Hansard: NA: Mini-plenary 6

House: National Assembly

Date of Meeting: 24 May 2022

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Minutes

UNREVISED HANSARD
MINI PLENARY - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
TUESDAY, 24 MAY 2022
VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE INVESTIGATIVE DIRECTORATE AND CIVILIAN SECRETARIAT FOR THE POLICE SERVICE)
Watch: Mini-Plenary
PROCEEDINGS OF THE MINI-PLENARY SESSION – NATIONAL ASSEMBLY CHAMBER
____
Members of the mini-plenary session met on the virtual platform at 16:30.
The House Chairperson Mr C T Frolick took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayer or meditation.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Thank you. Hon members, before we proceed, I would like to remind you that the virtual mini-plenary is deemed to be in the precinct of Parliament and thus constitutes a meeting of the National Assembly for debating purposes only. In addition to the Rules of virtual sittings, the Rules of the National Assembly including the Rules of debate apply. Members enjoy the same powers and privileges that apply in a sitting of the National Assembly.

VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE INVESTIGATIVE DIRECTORATE AND CIVILIAN SECRETARIAT FOR THE POLICE SERVICE)

Members should equally note that anything said on the virtual platform is deemed to have been said in the House and may be ruled upon.
All members who have logged in shall be considered to be present and are requested to mute their microphones and only unmute when recognised to speak. This is because the mics are very sensitive and will pick up noises that may disturb the attention of other members. When recognised to speak, please unmute your microphone and connect your audio as well as your video. Members may make use of the icons on the bar at the bottom of their screens which has the option that allows members to put up his or her hand to raise points of order.
The secretariat will assist in this regard. When using the virtual system, members are urged to refrain or desist from unnecessary points of order. We shall now proceed to the Order, which is a debate on Budget Vote 28, 24 & 21 police including independent police investigative directorate & civilian secretariat for the police service: Appropriation Bill. I will now recognise the Minister of Police.

APPROPRIATION BILL
Debate on Vote No 28, 24 & 21: Police (including Independent Police Investigative Directorate & Civilian Secretariat for the Police Service:

The MINISTER OF POLICE: Hon Chairperson, hon Ministers, hon Deputy Ministers, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Ms Tina Joemat-Peterson and members of the portfolio committee, hon MECs, Members of Parliament, National Commissioner of the South African Police, SAPS, General Fannie Masemola, National Head of Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, DPCI, Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya, Acting Secretary of Police, Mr Takalani Ramaru, Executive Director of Independent Police Investigative Directorate, Ms Dikeledi Ntlaseng, IPID, Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority
 PSiRA Chief Executive Officer, Mr Manabela Chauke, DPCI Judge Kgomo, the leadership of organized labour, sanibonani, Dumelang, Molweni, Avuxeni,Good Afternoon.

Today I address this august House delivering the Budget Vote of the Police, IPID, and the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service, CSPS.
As the country and the world at large embraces the economic, social and political rainbow, post the devastating COVID-19 overcast in the past two-years.
The three-legged pot in the Ministry of Police, together with the supporting entities have reinforced and regrouped in support of a call to action of taking steps to strengthen our democracy and reaffirm our commitment to a Constitution that protects us all. Even the strongest three-egged pot cannot
perform miracles in the absence of adequate collection of strong firewood. Therefore, after constructive deliberations and progressive diagnosis, we all agreed that the strongest firewood that will make the three-legged pot police, IPID and the CSPS to be effective and efficient, that is the communities we serve. Hon members, it is on that score we dedicate this Budget Vote to the rebuilding and strengthening community relations in the fight against crime. Today, we say ...
IsiZulu:
Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu. Iphoyisa, iphoyisa ngomphakathi.
English:
We are anchoring our police to the communities they serve. We
are advocating for progressive change. Communities must be
able to say these are our police and the police must equally
embrace communities and continue to serve and protect.
His Excellency, President Cyril Ramaphosa during the State of
the Nation Address said and I quote:
Another area of immediate attention will be the re-
establishment of the Community Policing Forums, CPFs, to

 
UNREVISED HANSARD
MINI PLENARY - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
TUESDAY, 24 MAY 2022
VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
INVESTIGATIVE DIRECTORATE AND CIVILIAN SECRETARIAT FOR THE
POLICE SERVICE)
Page: 6
improve relations and co-ordination between local police
and residents of the areas they serve.
Chairperson, before the dawn of democracy in 1994, I attended
a Safety and Security Training in Scotland Yard – London,
together with Dr Johan Burger of the Institute for Security
Studies. Part of the training was to conceptualise and
understand the notion of CPFs. Hence, I took particular
interest in the article Dr Burger published on the 1st of
November last year where he penned his views on the current
state of our CPFs.
It therefore, becomes increasingly imperative that we minimise
debates in this regard and meaningfully engage in a discourse
that will ensure that the directives of His Excellency the
President are realised.
Hon members, you would recall that the establishment of CPFs
is provided for in section 221(2) of the Constitution and
section 19(1) of the South African Police Services Act 68 of
1995. The CPFs and business together with the police must

 
UNREVISED HANSARD
MINI PLENARY - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
TUESDAY, 24 MAY 2022
VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
INVESTIGATIVE DIRECTORATE AND CIVILIAN SECRETARIAT FOR THE
POLICE SERVICE)
Page: 7
establish and maintain a partnership with the community,
promote communication between the police and the community.
Furthermore, promote co-operation and ensure that the police
fulfil the needs of the community in respect of policing,
improve the service of the police to the community, improve
transparency and accountability of the SAPS and promote joint
problem identification and problem solving.
Therefore, the philosophy of CPFs is not new, in fact it has
been proven that, the more involved law enforcement is with
the residents they are sworn to protect, the more residents
can help police achieve their goals of reducing crime. To
date, there are currently 772 functional CPFs countrywide.
The death of over 300 people during the weeklong lawlessness
that befell us in July last year, will remain one of the
darkest times in our democratic history. The unrest called for
clear reforms of security services and at the same time
exposed the divide between the police and the communities they
serve. The police needed the community and the community

 
UNREVISED HANSARD
MINI PLENARY - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
TUESDAY, 24 MAY 2022
VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
INVESTIGATIVE DIRECTORATE AND CIVILIAN SECRETARIAT FOR THE
POLICE SERVICE)
Page: 8
needed the police. But it was clear the CPF was at its weakest
and there was little to no trust between the police and the
communities.
The July 2021, unrests that engulfed South Africa posed a
serious security threat to the country’s economy and
highlighted some security gaps in intelligence-driven
collaboration between the private security industry and other
government law enforcement agencies.
In responding decisively to the July unrests, a total of 19
instigators of violence were arrested and more will be
arrested, Chairperson, including those who meted untold
brutality to another race group, under the disguise of
defending their community and property during the unrest. To
date 36 suspects have been arrested for their alleged
respective roles in the murder of 35 people and 31 people have
been arrested for attempted murder in Phoenix.
Meanwhile, PSiRA has conducted an analysis to determine what
went wrong and what needs to be improved in terms of the

 
UNREVISED HANSARD
MINI PLENARY - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
TUESDAY, 24 MAY 2022
VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
INVESTIGATIVE DIRECTORATE AND CIVILIAN SECRETARIAT FOR THE
POLICE SERVICE)
Page: 9
private security industry’s involvement as a force-multiplier
in the fight against crime and the protection of the country’s
economy. PSiRA believes that a concerted effort in building
relations between the industry and other law enforcement
agencies in terms of information gathering and sharing will go
a long way in preventing similar incidents in the future.
In line with the many improvements to follow, the
collaboration of PSIRA, SAPS and State Security Agency, SSA,
will see the Authority launching a mandatory counter-terrorism
awareness campaign in the form of 40-hours of training for the
private security industry in the next two quarters of this
financial year. PSiRA and SAPS will collaborate to ensure a
practical working relationship between the Private Security
Industry and SSA in line with the established and existing
partnership frameworks.
Hon members, I deliver this Budget Vote with a clear
presidential directive in mind, for the police to be embedded
in the communities they serve.

 
UNREVISED HANSARD
MINI PLENARY - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
TUESDAY, 24 MAY 2022
VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
INVESTIGATIVE DIRECTORATE AND CIVILIAN SECRETARIAT FOR THE
POLICE SERVICE)
Page: 10
Chairperson, I present to you the South African Police Service
Budget Vote 28 for this financial year to the amount of
R100,695 billion, the Independent Police Investigative
Directorate, IPID, Budget Vote 24 to the amount of R357
million and the Department of the Civilian Secretariat for
Police Service Budget Vote 21 to the amount of R150 228
million.
SAPS has allocated R10 million to support community outreach
programmes. The robust and progressive community engagements
through Izimbizo will continue to gain priority and momentum
going forward.
Our visits to Pimville, Diepsloot, Botshabelo, Mafikeng,
Lusikisiki, Delft, Khayelitsha, Loskop, Daggakraal, Phoenix,
Amaoti, Malamulele, Bushbuckridge, Paballelo and many more,
are evident towards achieving our goal of promoting community
participation in governance.
In responding effectively to public unrests, capacitation of
Public Order Policing, POP, Units, through recruitment has

 
UNREVISED HANSARD
MINI PLENARY - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
TUESDAY, 24 MAY 2022
VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
INVESTIGATIVE DIRECTORATE AND CIVILIAN SECRETARIAT FOR THE
POLICE SERVICE)
Page: 11
been prioritised. POP Units will receive an additional 4 000
members during this financial year. An amount of R150 million
was allocated to the operational response environment as part
of once-off allocations over a three-year period for capital
modernisation, including procurement of armoured vehicles and
aircraft and a further R9 million allocation has been set
aside for the procurement of protective gear for POP members.
Equally, the CSPS, as the custodians of civilian oversight
have allocated R4,8 million to improve effective community
partnerships in this regard. Meanwhile, the CSPS has developed
the National Policing Policy which provides the policy
direction for responding to the current policing, crime and
violence challenges in the country.
Chairperson, it is imperative to note a significant milestone,
where, in March 2022, Cabinet approved the Integrated Crime
Prevention and Violence Strategy, which is an implementing
tool for the 2016 White Paper on Safety and Security with the
primary objective of addressing the root causes of crime and

