Integrated crime prevention strategy: CSPS briefing, with Deputy Minister

Meeting report

Committee announcements

The Chairperson said that the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Service indicated that the police be exempted from the Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services under the Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication Related Information Act 2002. The issue was referred to the Portfolio Committee for approval or rejection which will serve before the Justice Committee on Friday. The Committee will perform the oversight role. The Chairperson proposed finalisation of the process by the Justice Committee before approval or rejection. Further, she added that in the event of approval, the Committee would have a meeting with the date to be concluded after confirmation of availability of Members.

The Justice Committee will be sitting on the 17th of this month and will provide a progress report afterwards.

The Members of the Committee are to produce a staff report to assess their position from an administrative standpoint. This report is not an assessment of staff members because their superiors assess them. Instead, it is to evaluate what they have done. The Committee Secretary must indicate the availability of a file system, how questions have been responded to, and the public’s responses to these complaints. Where gaps are identified in the filing system, an interface with the Committee and National Commissioner will be established.

Mr O Terblanche (DA) agreed with the Chairperson’s comment on the Justice and Correctional Service Committee. He inquired about the progress of the ongoing investigation into the allegations of corruption regarding the Minister, Mr Bheki Cele.

The Chairperson said the question would be addressed by the Justice and Correctional Committee. She suggested that Mr Terblanche write to the Justice Committee as a Member of this Committee and indicate that his question was not addressed in this meeting. 

Mr Terblanche expressed his dissatisfaction over the Chairperson’s response to his concerns.

Committee minutes

The Committee considered and adopted its minutes of 8 March 2023

Overview by the Deputy Minister: Integrated Crime and Violence Prevention Strategy (ICVPS)

Mr Cassel Mathale, Deputy Minister of Police, said that the police cannot succeed indecently. One of the factors for success would be to deal with the root cause of the problem; this strategy is a shared responsibility. Society and country require mobilisation behind this approach to ensure that citizens are aware of the roles they play towards achieving success. The successful implementation of this strategy will go through the three tiers of government together with districts and metros, resulting in a drastic change in how the country handles its problems. Each sphere of government and community has roles to play.

It was noted that a number of provincial departments were present in the meeting.

Briefing on the Integrated Crime and Violence Prevention Strategy (ICVPS)

Ms Lillian Meshele from the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service (CSPS) gave the presentation.

ICVPS is the implementing tool for the 2016 White Paper on Safety and Security. It replaces the 1996 National Crime Prevention Strategy and it recognises that safety is not the responsibility of the South African Police Service alone, by advocating for a ‘whole of government’ and ‘whole of society’ integrated approach to crime and violence prevention. ICVPS therefore sets out government’s strategy to promote an integrated and holistic approach to community safety, crime prevention and violence prevention which requires primary, secondary and tertiary interventions.

Vulnerability to crime and violence is an intersectional issue with some people living in South Africa experiencing greater incidences and/or having less access to protective factors which prevent violence and crime or aid in recovery. It takes into account the cumulative impact of risk factors to crime and violence on a person’s life. This approach requires diverse resources, skills and time, thus the ICVPS advocates for a whole of government and whole of society approach to crime and violence prevention.

Leadership and Coordination

• The Presidency & Offices of Premiers to provide highest level of political leadership, support, and authority to drive implementation at national and provincial level & establish Centres for Crime and Violence Prevention
• Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) cluster to strengthen coordination and streamlining of cluster department activities relating to the ICVPS.
• Department of Cooperative governance (DCoG): develop guidelines and regulations to facilitate the institutionalisation of the ICVPS across government through the District Development Model (DDM)
• The Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation will lead in monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the ICVPS at the national level (including specific indicators and measures to track progress in the Medium-Term Strategic Framework).
• Coordination of ICVPS implementation in the province (informed by the intergovernmental relations framework) through the inclusion and elevation of community safety, crime and violence prevention into strategic priorities and core provincial plans, facilitation of an integrated approach across all provincial government departments; and integration of the ICVPS into provincial monitoring and evaluation systems.

Role of the CSPS on the Implementation of the ICVPS

• Provide input to DCoG on the development of guidelines on community safety; key performance indicators for community safety for Integrated Development Plans (IDPs); and provincial assessment tools for IDPs regarding community safety for provinces.
• Review and strengthen the Community Policing Policy (CPP) and Policy on establishing Community Safety Forum.
• Provide support to PS in implementing community safety functions through developing guidelines, systems and tools, capacity building and technical support.
• Monitor and evaluate by developing standard reporting frameworks for reporting obligations from PS and receiving monitoring reports from PS on support provided to local government regarding community safety.

