Department of Safety and Security Budget: briefing

Meeting report

SECURITY AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS SELECT COMMITTEE
8 June 2004
DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY AND SECURITY BUDGET: BRIEFING

Chairperson: Kgoshi Mokoena (ANC)

Documents handed out
Budget Briefing Summary
Budget Briefing Presentation
Treasury National Expenditure Estimates: Details of year-on-year increases

SUMMARY
The Department delivered a presentation that essentially followed the hand-outs attached. During the ensuing discussion, while appreciation was expressed for the increased SAPS budget, many instances of poor service delivery, abuse of power and disrespect for public human rights by individual police officers, and a lack of co-ordination between police stations, were cited. Poor availability of police vehicles was criticized, as was the low level of policing in townships. It was deplored that the Commissioner was not given authority to answer every question, such as the one on the crime rate. New or expanded activities of the police included more railway police and increased policing at certain border posts and harbours.

MINUTES

Department presentation
The Department delegation consisted of Divisional Commissioner, Mr Z Siwundla; Assistant Commissioner, Stephan Schutte, and Assistant Commisioner, Magda Prinsloo. They presented a review of the 2003/04 allocations and actual expenditures on the six main programmes, of which administration and crime prevention together used 72% of the R22 billion total.

Policy determinants such as constitutional prescripts, priorities, directives and aims were touched on as well as a breakdown of expected allocations for the following three years. There would be a year-on-year percentage increase in funding. Regarding vehicle allocation, the number of vehicles and personnel for the nine provinces as percentages of national, were very similar. An interesting related development was that an Integrated Justice System (IJS) was being budgeted for.

Discussion
Mr D Worth (DA) asked whether the 152 000 active police officers envisaged by 2006, would include the railway police, and whether the budgeted R18.4 billion for 2004/5 for compensation of employees would be enough.

He also asked why the budgets for machinery and equipment had dropped so drastically from 25.% in 2003-05, to only 9.6% and 8.2% over the next two years?

Mr C Ntuli (ANC) pointed out that often police were evident in the cities but not visible in the townships, and they did not respond to call-out requests.

Mr S Shiceka (ANC) maintained that there was a significant backlog of resources and asked how many organised crime syndicates were known to the police. He wanted to know the breakdown on new capital works. Did the proposed increased protection at ports include policing, and would incoming cargo be checked for drugs, etc?

Mr F Adams (NNP) recounted how his house had been burgled for the third time with a shockingly poor reaction from police who referred him from pillar to post. No detective appeared, no fingerprints were taken, and it took 40 minutes to take down a statement. In the poor constituency where he lived, there was tension and hostility against the police. Police vehicles were standing for up to six months because of small defects, and some were noticed parked outside shebeens and narcotics dealers. Citizens were erecting boomed no-go areas because they could not rely on the police. At police stations, qualified officials were doing office work.

Mr J le Roux (DA) asked whether there was a choice between 'time off' and being 'paid overtime', whether morale of police officers was low, and how crime levels were being reduced, if at all.

Ms P Hollander (ANC) proposed moral regeneration, and asked why rape testing and counselling of victims could not be done at the police station. She insisted that child protection and counselling should be improved.

Mr M Mzizi (IFP) said that the poor maintenance of buildings was shocking, especially since money was available for this purpose. In the towns with less crime, there were police vehicles, whereas in the townships, where crime was rampant, vehicles were insufficient.

Commissioner Siwundla admitted that there were management problems, but trusted that by September 2004, things would have improved. Planning for new capital works was for the following twelve months. Child protection was a priority. He took note of the perception of a poor attitude from some police officers.

Assistant Commissioner Prinsloo explained that psychologists and pastors were involved in counselling crime victims. There were 18 business plans for programmes to fight drug abuse and for child protection units. Rape testing could not be done at police stations, but this was referred to medical institutions.

Commissioner Siwundla explained that the introduction of railway police, was included in the 148 000 police for that year and eventually 152 000 by 2006. The 25% increase in funding was for special projects in Gauteng, such as a new radio communication system. For policing the borders, there were other options still being negotiated with Treasury.