 
UNREVISED HANSARD
MINI PLENARY - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
TUESDAY, 24 MAY 2022
VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
INVESTIGATIVE DIRECTORATE AND CIVILIAN SECRETARIAT FOR THE
POLICE SERVICE)
Page: 12
violence through whole of government and whole of society
approach to crime and violence prevention in the country.
The balanced yet independent approach in the functioning of
the SAPS, IPID and CSPS will contribute positively in the
fight against crime. The three institutions will forever be
encouraged to operate independently of each other when
responding to their respective legislative mandates.
While CSPS is providing policy advice and strategic oversight,
the IPID is a significant watchdog, in ensuring that the SAPS
constitutional mandate is realised. In this regard, the IPID
plays a critical role in contributing towards the improvement
in police conduct by engaging in station lectures across all
provinces. In the previous financial year 33 station lecture
awareness sessions were conducted and a total of 40 station
lectures will be undertaken this financial year.
Moreover, in June 2021 IPID launched Access and Awareness
Rural Strategy which is aimed at improving accessibility to

 
UNREVISED HANSARD
MINI PLENARY - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
TUESDAY, 24 MAY 2022
VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
INVESTIGATIVE DIRECTORATE AND CIVILIAN SECRETARIAT FOR THE
POLICE SERVICE)
Page: 13
IPID services and strengthening relations with stakeholders in
rural areas.
During this financial year IPID will continue to establish new
offices in other provinces. To date, 11 new offices were
established in three provinces in the previous financial year.
This administration is working with agility to improve
community relations at all levels of governance. The three-
legged pot which is SAPS, IPID and CSPS is hell-bent in
restoring the trust deficit that impacts on our overall fight
against crime. The organisation has taken up the challenge to
rebuild itself and at the same time, improve its image and
regain the trust in the communities we serve.
Yes, hon members, the trio led by the Ministry is similar to
an active construction site, as the much needed repairs,
demolitions, alterations, restorations and refurbishments gets
underway. All these minor to major changes are aimed at
improving the overall functionality of the SAPS and supporting
entities, especially at police station level.

 
UNREVISED HANSARD
MINI PLENARY - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
TUESDAY, 24 MAY 2022
VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
INVESTIGATIVE DIRECTORATE AND CIVILIAN SECRETARIAT FOR THE
POLICE SERVICE)
Page: 14
As we roll out plans to rebuild and strengthen community
relations in the fight against crime - key to this, is to
channel adequate and functional resources and manpower to
police stations to ensure that the fight against crime is
effective and efficient in winning public confidence in
policing. Chairperson, to qualify the above, the National
Treasury allocated additional funding for the recruitment of
12 000 new police trainees over the Medium-Term Expenditure
Framework, MTEF, with an allocation of R5,8 billion to
rejuvenate and improve policing capacity.
For the current financial year, the biggest intake of 10 000
trainees is aimed at closing the gap of the past two years,
where training was halted due to COVID-19 lockdown. To this
end, over R500 million has also been reserved from the
baseline for expenditure associated with trainees undergoing
basic police development. A further recruitment of additional
5 000 new recruits for the next financial year will commence
in June 2022. While an additional 200 graduates, especially
Bsc Graduate will commence training in August 2022.

 
UNREVISED HANSARD
MINI PLENARY - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
TUESDAY, 24 MAY 2022
VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
INVESTIGATIVE DIRECTORATE AND CIVILIAN SECRETARIAT FOR THE
POLICE SERVICE)
Page: 15
To date, myself, Deputy Minister Mathale and the national
commissioner have visited and addressed the new police
recruits stationed at SAPS Tshwane Academy and Kimberly South
African National Defence Force, SANDF, 3 South African
Infantry, SAI, Battalion base respectively. As the Ministry,
we remain confident in the ability of the SAPS and SANDF
management to iron out some of the teething problems
experienced at some of our training facilities.
Provinces with the highest incidence of reported crime, have
been prioritised in terms of the allocation of baseline
budgets. The top 30 High Contact Crime Weight Stations have
been prioritised in terms of resources which includes an
additional budget allocation of R62 million, while R25 million
additional allocation will be directed to safety and security
at police stations. The KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Eastern Cape,
Western Cape and Limpopo provinces received the biggest
allocation of funds in this regard.
A further R26 million additional funding will continue to
capacitate the Anti-Gang Units in this regard. The Western

 
UNREVISED HANSARD
MINI PLENARY - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
TUESDAY, 24 MAY 2022
VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
INVESTIGATIVE DIRECTORATE AND CIVILIAN SECRETARIAT FOR THE
POLICE SERVICE)
Page: 16
Cape province has the lion’s share of this budget with R10
million allocated towards preventing, combating and
investigating gang violence in that province. Hon members,
this budget will support continued efforts and operational
plans to deal with stations that contributes high murder and
attempted murder statistics including other violent crimes.
The additional budget allocations over and above the baseline
budget must make a difference in Umlazi, Inanda, Plessislaer,
Harare, Kraaifontein, Delft, Mfuleni, Khayelitsha, Kagiso,
Thohoyandou and Lusikisiki and others.
Station commanders and their members, including provincial
commissioners and their management teams will have to occupy
the streets more often than before and saturate these places
with continuous crime prevention and multi-disciplinary
operations. This budget allocation must be spent to its
entirety. We will not accept any roll overs in this financial
year, otherwise there will be consequences.

 
UNREVISED HANSARD
MINI PLENARY - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
TUESDAY, 24 MAY 2022
VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
INVESTIGATIVE DIRECTORATE AND CIVILIAN SECRETARIAT FOR THE
POLICE SERVICE)
Page: 17
Key in achieving the ultimate goal of halving violent crimes
by 2030, policing at station level must be enhanced and
adequately resourced. This includes significant investment
towards boosting the morale of our members. No matter the
willingness of the communities to enhance partnerships with
the police, a demoralised workforce will not add value in the
fight against crime. We therefore call upon the national
commissioner and his management to prioritise the wellness of
police members across the board.
I am happy to announce that the last leg of the agreement
reached with organized labour during our discussion will be
implemented. This agreement will see 8 607 constables and
sergeants promoted to sergeants and warrant officers
respectively. These promotions will contribute significantly
to an improvement in employee morale.
The organization seeks to renew the trust and confidence
amongst the people of South Africa, through enhanced service
and performance. With every planned rebuilding project, there
is a design or a plan that must be followed. The required

 
UNREVISED HANSARD
MINI PLENARY - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
TUESDAY, 24 MAY 2022
VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
INVESTIGATIVE DIRECTORATE AND CIVILIAN SECRETARIAT FOR THE
POLICE SERVICE)
Page: 18
materials to build a credible and solid structure are being
prioritised. After all, “Trust is earned when actions meet
words.”
There are four pillars that form the cornerstone of this
rebuilding project and they include the following. Increased
recruitment of more members to bolster police response times
and police visibility, adequate and increased funding of
gender-based violence and femicide, GBVF, investigations and
programmes, capacitation and resourcing of critical and
specialised units of the SAPS, strengthening community
organisations and partnerships with law enforcement to join
the fight against crime.
Chairperson, to date, investigations of Truth and
Reconciliation Commission, TRC, cases emanating from the
Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act 34 of 1995
investigations are receiving priority by the DPCI which has
since hired investigators, on a three-year contract basis. Of
these investigators, 34 have been specifically assigned to
investigate the TRC recommended cases.

 
UNREVISED HANSARD
MINI PLENARY - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
TUESDAY, 24 MAY 2022
VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
INVESTIGATIVE DIRECTORATE AND CIVILIAN SECRETARIAT FOR THE
POLICE SERVICE)
Page: 19
These contract workers started in 1 April 2021. From the 100
TRC cases on hand, six of these are currently on the court
roll, with an inquest case also in court. Seventeen cases have
been referred to the National Prosecuting Authority, NPA, for
decision while 76 cases are under investigation.
IsiZulu:
Icala aliboli. Nalawo abawenza kudala azolandelwa.
English:
Furthermore, the DPCI will be attending to the 22 210 cases
involving national priority offences. Of these, more than 13
000 accused are appearing before the various court rolls in
the country. It is worth mentioning that last financial year
the directorate effected approximately 2 400 arrests and
secured 1 137 convictions. Of these arrests, 342 were for
illegal mining, 178 for damage to fuel pipelines, 146 for
cash-in-transits of which 10 life sentences and 365-years
imprisonment have been secured. Ten life sentences with 215-
years were secured for murder of police officials.

 
UNREVISED HANSARD
MINI PLENARY - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
TUESDAY, 24 MAY 2022
VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
INVESTIGATIVE DIRECTORATE AND CIVILIAN SECRETARIAT FOR THE
POLICE SERVICE)
Page: 20
The DPCI is one of the key role players in the Fusion Centre.
Since its establishment, about R3,39 billion from the proceeds
of crime which includes COVID-19 relief corruption has been
recovered and more than R613,2 million in suspected criminal
funds frozen. As at the end of the financial year, a total of
230 incidents were registered with 171 under investigation, 61
cases are in court with 129 accused and 20 court cases have
been finalised with 19 convictions.
In the VBS Mutual Bank, VBS, case, the investigation team
recorded more than 2 000 statements. To date, 27 suspects have
been arrested and are facing 188 counts of patterns of
racketeering activities, money laundering, corruption, fraud,
and theft in the courts of law. Amongst the 22 000 cases
handled by the DPCI, is the Steinhoff International Holdings
NV investigations. Even though the unforeseen delays in
resolving this matter are concerning, so far, over 300
statements have been obtained and this highly complex
investigation extends to 12 other jurisdictions. Currently,
there are 32 additional witnesses whose statements are to be
obtained in South Africa so that we proceed.