Role of the PDCS and PS on the Implementation of the ICVPS

• Engage with the Provincial Executive on issues pertaining to community safety to solicit buy-in, collaboration and support for the effective implementation of the ICVPS.
• Develop and/or review Provincial Safety Strategies to align to the ICVPS.
• Ensure establishment of Community Safety Forums.
• Reprioritise budget to fund safety programmes and interventions (ring-fence a minimum of 1% of the goods and services budget for implementation of safety programmes).
• Participate in the development of the One Plans for all Districts and Metros.
• Provide community safety input into IDPs through the DDM led by DCoG.

Role of Local Government

• Economic development and transport/transit systems: addressing structural and environmental factors impacting community safety.
• Design, planning and zoning: addressing implications of spatial injustice (marginalisation, exclusion, disadvantage, and segregation) and its relationship to crime, violence and insecurity.
• Management and maintenance of public spaces and amenities: promoting safety.
• Urban planning and housing provision/upgrading reduce criminality and crime and violence risk and enable protection factors/mechanisms.

(More details can be found in the presentation).

Discussion

The Chairperson questioned if CSPS had consulted the provinces about this strategy beforehand. When will the Agency have a permanent head of the CSPS? The person should have been appointed a long time ago. How and when will this vacancy be filled? How did this strategy fit into the amendment of the SAPS Act? When will the SAPS Amendment Bill be presented to the Committee? She further asked what the role of this policy is and if it will it be included in the SAPS Amendment Bill. In the event that this policy is not included in the Bill, the Committee will invite the Agency to another meeting and provide them with an opportunity to present a correlation between this presentation and the Amendment Bill.

The Chairperson also requested the correlation and comparison between this policy and the Amendment Bill. She asked for a detailed presentation to be made. The correlation must include the White papers on policing, safety, and security. The Agency will be called for briefing where they can present the policy indicating the comparisons.

A further engagement with the Committee will take place later with an attempted physical meeting with the members on Friday.

Mr H Shembeni (EFF) asked if the Department faced any challenges relating to the political will to drive and implement the strategy. How effective are the MMCs and MECs for safety and security of provinces and municipalities in terms of feedback and issues experienced in the areas?

Ms N Peacock (ANC) welcomed the presentation and commended SAPS for the strategy, considering the outcome from the last meeting with the Auditor-General stated that most of their plans were reactive (especially in gender-based violence). This approach to the Integrated Crime and Violence Prevention Strategy will address the concerns raised at the meeting of the Auditor-General.

Mr A Seabi (ANC) applauded the police for their readiness to responsibly manage the growing protests in the country, thereby aiding the peace of the country.

Responses from the Deputy Minister and CSPS

Mr Mathale stated that although technicalities were surrounding a recommended candidate [for Secretary of Police], the recruitment is being finalised by the Dept of Public Service and Admin (DPSA). The force is considering more options with assistance from the DPSA. 

The strikes and labour disputes are utilised to advance an agenda of negotiation with the government. The police have interacted with calls made by political activists on shutting down the country next week. In the past weeks, the police have swiftly responded to protests in institutions over students’ inability to register due to their debts. Various strategies have been activated towards managing the intended protests on Monday. There have been JCPS meetings and leadership of government on the plans to manage any situations that may unfold. The police are confident about properly managing Monday’s intention to shut down the country.

Mr Takalani Ramaru, Acting Secretary of Police, CSPS, confirmed that the provinces were duly consulted in developing the strategy. A continuous collaboration towards the implementation of it will be achieved. He also indicated that the strategy was factored into the Amendment Bill with final stages in view. The Bill will be presented before the Committee as soon as it is finished.  

Lt Gen Lineo Ntshiea, Divisional Commissioner: Human Resources Management, reiterated SAPS readiness for Monday and the operational members had been fully equipped to finalise their plans. Unfortunately, more details of this plan cannot be shared due to the issue’s sensitivity.  

The Chairperson thanked the Ministry and their team for their presence and cooperation, noting the presence of the Western Cape MEC for Community Safety.

The meeting was adjourned.