the meeting be postponed and rescheduled for when the Minister and Deputy Minister can attend the meeting. It would not be a fruitful meeting without the Executive Authority in attendance. The Committee should write to the Ministry of Police requesting the attendance of the Minister and the Deputy Minister at the next meeting once the date and time was finalised.

Ms N Nkosi (ANC, Mpumalanga) agreed with the proposal to postpone the meeting, as the Committee cannot continue without the Minister and Deputy Minister in attendance.

Lt-Gen Francinah Vuma, Deputy National Commissioner: Asset and Legal Management, SAPS, noted that the National Commissioner also presented his apology for not being able to attend the meeting.

The Chairperson agreed with the Members to postpone the meeting to discuss the APPs and budgets so that the Executive Authority from the Department of Police could attend the meeting, especially given the nature of the discussions scheduled. She also stated that the Committee would be writing to the Ministry in this regard to reschedule the meeting.

The meeting was adjourned.