 
UNREVISED HANSARD
MINI PLENARY - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
TUESDAY, 24 MAY 2022
VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
INVESTIGATIVE DIRECTORATE AND CIVILIAN SECRETARIAT FOR THE
POLICE SERVICE)
Page: 21
The DPCI shall in conjunction with the investigating
directorate of the NPA, also be focusing on the cases
emanating from the Zondo Commission. Of the various
recommendations relating to law enforcement, a number of cases
were already under investigation and some of these matters
were already serving before court.
In the 2021-22 financial year, the DPCI contributed towards
the preservation, restraint and forfeiture orders impacting on
R208,9 million of criminal networks assets.
Hon members, there is a progressive and significant down
management of deoxyribonucleic acid, DNA, backlog within the
SAPS Forensic Science Laboratory to date. The backlog has been
reduced by 38,71% from 251 603 to 154 204. To this end,
additional allocation of R50 million will support all Buccal
Samples and Collection kits operations.
Meanwhile, another additional budget of R100 million will be
allocated to provinces over and above baselines to support all
programmes related to GBVF Action Plans and Child Abuse and

 
UNREVISED HANSARD
MINI PLENARY - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
TUESDAY, 24 MAY 2022
VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
INVESTIGATIVE DIRECTORATE AND CIVILIAN SECRETARIAT FOR THE
POLICE SERVICE)
Page: 22
Sexual Offences, FCS, Units, at SAPS, resourcing including the
top 30 stations. Continuous breakthrough in GBVF related
crimes boosts public confidence in policing. True to our
Gender-Based Violence and Sexual Offences Action Plan, R1,3
billion is allocated to baseline activities related to the
GBVF and resourcing of FCS Units. The R1,263 billion of this
amount will go towards the units’ operational expenses
including human and other resources, R30 million will be
geared towards the servicing of youth, children and vulnerable
groups including awareness campaigns.
Chairperson, on the 29th of April, the Police Ministry led an
Imbizo hosted in Lusikisiki. This community engagement further
showed that the residents of this area, which has one of the
highest rape incidents in the country, struggles with access
to police services due to shortage of police vehicles. Urgent
policing interventions have since been put in place to allow
for the better servicing of this community. But it is also
equally crucial that victims of this dreadful crime are met
with professional services at the point of reporting.

 
UNREVISED HANSARD
MINI PLENARY - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
TUESDAY, 24 MAY 2022
VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
INVESTIGATIVE DIRECTORATE AND CIVILIAN SECRETARIAT FOR THE
POLICE SERVICE)
Page: 23
To date, GBVF desks at police stations have been established
at the top 30 National GBV Hotspots such as Lusikisiki. The
GBVF desks are also available at all 1 153 police stations
countrywide. These desks are staffed with members trained in
GBVF related courses. To date 82, 577 police officers have
undergone such training.
President Cyril Ramaphosa pronounced succinctly in his state
of the nation address, that and I quote:
Infrastructure the ongoing vandalism and theft of
economic infrastructure has damaged confidence and
severely constrained economic growth, investment and job
creation.
He then instructed the government especially the police to
move on.
These crimes will not be allowed to go an unabated, this is
why task-teams will be established in 18 identified hotspots,
linked to municipalities with highest reported cases of such

 
UNREVISED HANSARD
MINI PLENARY - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
TUESDAY, 24 MAY 2022
VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
INVESTIGATIVE DIRECTORATE AND CIVILIAN SECRETARIAT FOR THE
POLICE SERVICE)
Page: 24
crimes. These multidisciplinary task-teams will focus on
extortion at construction sites and businesses and illegal
mining. The highly-skilled teams will tackle theft of non-
ferrous metals, copper cables and put in measures to combat
and stop illegal mining. Residents of Pimville, Diepkloof,
Eldorado Park, Klipspruit and many more communities cannot
continue to be held ransom and left in the dark due to cable
theft and related crimes.
Task-teams will also tackle essential infrastructure crimes
such as the tampering, damaging or destroying of
infrastructure related to energy, transport, water, sanitation
and communication services.
Critical Infrastructure crimes will also be on their radar
which involves the attack, damage or theft of fuel pipelines
and related crimes. Legislation to this effect is also
underway.
Ms T M JOEMAT-PETTERSSON: Thank you very much, hon House
Chairperson. I wish to greet our Minister and all our

 
UNREVISED HANSARD
MINI PLENARY - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
TUESDAY, 24 MAY 2022
VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
INVESTIGATIVE DIRECTORATE AND CIVILIAN SECRETARIAT FOR THE
POLICE SERVICE)
Page: 25
Chairpersons, members of the House, the National Minister,
Deputy Minister, National Commissioner, all members of the
security cluster, our police men and women in particular. The
tragic murder and brutal death of Ms Namhla Mtwa serves as the
reminder of the siege of women and the fear women live in
every single day. Our women are being viciously murdered at
the hands of boyfriends, husbands and intimate partners. The
hon President recently stated, and I quote:
The unacceptably high levels of gender-based violence and
femicide in South Africa are a blight on our national
conscience, and a betrayal of our constitutional order
for which so many fought, and for which so many gave
their lives. South Africa holds the shameful distinction
of being one of the most unsafe places in the world to be
a woman. We have amongst the highest rates of intimate
partner violence.
However, hon House Chairperson, the committee expresses our
sincere condolences to Namhla’s family and the loved ones. May
her beautiful soul rest in peace. It is fair the extremely

 
UNREVISED HANSARD
MINI PLENARY - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
TUESDAY, 24 MAY 2022
VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
INVESTIGATIVE DIRECTORATE AND CIVILIAN SECRETARIAT FOR THE
POLICE SERVICE)
Page: 26
concerning that evidence has emerged that the perpetrator of
this heinous crime is a member of the police service. Of
course, the police service is a microcosm of our society and
they are not immune to be in victims or perpetrators of
domestic violence. However, members of the police service must
serve and protect our citizens, but far too often they
themselves are on the wrong side of the law. We call on all
those National Commissioner and the Minister as well as the
committee to leave no stone unturned in ensuring justice for
Namhla and all other women viciously murdered by intimate
partners.
Hon House Chairperson, we have adopted the Criminal Law
Forensic Procedures Amendment Bill last week which enables the
police to take deoxyribonucleic acid, DNA, samples from all
convicted schedule at offenders. This is a massive step
forward to bring justice to victims of gender-based violence
and femicide. During public hearings, the committee was told
of one of extreme case that illustrates the importance of this
Bill. A certain Mr Mickey was convicted on a charge of common
assault and received a suspended sentence. However, before

 
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being released his DNA was taken and loaded on for convicted
offenders index of the DNA database. Because of this simple
act of taking his DNA sample, he was linked to several crimes
for which he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 15 times of
life imprisonment and 12 times of 10 years imprisonment. The
power of this Amendment Bill is truly immense and we must
salute the Minister and his team for assisting us in
processing this Bill so fast.
It is almost unprecedented for all members, hon House
Chairperson, to support an Amendment Bill unanimously. In this
case politics are set aside for the common good of our people.
We would especially like to thank hon Whitfield for proposing
the adoption of the Bill and the support of all political
parties in the adoption of the Amendment Bill. The SA Police
Service, SAPS, has allocated approximately R1,3 billion on its
baseline activities related to the gender-based violence and
resourcing of Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual
Offences, FCS, units. R1,2 billion of FCS units human and
other resources that include operational expenses, R30 million
on youth, children and vulnerable groups including awareness

 
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campaigns. In addition to the buck R70 million plus
R30 million was allocated to provinces for prioritisation of
gender-based responses and the strengthening of FCS units.
This will go a long way to address the scourge of gender-based
violence and femicide that plagues our society and terrorises
our women and young girls.
Hon House Chairperson, our country has seen violence and
injustices in the July 2021 unrest that unfolded in parts of
KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. This shocked our nation
tremendously. The Portfolio Committee on Police is committed
to deal with the findings and recommendations of this report
together with that of the SA Human Rights Commission hearings
into the unrest. Once referred to Parliament, this is an
uncompromising directive from President Ramaphosa for us to
get to the bottom of over complaints which were levelled.
Business is relied heavily on private security providers to
secure the properties. During the hearings Private Security
Industry Regulatory Authority, Psira, received many calls from
security service providers requesting that they contact police

 
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management and Ministers to request them to allow the security
service providers to assist in defending infrastructure under
attack. They were prepared to play a bigger role beyond just
fulfilling the mandates of the ... [Inaudible.] ... clients.
Psira addressed various accusations of the abusive power of
the private security service providers. The authority
reiterated that private security guards are not allowed to
search or arrest members of the public, but may do so within
the property-owned business clients. Security officers are
also not allowed to set up road block on public roads or to
investigate members of the public.
Psira indicated that security guards found guilty of
unlawfully setting up a road block, arresting or assaulting
members of the public will be held to account Psira and to
SAPS. Psira informed us that steps will be taken to
investigate alleged breaches our security service providers or
members thereof and to tighten controls in the regulatory
system. Psira received its third consecutive clean audit, this
means that the authority did not record any financial
misstatements.