As for visibility of police officer, he said the 1 120 police stations divided their coverage areas into sectors. The Department was working on the backlog in resources in borderline policing and the reservist system. As for organised crime, there were about 200 crime syndicates. Capital works focused on police stations, basic needs and upgrades.

The ports police funding would be used for scanners, personnel and resources. For railway police, the breakdown was 78% to personnel and 22% to equipment.

To establish commitment in the ranks, the SAPS Code of Conduct was significant. Basic training had been extended from three to six months. Moral regeneration was being tackled at nodal points.

Recorded response time was part of a measurable development model. He was not in a position to comment on the magnitude of the crime situation.

They expected that by increasing the number of police, overtime would stabilise. Police could elect whether they were to be paid overtime or be given time off.

The Department was cutting down on the approval time for vehicle repairs. Funding was not a problem, and there was a courier service for dispatching parts. Contracts for labour hire and parts for fleet repairs were sometimes not up to standard.

Mr A Moseki (ANC) was concerned about poor police service to the farming community. There was no urgency unless a high profile person or the media was involved. Surely the application of the Batho Pele principles was supposed to improve attitudes? He should be obliged to report on the crime rate in the country.

Mr B Mkhaliphi (ANC) was appalled at the occurrence of atrocities, often with a racial bias, by provincial commissioners. There should be a task team to focus on the unchanged attitude of officers. Response time was another serious issue, and there were problems with areas of jurisdiction. Co-ordination between offices needed attention to improve service delivery.

Ms Hollander returned to the traumatisation of rape victims who had to be moved to medical centres for examination. Were reservists ever on duty with no commander?

Mr Adams mentioned that police were subject to abuse and ended up in institutions. Polmed sometimes refused to pay out. In one instance, a widow had to wait one year for payment of her benefits. Police gave of their utmost and had to be supported. Lower-ranking police had to be given increased remuneration because they could not survive financially on their salaries.

Mr Mzizi pointed to the different levels of service at town and township police stations. Having to stand in a queue while making a statement on a crime affected the dignity of the crime victim, as happened in township police stations. After the Katlehong riot, a white magistrate refused the arrest of a white suspect who had killed black children. Some members of the police and metro police had beaten and brutalised people.

Mr Ntuli recounted how that police captain had admitted that he acted according to his political bias but maintained that, because he could vote, he was entitled to be biased. Mr Ntuli felt that this man was given too much power.

The Chair asked that South Africa's worst 200 criminals be arrested. The Commisioner should confirm or deny that much money was spent on suspended officers. Parliamentary police should be trained to salute, not harass Members of Parliament. Were underpaid police doing much moonlighting? Provincial Commissioners and their departments should get together with the Committee.

Commissioner Siwundla confirmed that moonlighting was practised.
Parliamentary police were an inherited amalgamation.
Police were doing their best to arrest top criminals, prevent crimes on farms, minimise response times and universally apply Batho Pele principles.
For rape victims, the best practical way was to do a medical investigation at the nearest clinic.
The problem with Polmed would be attended to if an official complaint letter was submitted.

Commisioner Prinsloo explained that social workers were also trained to assist in forensic work. In training courses, the Batho Pele principles were stressed to improve service delivery and respect for human rights.
Some 350 police had been suspended with no salary, and 40 with salary.
Processing payments for widows was often delayed by forms not having been completed, lack of information from the widows, no certificates forthcoming, visiting relatives and the many cultural complications. A meeting of the Committee with the Provincial Commissioners was a good idea.

Commisioner Schutte explained that, whereas 6% had been budgeted for salary increases (plus 1% for pay progression), the exact figure was subject to negotiations with the unions. The SAPS/Metro police relationship would be addressed, as well as demarcation issues.

Mr S Shiceka (ANC) deplored the absence of the Minister at the meeting, and felt that the Commissioners should have been given authority to answer every question asked.

The Chair adjourned the meeting.