Question NW2656 to the President of the Republic
19 September 2022 - NW2656
Steenhuisen, Mr JH to ask the President of the Republic
In light of the fact that sections 99 and 206 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, read together, allow for the devolution of policing powers to provinces, particularly where provinces can show that they can do a better job of keeping citizens safe, what (a) would the Western Cape Government need to do in order to get more policing powers so that they can achieve a safer province and (b) is the Government’s policy position regarding the devolution of policing?
Reply:
Section 199(1) of the Constitution provides that the security services of South Africa consists of a single police service. Furthermore, in terms of Section 205(1) of the Constitution, the national police service must be structured to function in the national, provincial and, where appropriate, local spheres of government.
The National Commissioner is, in terms of Section 207 of the Constitution, responsible to control and manage the police service, in accordance with the national policing policy and directions of the Minister of Police. Section 207(4) of the Constitution, further provides that a provincial commissioner is responsible for policing in his or her province, as prescribed by national legislation and subject to the power of the National Commissioner to exercise control over and manage the police service.
The Minister of Police does not have policing powers and therefore cannot assign or transfer the responsibility of the National Commissioner to control and manage the single national police service to a member of the provincial Executive Council or to a Municipal Council.
Such transfer will be inconsistent with the provisions as contained in Chapter 11 of the Constitution, and accordingly, invalid.
The proposed change in the existing legal position will require amendment to the relevant provisions as contained in Chapter 11 of the Constitution.
Government does not have a policy on devolving policing powers to provinces as SAPS is a national competency.
However there is an Integrated Model of Policing Policy to operationalise the policy direction outlined in the National Development Plan and the 2016 White Paper on Policing for a professional and accountable police service, that is underpinned by prudent and efficient use of resources and the use of smart, modern policing approaches.
An integrated police service would act as a single collective voice for policing, helping to strengthen governance and accountability in all spheres of government, and ensure optimal coordination and alignment across the three spheres of government. An integrated approach would:
- enhance visibility and efficiency;
- ensure the most efficient use of resources;
- strengthen outcomes around building safe and resilient communities;
- address inconsistencies associated with the fragmented nature of policing at national and local levels, including the lack of uniform implementation of national policing standards across the board; and,
- provide a basis for the standardisation of policing approaches in order to ensure efficiency and value for money.