 
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Hon House Chairperson, in September last year President
Ramaphosa signed the Private Security Industry Regulation Act
2014 into law which will greatly enhance the regulation of the
private security industry. The committee welcomes the recent
success of the crime intelligence National Anti-Kidnapping
Task Team that was established last year in response to the
spike of kidnapping cases where a ransom was demanded. In
February this year the alleged kingpin and his associates
believed to be behind the spate of kidnappings across Gauteng
was arrested in Johannesburg area. This shows a responsive
police service with the capacity and capability to address
changes in crime patterns.
Hon Minister, we welcome the 10 000 additional police members
which will be recruited and have already taken up position.
This shows that SAPS is focused on job creation needless to
say that more than a hundred thousand new jobs were created in
this private security industry. At the end of 2021 financial
year, SAPS received an unqualified audit for the first time in
five years. This is a great success and achievement not only
for the police, but for the Portfolio Committee on Police. It

 
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was achieved through our ... [Inaudible.] ... persistence in
executing our oversight mandate and determination to keep the
SAPS accountable and to improve their performance. Our next
aim is to help the police service obtain a clean audit. We
would like to encourage the Civilian for Secretariat to our
Police to continue the development of key legislation to
strengthen policing functions in South Africa. To this end, we
would like this Amendment of the South African Police Service
Act and the Independent Police Investigative Directorate,
Ipid, Act to come to Parliament as soon as possible.
We have heard disturbing truth about the desperate state of
police stations when we were at the meeting with the Minister
and the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure. To state
it quite bluntly the Minister of Public Works and
Infrastructure it was a disaster, it was catastrophy, but we
had a very positive meeting with both the Ministers and the
situation is receiving high level of attention and achievement
will be visible soon. Police stations are the first contact
point with the public. Once a person steps into a station and
sees it in a state of disrepair they form an opinion of

 
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unprofessionalism. It is unfair to blame the police for
something that is not in their control. Our police members
deserve a conducive working conditions from which to discharge
their constitutional mandate. We must not look site of the
monetary value over R100 billion and how this is use to fight
crime. The police budget is enormous and must be applied
effectively to combat violent crime in our country.
Hon House Chairperson, on behalf of the Portfolio Committee on
police I wish to thank our police officers who risk life and
limb to protect our country and her people. I encourage these
brave men and women to keep their heads high, you are
respected. I wish to thank the work of the committee, hon
Seabi, members of the portfolio committee, including those
from the opposition parties for the hard work and dedication
towards ensuring that we root out crime and corruption in our
country. I wish to thank the National Commissioner who is
newly appointed and I wish to congratulate the National
Commissioner and thank him and his team for their persistent
work.

 
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Hon House Chairperson, we thank the Minister, the Deputy
Minister and the teams for steering a ship which is a very
difficult ship in a battle against crime and corruption. The
African National Congress supports Budget Vote 28. I thank
you.
Mr A G WHITFIELD: House Chairperson, a professional police
service characterised by high levels of discipline, merit-
based appointments and a capable, fit for purpose senior
management which inspires confidence through its ranks and in
the public by reducing violent crime. This is the police
service we deserve and this is the policing service for which
we must fight. Not even the Minister can deny that the last
decade of policing in South Africa has seen the most basic
policing functions immobilised by political interference,
corruption and incompetence at the highest levels.
A lack of professionalism, broken management systems and a
deteriorating quality of investigations have all contributed
to taking the SA Police Service, SAPS, to the brink of
collapse. The chain of command has been compromised by

 
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politics and the promotion of unqualified cadres above
qualified, capable police officers giving rise to declining
levels of morale, poor performance and even corruption. And
what has the solution been to this long list of institutional
and systemic failures? More money. Between 2012 and 2022 the
SAPS budget increased by 65% from R62 billion to R100 billion.
Over the same period, the SAPS has had six national police
commissioners and murders increased by nearly 40%. In 2021
SAPS had an opening balance of R1,53 billion in irregular
expenditure with more than R3,4 billion in irregular
expenditure still under assessment by the Auditor-General.
Contingent liabilities are up from R7,4 billion in 2020 to
R8,2 billion in 2021 with a total of 52 203 civil claims
valued at R60 billion still pending.
Spending on training and development has declined from 100% in
2018 to just 8,9% in 2021. As a consequence, the SAPS’
performance has declined from achieving 78% of its targets in
2018 down to 74% of targets achieved in 2021 with detective
services performance declining most dramatically from 83% in
2019 to 58% in 2021. So the budget has increased and the

 
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performance has declined, proving that throwing more money at
the problems is not a solution to the challenges faced by the
SAPS. In 2021 the SAPS conducted an Organisational Climate
Survey in which just 22% of SAPS members agreed that the SAPS
cares about their wellbeing while only 16% of SAPS members
said that SAPS does an excellent job in communicating changes
that affect employees. The survey also revealed that 68% of
SAPS members are dissatisfied with opportunities for future
career progression while 77% are dissatisfied with the process
used for promotions in the SAPS. Declining morale has a direct
bearing on declining performance and this is where the new
national police commissioner must allocate his time and
resources. Far from the gaze of the cameras and the news media
is where the solutions lie to repairing this broken
institution. The new commissioner must avoid being dragged
across the country from crime scene to crime scene by the
Minister. He must rather dedicate his time to repairing the
internal deficiencies of SAPS which have given rise to
declining performance and morale within its ranks.

 
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We all know of the long list of problems; DNA backlogs,
firearm license chaos, police clearance certificate
congestion, high crime rate, low conviction rates, corruption
and ill-discipline. Behind these problems are people who have
either been thrust into positions beyond their capability or
people who suffer from debilitating low morale, using outdated
systems and often working in buildings which should be
condemned. Simply throwing money at these problems without
analysing and repairing the root causes will see performance
continue to decline and crime continues to increase. Now the
Minister likes to criticise the opposition when we criticize
him, so today I offer 10 not so sexy but necessary solutions
to the Minister and I challenge him to spend his last two
years in the office implementing them. They will not get you
headlines, Minister, but they will fix the problems and help
to repair your reputation. One, the SAPS must take the
outcomes of their Organisational Climate Survey seriously and
intervene with urgency to address the shortcomings identified
by their members. Two, recruit specialist skills in
investigations urgently to improve the quality of police work
and improve the conviction rate. Three, amend the SA Police

 
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Service Act to ensure that the appointment process of the
national police commissioner is transparent, merit-based and
insulated from political interference. Four, introduce an
independent discipline management unit to guarantee a culture
of consequence management for rogue officers.
Five, amend the discipline regulations, Minister, to prevent
the SAPS from reinvestigating the Independent Police
Investigative Directorate, Ipid’s findings and undermining
Ipid’s independence and authority. Six, modernise the training
of officers across all divisions to improve outcomes, and for
goodness sakes, fix the dilapidated and disgraceful SAPS
training academies. Seven, demilitarise the SAPS to rebuild
public trust and improve the quality of policing. Eight,
strengthen community policing partnerships with neighbourhood
watches, community policing forums, CPFs, NGOs, churches,
private security, local law enforcement and Metro Police. This
will go a long way to improving outcomes and rebuilding trust
in the communities the SAPS serves. Nine, develop targeted
strategies to tackle the complex and often unique local
challenges in communities across the country. And finally,

 
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ten, devolve policing powers to provinces for more
accountability and better oversight for better policing. These
are actionable solutions which require political will and hard
work. Channelling resources and time into these solutions will
yield a more professional and more effective police service
which will achieve better outcomes.
Hon Minister, there are many hardworking and dedicated
officers who deserve so much better and could do so much more
if given they were given the space and the opportunity to
lead. We owe it to them and the people of South Africa to fix
the SA Police Service. Chasing cameras to crime scenes is not
going to get the job done. I thank you.
Mr H A SHEMBENI: Chairperson, on 21 April this year, Namhla
Mtwa was assassinated outside her home in Mthatha in the
Eastern Cape. As it has now been made public, Namhla was a
victim of gender-based violence at the hands of a man who
claimed to love her, Mfesane Major Bhekizulu. The person who
murdered her pumped nine bullets into her body and was simply
thrown away after making sure that she was dead. From that day

 
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until Namhla’s sister started speaking out on social media,
the police had done nothing to investigate the case.
To this day, the police have not even questioned the man who
abused her for years because the man has connections across
the Eastern Cape and funds the lavish lifestyles of many of
the politicians in that province, including the premier and
the mayor of the King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality.
Tomorrow, the EFF will lead progressive forces in the Eastern
Cape in the march to the Madera Police Station to demand the
answers from the police as to why they ignored this case for
so long. Namhla is not the only case that the police in
Mthatha and across the Eastern Cape have ignored.
That part of the country is slowly becoming a GBV and rape
capital of South Africa. Criminals are allowed to do as they
please there because they work together with the police.
Lusikisiki is another town where women and girls are unable to
live in peace because men have declared war on their bodies.
Mr Cele, all this is happening right under your nose, sir. And
your inaction on cases such as this is a huge indictment on

 
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your person and the state. Women and girls need protection
from all of us against these sadistic criminals, but the buck
ultimately stops with you.
The police have no plan of dealing with GBV whatsoever. You
have allowed the DNA lab to collapse under your leadership,
placing cases of thousands of women who have been raped or
murdered in serious jeopardy. You have allowed the Firearms
Registry to collapse, leaving thousands of legal South African
gun owners and prospective gun owners with nowhere to run.
Whilst exposing guns and ammunition to connected criminal
networks across the country.
You have thoroughly politicised and then collapsed crime
intelligence in this country leading to aimless and effective
crime prevention strategies in this country. It is as a result
of this aimless policing that today we witness mass shootings
every weekend in Khayelitsha and Cape Town. Why is that you do
not know ... [Interjections.] ...

