Parliament, Friday, 19 May 2023 – The Portfolio Committee on Police will over the next two days visit the Northern Cape and Gauteng to assess progress in resolving various challenges around living and working conditions at the South African Police Service (SAPS) training facility and the Central Firearms Register. The committee undertakes these visits primarily because it views the resolution of these challenges as critical in the overall fight against crime in South Africa.
The committee has welcomed the President’s announcement of an aggressive recruitment drive to augment police personnel to aid crime fighting initiatives. The SAPS recruited 10 000 police trainees for the 2023/23 financial year and a further 10 000 trainees for the 2023/24 financial year. The committee will use this visit to assess the living conditions at the SAPS training facilities at the South African National Defence Force’s Army Base (3 South African Infantry) located in Kimberley and alsoassess training programmes for the trainees.
In Gauteng, the committee will visit the Central Firearms Registry, a mechanism established to ensure a comprehensive firearms control system. The committee visited the CFR in May 2021 and this follow-up visit is to assess progress in implementing solutions to some of the challenges witnessed in 2021. During its previous visit, the committee saw extremely dissatisfying conditions at the Veritas Building, which houses the CFR. The building has been declared unsafe for human occupation and long-standing plans for relocation had not been implemented. Also, there was inadequate filing space, with firearms license applications stored in hallways.
The committee will interact with SAPS leadership to assess the implementation and impact of interventions. While in Tshwane, the committee will also take the opportunity to visit the SAPS training facility there. Following both visits, the committee Chairperson will interact with the media to give a full update on the conditions at all sites visited.
Details of the visit (Kimberley)
Date: Saturday, 20 May 2023
Venue: 3 SAI Base
Time: 08:00
Details of the visit (Pretoria)
Date: Sunday, 21 May 2023
Venue: CFR, Veritas Building
Time: 08:00
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON POLICE, MS TINA JOEMAT-PETTERSSON.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairpersons, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Malatswa Molepo (Mr)
Parliamentary Communication Services
Tel: 021 403 8438
Cell: 081 512 7920
E-mail: mmolepo@parliament.gov.za
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