Parliament, Wednesday, 15 November 2017 – The Portfolio Committee on Police welcomes progress in the vetting of senior managers within the South African Police Service (SAPS) and applauds the 767 new security clearances issued since April 2017. The Committee also notes the progress in vetting 30 out of 53 senior managers within the Crime Intelligence division. The Committee urges the police to also move with speed to include the four senior member certificates that have expired.
The Committee emphasised the urgency required to complete the action plan to vet Crime Intelligence members, from Lieutenant-Colonel downwards. The Committee notes the plan to use an e-vetting system to fast-track this process and will continue to monitor its implementation. The Committee also welcomes progress in vetting personnel stationed at the OR Tambo International Airport.
Meanwhile, the Committee has raised concerns with the lack of a detailed procedure to follow in cases where an officer fails a security clearance. To remedy this anomaly, the Committee has instructed SAPS to urgently draft and implement an instruction note, setting out the process to be followed in cases where an officer does not receive a security clearance.
“It is the Committee’s considered view that policing has to be intelligence-driven and it is only vetted officers who can offer reduced risk factors within this critical environment,” said Mr Francois Beukman, the Chairperson of the Committee.
The Committee has raised a concern with the delay in an investigation of a Service Management Service member within Crime Intelligence alleged to have fraudulently obtained a top security clearance certificate. The Committee has instructed the Acting National Police Commissioner and Acting Head of Crime Intelligence to give the Committee a comprehensive briefing on the matter on Wednesday, 22 November.
Furthermore, the Committee has agreed to extend public submissions on the Critical Infrastructure Protection Amendment Bill to 24 November 2017. The call for submissions was initially set to close on 17 November 2017, but has extended the deadline following requests, due to the technical nature of the Bill.
“The Committee has taken a position to extend the deadline to ensure that stakeholders and the public in general have ample opportunity to make submissions, in efforts to strengthen the Bill,” Mr Beukman emphasised.
In relation to the proposed Firearms Amnesty 2018, the Committee notes the effort by SAPS to incorporate suggestions made by the Committee during a meeting last week. “The Committee remains of the view that a well-structured, well thought out firearms amnesty process is necessary to reduce the high number of guns on the streets,” Mr Beukman emphasised.
The Committee will process the amnesty request through the normal statutory processes.
ISSUED BY PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON POLICE, MR FRANCOIS BEUKMAN.
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