 
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The ACTING CHAIRPERSON (Mr M G Mahlaule): Hon Shembeni, just
the moment. My apologies. Hon Radebe, you have your hand up.
Mr B A RADEBE: Hon Acting House Chairperson, I have a point of
order. I am rising on Rule 85. The member on the platform has
just insinuated that the Minister has thoroughly collapsed the
intelligence services. I think that needs a substantive motion
to deal with it. It cannot just be left like that. Thank you,
Chair.
The ACTING CHAIRPERSON (Mr M G Mahlaule): I will look into
that, hon Radebe, and get back to you. Thank you. Proceed, hon
Shembeni.
Mr H A SHEMBENI: ... the root causes of these mass shootings?
Why have you failed to identify the masterminds behind these,
shootings? Why have you not dismantled the protection fee
rackets in the townships of Cape Town, Minister? Are you not
aware that the protection fee rackets have it impossible for
young people in the townships to open their businesses. A few
years ago you asked for the SA National Defence Force, SANDF’s

 
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involvement in fighting crime in Cape Town, but because that
intervention was not led with proper intentions, it failed to
deal with the daily murders in Cape Town. You have failed our
people, sir. You have watched the police being run by a
criminal network that has no regard or respect for anything in
this country. This was aptly demonstrated when the police
arrested advocate Teffo inside the courtroom in the middle of
a court case involving Senzo Meyiwa. It is also the police who
tip off criminals wherever their honest colleagues are making
any headway with their investigations.
It is the police who allowed the proliferation of drugs in the
country because they are in the pockets of the drug lords. We
condemn your complicity in the escalation of crime in the
country. We condemn your criminalisation of the police force.
We, therefore, rejected this budget, Mr Minister. I thank you,
Chair.
The ACTING CHAIRPERSON (Mr M G Mahlaule): Thank you very much,
hon member. Hon Radebe, hon Shembeni made a political

 
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statement which if the Minister at the end wishes to respond
to will do so
Mr N SINGH: Thank you very much, hon Chairperson. Hon
Minister, I make these comments on behalf of the hon Majozi
who sits on this committee and who is on sick leave at the
moment. Firstly, let me take this opportunity to congratulate
Gen Sehlahle Fannie Masemola on his recent appointment and we
trust that he put together a management team the country can
be proud of to do what is required of him, free of any
political or any other defiance.
The National Development Plan outlines utopian society where
and I quote: “People living in South Africa feels safe at
home, at school and at work and women walk freely in the
streets, children play safely outside and the police service
is well resourced” I am sure all who are listening to this
debate can agree that the SA Police Service has a long
difficult road ahead, if it is to achieve this vision within
the next eight years. The crime statistics paint a sobering
picture. The murder statistics for the term of 2021-22

 
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financial year revealed that more women who were killed in the
last part of 2021 compared to the same period the previous
year has the murder rate also increased by 8,9% year on year.
As the IFP we have consistently expressed our concern over
various issues highlighted in the committee report and among
others, and I quote: “The continued underspending of the SAPS
of their budget allocation which has detrimental effect on
service delivery and must be addressed as a matter of
urgency.” That is in the committee report. Further, we echo
the concerns raised by the Police and Prisons Civil Rights
Union, Popcru, in particular, around and this is what it says:
“The continuous decrease in the visible policing budget” It
continue to say that the ineffectiveness of community policing
forums and the lack of resources and infrastructure police ...
[Inaudible.] ... especially in rural areas and townships.
There is a saying that states that if you look after the
pennies, the pounds take care of themselves. What this means
is that one should get the basics right. Our people need to be
kept save and in order to do this the SAPS needs a well-
resourced, properly trained boots on the ground personnel. We

 
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can confirm the claim, especially in KwaZulu-Natal that
states: “Most police stations in rural areas and townships are
housed in unsafe and dilapidated structures. I again call on
the Minister to resolve this issue as a matter of urgency.
We believe that if a conducive environment is presented for
dedicated police men and women to work in, the output will be
greater. Basics such as properly serviced vehicles, and not
vehicles parking in garages and this is something you need to
investigate and I know there is an investigation of the
possible fraud that takes place with vehicles that are under
repairs. If we give them the basics like proper arms and
proper two-way radios, etc, we will find that the production
increases considerable. Also, if the gender-based violence and
sexual offences action plan is a key priority for 2022-23, it
is concerning that Popcru recommended that police stations
must be resourced with rape testing kits, and police officers
trained on how to use them. Why would Popcru say this is if
this is not happening – if this is something that is a problem
to them? Why has this not been done yet? Where is the promise

 
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commitment to ending gender-based violence and ensuring that
justice for the victims of these heinous crimes?
In addition to keeping people safe, the SAPS, through the
Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, DPCI, must be
fully capacitated. Particularly during 2022-23, the DPCI will
prioritise investigations and recommendations of the State
Capture Commission. According to the report and I quote: “The
DPCI is severely undercapacitated and function with the 48%
workforce.” This is unacceptable. This lack of capacity dooms
the investigations to failure before they even begin.
The IFP also further notes and is in support of the
committee’s observations and recommendations regarding the
Civilian Secretariat for Police Service, as well as those
relating to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate,
Ipid. As regards to Ipid, the IFP has agreement that it is
completely unacceptable that, and I quote the figures from the
report: “The total backlog is currently 37 116 cases.” Rapid
action is needed. The issues I have highlighted barely scratch
the surface and staff morale is at an all-time low. The SAPS

 
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needs to get back to basics, as I have said, and government
needs to ensure sufficient resources, human and otherwise, for
them to be able to get the job done.
The promise ... [Time expired.] ... with reservations, the IFP
support the budget. Thank you, Chair.
Dr P J GROENEWALD: Hon Chair, the Constitution determines that
the Police Service must protect the citizens of South Africa
and their property. The fact of the matter is that the Police
Service is also that component of the criminal justice system
that plays a major role to ensure that the citizens of South
Africa are protected and that their properties are protected.
We have high rates of violent crime in South Africa. Our
murder rate is about five times more than the world average.
Our murder rate is 36 per 100 000 of the population and the
world average is seven per 100 000 of the population.
Now, the state department that is in possession of the most
number of firearms in South Africa is the Police Service. The
Minister is very quick to show figures to the public and legal

 
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firearm owners and accusing them of the reason for the high
crime rates as far as violent crime is concerned. The fact is
that we must go and see how the police deal with these
firearms. They have more firearms than the SA National Defence
Force.
Over the last five years since 2016-17 and 2020-21, there were
3 405 firearms stolen or lost by members of the Police
Service, and of those, only 1 674 were recovered. In other
words, there are 1 731 firearms still in circulation amongst
criminals. Everybody knew and took note of the Norwood Police
Station, where 175 firearms were lost the SAPS 13 or the
evidence store of the Norwood Police Station. The person in
charge of that office committed suicide at the same time. The
audit was done in that SAPS 13 store, but the fact of the
matter is 175 firearms were lost. These evidence stores are
crucial for our crime system and for the criminal justice
system to protect our people.
I have asked the question to the hon Minister what other items
were lost in these audited that was done on the SAPS 13 store

 
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in Norwood, and the official answer is that besides
175 firearms, almost 80 000 in cash disappeared from this
store. If you add them all up, there are no less than 53 cases
where the evidence is not lost. That undermines the criminal
justice system. The only thing the station commander did is
that he resigned in January of this year. So, Chairperson,
that’s where the problem is. It is no wonder that if we look
at the trust and the confidence the public has in the SA
Police Service declined from 47% in 1999 of the highest to
only 27% at this moment.
Afrikaans:
Ek wil dadelik sê, daar is baie goeie hardwerkende, eerlike,
lede in die SAPD, maar ek wil ’n beroep op die Minister en die
Kommisaris van Polisie doen - en ek wens hom sterkte toe – u
moet drasties optree teen dissipline, en om korrupsie
eenvoudig te beveg in die SAPD-stelsel. Waar die polisie die
strafregstelsel moet bevorder en uitbrei, is hy besig om dit
te ondermyn en al die rooi ligte is reeds aan. Ek dank u.

 
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MINI PLENARY - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
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VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
INVESTIGATIVE DIRECTORATE AND CIVILIAN SECRETARIAT FOR THE
POLICE SERVICE)
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Rev K R J MESHOE: House Chairperson, the ACDP is very
concerned about the increase in mass shootings in the country,
the kidnapping of school children, the proliferation of drugs
in the country, particularly in the vicinity of schools. It
breaks our hearts to see the increase of school children who
drop out of schools because of drug addiction. The police must
do more to find and arrest drug dealers who are destroying the
future leaders of our country.
This financial year, the SAPS budget has decreased in real
terms by 4,1%. The budgets for the strategic programme of
Visible Policing and the essential subprogramme of Forensic
Science Laboratories were also decreased. And sadly, budget
constraints are not the only challenges facing the SAPS staff.
The men and women in blue also need to be reassured that they
have the support of the top structures in the execution of
their duties. They need to feel that their employer cares
about their wellbeing and that promotion is possible if they
are honest and diligent at all times.

 
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VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
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Right now, the morale of the SAPS staff is very low. Their
current working conditions make it very difficult for them to
maintain public order; protect and secure the inhabitants of
South Africa and their property, and to also enforce the law
as required by the SA Police Service Act. According to a
survey the SAPS did on the morale of its staff in 2021, the
organisation is very poor at communicating changes that affect
employees. Top management have also been known to disagree
openly. There is no unity, no working together.
Our police really are also understaffed. According to the
expert panel report, the strength of the SA Police Service is
a mere 180 000 for a population of some 60 million people.
This financial year, funding is only enough to provide for an
additional 12 000 entry-level members of the police, and
unfortunately, 10 000 of these new recruits will simply be
replacing former staff members now lost to the SAPS for
various reasons. So, in actuality, there will only be
2 000 new staff members.

