Parliament, Wednesday, 21 August 2024 – The Portfolio Committee on Police has today agreed with critical stakeholders within the policing portfolio to work together to strengthen the accountability ecosystem of the South African Police Service (SAPS) as a solid foundation to enable effective policing.
The committee today met with the Office of the Auditor General and labour unions to share ideas on finding solutions to challenges facing SAPS officers in applying their crime fighting efforts.
The Auditor General (AG) informed the committee that some of the key targets not met over the 2019-2024 Medium Term Strategic Framework include the 1.98% increase in contact crime against the intention to reduce it by 7.48%, crimes against children increased by 2.57%, crimes against women increased by 3.90%. The committee agrees with the AG that there is a challenge of ineffective prevention strategies to combat crime coupled with ineffective monitoring of action plans.
For example, the committee raised concern that on average there has been a significant increase of syndicates and criminal groups including extortions at an average of 38.98% over the medium term. The recent cases of extortion in Mthatha that have led to closure of businesses and schools, the construction mafia that have halted much needed infrastructure projects and the worrying increase of kidnapping syndicates point to endemic crimes that threaten the safety and security of South Africans.
“To turn the scourge of crimes around we must confront the current shortcomings within the environment head-on, do the basics right and as a committee enhance our oversight mechanisms. This must be an era of effective, intelligence led policing to ensure that the people of Mthatha, Hanover Park in the Western Cape and Jukulyn in Pretoria feel safe,” said the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Mr Ian Cameron.
To achieve this, the committee has emphasised that the two pillars of policing, proactive and reactive policing must be enhanced. Furthermore, adequate resources should be directed at areas that will enhance policing such as visible policing, detective services and crime intelligence. In addition, the SAPS must improve enabling platforms such as the 10111 platform to ensure that it is impactful and responsive.
“It is unacceptable that there is on average 26.44% of dropped calls to the 10111 function and that on average it takes 8 to 35 minutes for calls to be answered. Such platforms are necessary to ensure speedy responses to criminal acts,” Mr Cameron emphasised.
The committee also reiterated its stance that the wellbeing of members of SAPS is central in ensuring effective policing. In line with this, the SAPS management must find solutions to the current lack of appropriate promotion policy that will guarantee clear career pathing. A clear growth path will end the current trend of trained SAPS members resigning to join the private sector.
The strengthening of policing also requires a strong Independent Police Investigative Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) as an additional oversight mechanism. The fact that there are only 120 IPID investigators against the over 150 000 members of the police force which translates to a ratio of 1:1250. This resource disparity undermines IPID's ability to carry out its mandate effectively and measures must be implemented to rectify this.
The committee has for its part committed to enhanced and focused oversight especially on critical priority areas.
Meanwhile, the committee has noted the precautionary evacuation of 2500 police trainees from the Tshwane Police Training academy as a result of a gas explosion in the area. The Chairperson emphasised that the safety of the trainees is important, and SAPS senior management must put in place contingency measures as the City of Tshwane battles with the fire.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON POLICE, MR IAN CAMERON
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