 
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The ACDP is also concerned about SAPS-owned firearms that are
reported as stolen or lost. We all know that not all police
officers are honest. So, the target to reduce lost and stolen
firearms to 600 in the upcoming year is ridiculously too low.
If our officers cannot safeguard their weapons, how can they
be trusted to protect South Africans? [Time expired.]
Sesotho:
Ke a leboha ntate.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF POLICE: Hon Chairperson, Minister of
Police Bheki Cele, other Ministers present, Deputy Ministers,
chairperson of the committee hon Tina Joemat-Peterson,
committee members, MECs present, heads of entities, National
Commissioner, executive head of the Independent Police
Investigative Directorate, Ipid, Mme Ntlatseng, Acting
Secretary of the Civilian Secretariat Mr Ramaru and the CEO of
the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority, Psira, Mr
Chauke, it is an honour and privilege for me to be part of
this deliberations this afternoon. I should start by saying
that as Parliament and as South Africa we should be proud of

 
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the route that the President has taken to ensure that as he
appoints the replacement of General Sitole he has adopt an
approach which is very transparent contrary to the call that
was made by one hon, the hon Whitfield that the process is not
transparent. For the first time in the Republic a National
Commissioner is appointed through an open process run by a
panel of highly experienced South Africa including those who
served in the SA Police Service in the past. This must be
commended by the President and this administration for taking
that route. Those who are making a call in this regard clearly
they don’t stay in this country.
Contrary to what has been said by the hon Shembeni, it is
incorrect to say that the SA Police Service is run by
criminals of networks as alleged. We do acknowledge that, yes,
we do have elements within the SA Police Service who work with
criminals. Some of them have been arrested in the past and we
will continue to act against such elements who behave as if
they are police officers whereas they are criminals. We will
take actions against this and anybody who engages in any
criminal activity under the guise that they have connections,

 
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be it within the governing party. As the SA Police Service we
will act against any wrongdoing irrespective of who the person
is and who their associates are. We have demonstrated in the
past that it does not matter to what your political
affiliation is. Where action is needed we will take action, we
will do so today and, tomorrow and into the future.
The call that one will make during this debate to the public
is that, yes, let’s us social media platforms to communicate
our views with our friends and other colleagues that we share
the same platforms with, but it is very important that we must
know that the information we share on the social platform will
not assist police to have a watertight case to put before
prosecution and case to stand in court. So, we are making a
call that while you use those platforms, please give police
officers credible information so that we can act against
criminals to ensure that we live in an environment that is
free from crime.
It is incorrect to say that the officers who use rape kits are
not trained. We have trained officers who use rape kits and we

 
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know that all the stations have access to rape kits in the
country. The people who have access to this are those who work
within the units that deal specifically with this type of
crime. We do have them properly capacitated. I thought it is
important that these matters be clarified because they create
an impression that we give people who are not properly
qualified to do the work that they are supposed to do.
We have a pressing obligation to continue pursuing every
effort that will realise a crime-free South Africa, where the
populace and everyone within our borders live without fear of
being attacked or becoming victim of criminality, where our
women and children do not live in fear of falling victim to
gender-based violence and femicide.
Hon members, during the SA Police Service Budget Vote debate
of 2021, my input was opened with a quote from one of the
renowned Japanese authors, Mr Hauki Murakami, which says: I
quote once more:

 
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VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
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Once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made
it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be
sure whether the storm is really over. But one thing is
certain. When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the
same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all
about.
This year’s Budget Vote is indeed held post the stormiest
years of our recent history, with South Africa and the world
emerging from the overwhelming effects of the COVID-19
pandemic. We are not even sure if the storm is really over or
we are still within the storm. Our beautiful coastal province
of KwaZulu-Natal has just experienced severe flooding with
loss of lives and immeasurable damage to infrastructure. As a
department we have also lost loved ones in both these
occurrences, but one thing is certain, we are stronger as a
nation than we were before. It is not easy but we are pulling
through and we will ultimately emerge.
Now the hard-work of rebuilding our country through improving
and strengthening our service delivery mechanisms has already

 
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VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
INVESTIGATIVE DIRECTORATE AND CIVILIAN SECRETARIAT FOR THE
POLICE SERVICE)
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started. A lot still awaits us, but with all hands on deck we
will succeed. Hence, as Minister Cele mentioned earlier we are
dedicating this Budget Vote to rebuilding and strengthening
community relations in the fight against crime. We can
comfortably stand in front of you today and state with
certainty that we know what lies ahead as the Ministry and the
family of the SA Police Service. We are ready for the task at
hand and we further invite everyone to join in our
determination to fight crime as we have always interarted.
Fighting crime is not the sole responsibility of our men and
women in blue. But it is our shared responsibility which
should be appreciated and acted upon. Under all circumstances
we should always remember that fighting crime is a national
commitment that must never be failed or compromised.
As part of our efforts to closely and effectively work with
communities in fighting crime, the community in blue
directives and reporting template were developed for
implementation in all the nine provinces and about 19 000
patrollers were recruited nationally, which is almost double

 
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VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
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POLICE SERVICE)
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the number we reported in the previous financial year. The
goal is to intensify efforts to improve community policing,
focussing on the mobilisation of the community in blue
initiatives in order to improve visibility particularly in
high crime areas. We remain resolute to achieve our target,
notwithstanding certain occurrences of nature which at times
reduce our speed. What should be understood is that the issue
of the community in blue is not the sole instrument that
should be looked at in our fight against crime. When we talk
about community we also including Members of Parliament, we
are including the business community, we are including the
sporting fraternity and we are including religious leaders.
Together as a totality of the South African citizens we have a
role to play. The question that needs to be asked is, as a
Member of Parliament, as a business person and what is your
role and what contribution can you make in this regard because
it is our joint problem?
We are continuing to strengthen our outreach programmes in
partnership with the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service

 
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VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
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and other stakeholders under the stewardship of our visible
policing.
Our direct interaction with our people through izimbizo
affords us an opportunity to understand various difficulties
and challenges affecting our communities. We are ensuring that
issues raised by community members are correctly recorded and
followed up. We have ensured regular meetings to monitor
progress made on issues raised by the community members until
closure of each case that they have raised with us. In
addition, as part of an izimbizo we intend to include public
education on the processes and functioning of the criminal
justice system as a whole. It has come as serious course for
concern to learn during our engagements that our people do not
understand how the justice system works and are therefore
unable to protect themselves in the event that their rights
are violated.
In consideration of the increasing incidents of crime and
violence amongst our youth and as part of our school and
campus safety strategy, we intend to intensify our safety and

 
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VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
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security interventions, especially in institutions of higher
learning. In this regard, we will be appointing safety and
security liaison officers and together with the Department of
Higher Education and Training. [Time expired.]
Ms G P MAREKWA: Thank you, House Chairperson, let me greet the
hon ... [Interjections.]
The ACTING CHAIRPERSON (Mr M G Mahlaule): Hon Marekwa.
Ms G P MAREKWA: Yes, Chair.
The ACTING CHAIRPERSON (Mr M G Mahlaule): We are advised to
close your video for better network.
Ms G P MAREKWA: Okay, thank you, Chair. Hon House Chair, hon
Minister and Deputy Minister of the Police, Chairperson of the
Portfolio Committee on Police, hon members present, the
Constitution of the Republic of South Africa section 205 says
that:

 
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VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
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The objects of the SA Police Service, SAPS, are to
prevent, combat and investigate crime, to maintain public
order, to protect and secure the inhabitants of the
Republic and their property, and to uphold and enforce
the law.
To do all this, Chairperson, clearly means that, the SAPS need
the necessary and relevant resources to carry out this
function. The ANC is resolute in creating a safer and secure
society for all. Different policy documents of the ANC
continue to affirm this position of putting the safety of the
South Africans as a priority in the government commitments.
The guiding documents of the ANC, the strategy and tactics
also clearly stipulates this explicitly as the commitment to
creating a safe society for all.
It is through a safe society where economic activities can
take place freely, and attract investors who are only prepared
to invest in a safe, secure and stable environment. It is
through a safe and secure environment, that an economy
recovery plan can fully yield positive outcomes. Hon House

 
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TUESDAY, 24 MAY 2022
VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
INVESTIGATIVE DIRECTORATE AND CIVILIAN SECRETARIAT FOR THE
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Chair, the National Development Plan, NDP, provides the Vision
2030 for the government, and this vision says, I quote:
In 2030, people living in South Africa should feel safe
at home, at school and at work, and they enjoy a
community life free of fear. Women walk freely in the
streets and children play safely outside.
This is the kind of South Africa the government is
thriving towards, and Budget Vote 28 in 2022 is one of
the steps towards that society. The NDP identified five
key areas to enhance the realisation of the 2030 Vision,
and two from the five that has been identified in the
document also highlight the rebuilding of safety
environment, using an integrated approach in building
community participation in safety. These two are
instrumental in consolidating the priority that seeks the
medium-term strategic framework which is social cohesion
and safe community.

 
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VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
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The overall allocation of the budget over the years, has been
increasing, and in 2022-23 financial year, the department
received about R100 billion, which is a slight nominal
increase of R221,5 million. However, in real terms,
considering inflation, the department’s allocation decreased
by R4,1 billion for the second year, and the largest increase
for the second year, and the largest increase within the
department’s core programme of visible policing, which we
believe that, this part of the police department is the one
that is out there doing the work, House Chair, and they really
need to be taken care of and considered as and when we discuss
the budget.
In real term, the budget for this programme was reduced by
R508,3 million. This is the main programme that played a
meaningful role in the crime prevention in the department.
Whilst crime statistics continue to be high, a budget
reduction was surely having negative impact on the operations
of the police in the crime prevention programmes. Hon House
chair, the idea of creating a safer society, is not the
responsibility of the SAPS alone, stakeholders including

 
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VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
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businesses and churches and all different formation, also have
a critical role to play, by providing support to the SAPS in
different forms.
There is a need to intensify the role of policing forums in
all provinces. Government must ensure that these forums are
well trained and equipped. When communities are mobilised and
working with the police, it becomes easy for police to do
their job because they rely on their communities, and it
becomes very difficult for criminals to commit crime, and it
will ensure that criminals has no space to operate from, as
all gaps and corners will be tightly close for them. Hon
Chair, it is time that all of us work together and help bring
peace and safety back into our homes, schools and streets.
Let us continue to report all criminal activities and suspects
to the police, let us close that net on criminals. The ANC
remains committed in ensuring that we defeat gender-based
violence, GBV, and femicide, that continues to kill women and
girls in our country. This crime is happening at a pace that
is highly impossible for the peace-loving and law-abiding

 
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MINI PLENARY - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
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VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
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citizens to keep quiet. The fight against GBV also requires
society to play its role in reporting this crime to the
police, as and when it happens, and to encourage society also
to report on behalf of victims, because sometimes we see and
hear what is happening in our neighbourhood, but we tend to
turn a blind eye or turn our heads the other way, and then
tomorrow, we count bodies of people who have lost their lives.
It is important as neighbours, as people in community where we
know crime of this nature is taking place, to report and
assist those people who cannot raise their voices and be able
to take action for themselves. We acknowledge that the DNA
backlog has been reduced, and the number of perpetrators were
arrested and sentenced in recent times. However, it’s the
budget allocation of the forensic science laboratories, the
sub-programme for the 2022-23 financial year, has been reduced
from R1,57 billion to R1,50 billion and that needs to be
attended to and looked into because, if we don’t address that
properly also through the budget, it means the backlog will
still continue, and it may even increase again.

 
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MINI PLENARY - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
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VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
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It will then defeat the work that the police have done so far
in reducing that backlog. Hon House Chair, we do appreciate
the good work also in this regard concerning what the police
have done so far in reducing this backlog. It has not been
easy, but they have tried to make sure that it is reduced, and
the budget will also assist them to do that further. House
Chair, if we reduce the budget for this lapse, it will have a
negative impact and progress into the work made by the police
thus far, and it is out of appreciation that we recommend that
there should be no budget reduction in the department, to
enhance the work of the department in the fight against
gender-based violence.
The ANC appreciates that there are global economic challenges
and welcome the Budget Vote. It also recommends that there
should be no budget reductions as that will affect the work of
the police. The budget it’s an important instrument to ensure
that police are well-resourced to fight crime out there. The
Budget Vote will help to fight all forms of crime, and that
the most vulnerable people in the society stand to benefit
from the commitment by the ANC of creating a better South

 
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VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
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Africa for all. House Chair, as the ANC, we welcome and
support the Budget Vote, and let us continue serving the
people of South Africa to the best of our ability. I thank
you.
Mr M G E HENDRICKS: Hon House Chair, the nation has been moved
fierily today, by the concern of the hon of the Portfolio
Committee Chair on Police, hon Tina Joemat, about the plight
of women and war against women by men. She must know about the
kidnapping of Shireen Essop yesterday, and I’m sure she is
watching the progress for her rescue, minute by minute, as I
and many others do. The parents of learners at Bangor Primary
School in Randburg, are grateful for the swift action of
Deputy Minister, Cassel Mathale, at the request of the Chief
Whip, he calls for an environment free-crime.
Deputy Minister, the Cape Flats wants to work with you. Just
look after our leaners at primary schools. Mothers, like all
mothers love their children. Minister, you need to give on the
13nth, the work within the next six months on how the state of
police infrastructure will be succinctly addressed. Don’t let

 
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MINI PLENARY - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
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VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
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the Minister of Public Works delay you. Minister, you have
already given your famous hat, the South Africans needs a
socioeconomic response to gangsterism, drugs and crime
problems, and Al Jama-Ah commends you for that.
Activists stating gangsterism and drugs may make a paradigm
shift, and wants to redirect learners at schools to pursue
procession in either than becoming a gang leader. We are going
to invite you, Minister, when we conduct these master classes
on the Cape Flats with these activists. We know about the
latest kidnapping of a mother, a wife and a daughter, Shireen
Essop, Al Jama-Ah knows of your best endeavours, and the best
endeavours of the Provincial Commissioner of Police. Minister,
please rescue Shireen Essop.
Her car was found in sweet home farm, Phillipi on the Cape
Flats, but she is still missing. Her last words to her mom
was, “they are taking me; they are taking me.” Al Jama-Ah
wants to hear your last words today, Minister Bheki Cele. We
will rescue her; we will rescue her. Thank you very much, hon
Chair.

 
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Mr A M SHAIK EMAM: Hon Acting House Chairperson, allow me to
start off by paying tribute to all the women and men in blue.
A very difficult responsibility, many of them going in the
morning not knowing if they will get back home. For what they
get paid and the benefits that they enjoy, their lives are at
risk on a daily basis. If I had it my way, I would not even
support this budget for the simple reason that the budget that
is allocated to this department cannot do justice to the needs
of this department in combating and fighting crimes. I know
that speaker after speaker raises the issue of the gender-
based violence in the country as if it is the responsibility
or the fault of the SA Police Service. Clearly, it is not. No
one wants to get to the root cause of what is going on.
If you are going to allow gangsterism in the country, high
unemployment, the unavailability of grants, if you have
dysfunctional family where at 78% of black children do not
have a father in their homes, then of course, the task for the
SA Police Service will be more and more difficult. It is not
their responsibility to fight crime but their responsibility
to prevent crime but we are not creating a conducive

 
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environment to prevent crime. So, unless we deal with this
holistically, that is, better living conditions, better
housing, having electricity, having roads, ensuring that there
are jobs, no drugs, no alcohol or shebeens opened 20 hours a
day, you are going to continue having high levels of crime.
I want to appeal to the Minister of the department and I know
it is very difficult what I am going to ask. Can you
prioritise and treat every kidnapping or every murder the same
so that some of these people like shebeens who has just been
kidnapped can also get your due attention. I know that you
have got limited resources particularly human resource. Every
child is valuable and every child is loved by her parents and
all feel the pain whether you are rich, poor, black or white.
I want to urge you Minister to do something about that.
More importantly, I want to say to you Minister, through you
Chair, what we do not have is the continued assessment and
wellness of police officers in the country and that is why you
get high levels of gender-based violence amongst police
officers as well. This is because of the traumatic experiences

 
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that they have in combating and fighting crime. We forget that
these are also human being who also get trauma. So, we need to
deal those experiences Minister.
The other problem Minister and this is a cry from many of your
officers. The issue of the systems of promotions. Many of them
feel that they have been left behind and they are
disillusioned for that reason. They want to exit the police
force and go to open up their security companies. It is
something that you need to look at.
I want to lastly say that you can put another tenfold of
police officers but if you do not deal with them holistically,
you are not going too far to win this war. Thank you very
much.
M Gen O S TERBLANCHE: Hon Acting House Chairperson, hon
members and fellow South Africans, here we are again in
another annual debate on the allocation of money for the SA
Police Service, SAPS to make it possible for this essential
department to fulfil section 205 constitutional

 
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responsibilities. This is done with a purposeful and
anticipation and hope that this time around, it will yield the
desired results. Unfortunately, history has taught us that it
remains an impossible dream.
The following budget allocations were made into two very
important departments to fulfil their responsibilities. First
Budget Vote 24 Independent Police Investigative Directorate,
Ipid, receives the main Appropriation of R357,2 million in
2022/23 taking the inflation into account, the budget
decreased by 3,3%. Budget Vote 21 Civilian Secretariat for
Police received Appropriation R152,3 million in 2022/23 again
taking into account the inflation, the department’s budget
decreased by R5,3million or 3,5%.
The obvious questions regarding both departments are, what
were they both expected to do and how they performed in the
previous financial years? The majority of both department’s
budgets go towards compensation of its employees. The
Independent Police Investigative Directorate Act provided the
directorate with an extended mandate which focuses on serious

 
UNREVISED HANSARD
MINI PLENARY - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
TUESDAY, 24 MAY 2022
VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
INVESTIGATIVE DIRECTORATE AND CIVILIAN SECRETARIAT FOR THE
POLICE SERVICE)
Page: 73
crime, a crime committed by members of SAPS and the
Metropolitan Municipal Police Service. It further obliges the
SAPS and the National Prosecuting Authority, NPA to report the
matters to be investigated by Ipid and the status of
implementation of disciplinary recommendations made by the
Ipid upon the completion of those investigations.
In terms of section 21(a) of the Police Investigative
Directorate Act, must investigate any death in police custody,
death as a result of police acting, complaint relating to the
discharge of an official firearm by any police officer, rape
by a police officer, whether the police officer is on or off
duty, rape of any person in custody and any complain of
torture or assault against the police officer in the execution
of their duties, corruption matters within the police
initiated by the executive director or after a complaint from
a member of a public or refer by the police or the MEC, the
Secretariat for Police Service and any matter referred to Ipid
because of the decision by the executive director or if so
requested by the Minister, MEC, the Secretariat for Police
Service as the case may be.

 
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MINI PLENARY - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
TUESDAY, 24 MAY 2022
VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
INVESTIGATIVE DIRECTORATE AND CIVILIAN SECRETARIAT FOR THE
POLICE SERVICE)
Page: 74
Section 28 further provides for the directorate that it may
investigate matters related to systemic corruption involving
the police. The directorate’s most important task is obviously
to investigate all these allegations and criminal cases. There
seems to be an impossible task due to serious personnel
shortages. Ipid conveys the following to the Portfolio
Committee on Police on 20 April 2022 during their budget and
annual performance meeting. On that day, they had a backlog of
37 116 cases. They have received more than 5 000 new cases for
the year but only managed to complete their investigations of
4 121 of which 53% were backlog cases. This means that 1 937
new cases are just added to the ever growing backlog list.
Considering the serious backlog, each investigated
effectively, there is still 150 cases to be investigate.
Indeed, this is an impossible task. This directorate is led by
a person with no investigating experience and despite numerous
promises and undertakings, the lack of his vital skills have
started to show as expected.

 
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MINI PLENARY - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
TUESDAY, 24 MAY 2022
VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
INVESTIGATIVE DIRECTORATE AND CIVILIAN SECRETARIAT FOR THE
POLICE SERVICE)
Page: 75
The said reality is that performance indicators and targets
decrease or remain unchanged. In 10 out of 13 indicators while
only three increase. Victims in 3 7116 cases committed by
police officers are still awaiting justice the while these
perpetrators remain on the payroll paid by the taxpayers. This
important directorate has now joined the ranks of the infamous
back loggers. Another failing entity, another toothless bull
dog, this boldy barking without the necessary biting.
The Civilian Secretariat for Police also show slow performers.
At the moment the impact on the ground is still unclear. They
are only theorising about the suitable measuring tool while
essential legislation, policies, etc are not worth coming
within acceptable timeframes. The following deliverables still
lack momentum. Improving community participation in the fight
against crime, improving police communication, facilitating,
collaboration, co-ordination and integration on safety, crime
and violence prevention within all spheres of government.
Ensuring a transformed and accountable police service by now
Minister Cele is notorious for not filling in vacant positions
timeously. This department limping along without a leader

 
UNREVISED HANSARD
MINI PLENARY - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
TUESDAY, 24 MAY 2022
VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
INVESTIGATIVE DIRECTORATE AND CIVILIAN SECRETARIAT FOR THE
POLICE SERVICE)
Page: 76
despite timeous reminders by the opposition parties. Please
Minister, it is time to fill in these positions. The
department is not firing or surrenders that country is
waiting. Thank you.
The ACTING CHAIRPERSON (Mr M G Mahlaule): Hon members, I am
advised that hon Joemat-Petterson saved three minutes and hon
Morekwa saved one minute of which both of them would want to
donate to Seabi. In other words, hon Seabi will now have 14
minutes in total.
Mr A M SEABI: House Chairperson, greetings to the hon Minister
of Police and other Ministers in the platform, hon Deputy
Minister Mathale and other Deputy Ministers on the platform,
the chairperson of the Portfolio Committee of Police, hon
members of the Portfolio Committee of Police and hon Members
of Parliament on the platform.
House Chairperson, let me appreciate the opportunity given to
me to participate in the Budget Vote of the Department of
South African Police Service, SAPS. As the ANC we fully

 
UNREVISED HANSARD
MINI PLENARY - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
TUESDAY, 24 MAY 2022
VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
INVESTIGATIVE DIRECTORATE AND CIVILIAN SECRETARIAT FOR THE
POLICE SERVICE)
Page: 77
support this Budget Vote. [Inaudible.] ... in this department.
However, we will overcome. This is a department hard at work
to make sure that the lives of our people are safe.
Hon Minister, let me assure you of our support in your
endeavour to fix the police service. Don’t fear to intervene
where necessary. It is only when the political leader has a
political will and is passionate about his or her work that
things will happen.
There are those who cry political intervention calling it
political interference, but at the same time they blame the
Minister when things are not happening, claiming that the buck
stops with the Minister. They are talking with split tongues.
House Chairperson, it is in this regard that I call upon
community members to play a pivotal role and assist SAPS to
fight crime, because fighting crime is a societal issue. We
support this budget confident that the leadership of the
department will respond positively to the call by the state
President during the state of the nation address when he

 
UNREVISED HANSARD
MINI PLENARY - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
TUESDAY, 24 MAY 2022
VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
INVESTIGATIVE DIRECTORATE AND CIVILIAN SECRETARIAT FOR THE
POLICE SERVICE)
Page: 78
announced that more than 10 000 police officers will be
recruited in the next 12 months. These new recruits, once they
complete their training, they will contribute towards visible
policing — one of the areas in which the department has shown
some weakness.
We are happy that amongst these recruits will be people
qualified in the areas of science ... [Inaudible.] ... that
will, in the long run, increase the capacity of SAPS to deploy
relevant and skilled office laboratories.
We support this budget fully aware that whilst the majority of
police officers are doing their work ... [Inaudible.] ... out
of order, moonlighting as criminals. It is in this regard that
we call upon the Independent Police Investigative Directorate,
IPID, to be even more robust in their investigations and bring
into book the rogue police officers, so that the trust
relationship between communities and SAPS can be restored.
The IPID derives its mandate from the Independent Police
Investigative Act which gives effect to section 206(6) of the

 
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MINI PLENARY - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
TUESDAY, 24 MAY 2022
VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
INVESTIGATIVE DIRECTORATE AND CIVILIAN SECRETARIAT FOR THE
POLICE SERVICE)
Page: 79
South African Constitution. The bulk of the work done by IPID
is to investigate crimes committed by members of the South
African Police Service, and complaints against them. In
supporting this budget, it is our view that it should enhance
IPID’s ability to conduct investigations thoroughly and
improve the quality of such investigations. It will assist
IPID to establish offices in all provinces to enable IPID to
be accessible to ordinary citizens.
From this budget, IPID’s share is R357 million plus, which is
a nominal increase compared to the previous budget. However,
if we are to factor in inflation, then we would conclude that
IPID’s budget has decreased by 3,37%. The state of affairs
will directly affect the investigation and information
management programme which is the main service delivery
subdivision. This, therefore, will considerably affect the
ability of IPID to effectively carryout its mandate. It is our
hope that the leadership of IPID will think out of the box in
addressing the backlogs. It is indeed unacceptable that we
have such a huge backlog of cases in IPID. Hon members, whilst
we sympathise with IPID regarding their budgetary constraints,

 
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MINI PLENARY - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
TUESDAY, 24 MAY 2022
VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
INVESTIGATIVE DIRECTORATE AND CIVILIAN SECRETARIAT FOR THE
POLICE SERVICE)
Page: 80
we are however worried about the downgrading of their targets
as captured in their annual plan.
As I have alluded earlier to the announcement by the President
that more than 10 000 police officers will be recruited and
that this will increase the number of police officers
therefore intensify visible policing, we are told that such
recruits have already started training and they will be ready
for deployment in the near future. We are happy that the
leadership of the department is responding to the call by the
state President, notwithstanding the budget cuts that will
affect the programme, as I have said, for example, of visible
policing. This budget reduction poses a challenge to the
implementation of the police mandate of creating safer
communities.
The private Security Industry Regulatory Authority, SIRA, is
mandated to regulate the private security industry and
exercise control over the practice of the occupation of
security providers in the public interest as well as in the
interest of the private security industry itself. As we

 
UNREVISED HANSARD
MINI PLENARY - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
TUESDAY, 24 MAY 2022
VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
INVESTIGATIVE DIRECTORATE AND CIVILIAN SECRETARIAT FOR THE
POLICE SERVICE)
Page: 81
support this Budget Vote, it is our conviction that it will go
a long way in enhancing the work of SIRA.
Hon members, as the ANC, through the portfolio committee, we
will continue to hold the executive and the department
accountable. We call upon the executive and the department to
ensure that there is value for money as they execute and
implement programmes funded from this budget.
Let me once more congratulate General Masemola for being
appointed as the national commissioner and continue to thank
general Sitole for the foundation he laid. I also want to
thank the President for acting so swiftly in replacing general
Sitole. If this can be the attitude we adopt in the whole
public service, we can be assured of better service delivery.
As I close, House Chair, I want to reiterate our concern with
regard to the number of police officers being killed on and
off duty and also police officers who commit suicide. We
raised this concern with the national commissioner, General
Masemola, and he has promised the portfolio committee that he

 
UNREVISED HANSARD
MINI PLENARY - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
TUESDAY, 24 MAY 2022
VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
INVESTIGATIVE DIRECTORATE AND CIVILIAN SECRETARIAT FOR THE
POLICE SERVICE)
Page: 82
will intensify the implementation of wellness programmes to
assist police officer. Further, that he will develop a serious
intervention programme to mitigate against the killing of
police on and off duty. The national commissioner promised as
well to introduce programmes that will raise the morale of
police officers.
We lower our banner as we remember the fallen men and women in
uniform. We also take our hats off for those police officers
who are committed to their work, especially those who have
carried their missions successfully as we have witnessed in
the not so long distant past. House Chairperson, once more,
the ANC supports the Budget Vote. Thank you, Chair.
The MINISTER OF POLICE: Thank you very much, Chair, there is
not much to respond to contributions made by members except
for hon Whitfield. The points he puts are all in the speech.
If he goes back to read, he will understand that he was almost
superfluous on his contribution, except the last point where
he talks about devolution of powers. He knows it is

 
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MINI PLENARY - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
TUESDAY, 24 MAY 2022
VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
INVESTIGATIVE DIRECTORATE AND CIVILIAN SECRETARIAT FOR THE
POLICE SERVICE)
Page: 83
unconstitutional. He can’t instruct the Minister to follow his
mind of being unconstitutional. I will end there on that one.
I am not going to be charged for hon member Shembeni’s display
of maximum ignorance of matters. It cannot be my problem. If
he wants to be briefed on matters which many of them have been
wrongly put here, that could be fixed.
The issue of sharing Essop is taken on a very high level. The
national team has been dispatched to work with the provincial
team there since ... [Inaudible.] ... 2 pm and though the car
that she was driving has been found. She has not been found.
We believe that the police would be able to crack the case as
they have always done with other cases.
From our side as the Ministry, we would like to thank the
leadership of the SAPS. An extended profound gratitude to the
SAPS members, law enforcement partners and their families for
their selfless sacrifice during the April floods in KwaZulu-
Natal, and in particular those who made the ultimate sacrifice

 
UNREVISED HANSARD
MINI PLENARY - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
TUESDAY, 24 MAY 2022
VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
INVESTIGATIVE DIRECTORATE AND CIVILIAN SECRETARIAT FOR THE
POLICE SERVICE)
Page: 84
in the service of their communities. We have lost several
police on duty.
We would like to conclude from the Ministry but thanking
Deputy Minister Mathale and the guidance provided by the
chairperson, Tina Joemat, the National Commissioner and all
portfolio committee members, the chief of staff of the
Ministry, the Acting secretary, the IPID head, the chief
executive officer of PSIRA, Manabela Chauke, Judge Kgomo,
Lindiwe Thomas Nkosi, who is a board chairperson, Ms Lungelo
Shandu who deals with the issues of Firearms Appeals Board.
I would like to thank the family that supports us under very
difficult conditions – every member of the family especially
the wives that keeps us going.
...[Inaudible.] ... on all members the police are remembered.
Last but not least, all members of the SAPS, all men and women
in blue from the college where they are to the highest office,
we say to them, thank you very much. We salute them for the

 
UNREVISED HANSARD
MINI PLENARY - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
TUESDAY, 24 MAY 2022
VOTE NO 28, 24 & 21 - POLICE (including INDEPENDENT POLICE
INVESTIGATIVE DIRECTORATE AND CIVILIAN SECRETARIAT FOR THE
POLICE SERVICE)
Page: 85
commitment their doing in order to protect the nation. Thank
you very much.
The mini plenary rose at 18:25.

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