Parliament, Thursday, 1 February 2018 – The Portfolio Committee on Police has today told senior management of the South African Police Service (SAPS) that their turnaround strategy that was tabled before the Committee today ought to be measurable.
“Efforts aimed at improving our policing and combating crime are always welcomed. However, the Committee and indeed the public must be able to assess the implementation of such a plan,” said Committee Chairperson, Mr Francois Beukman.
Mr Beukman said the turnaround strategy as it is now, is not linked with the Annual Performance Plan (APP), adding that the Committee has asked SAPS to incorporate this plan in the APP. SAPS was also told to ensure its strategy is aligned to the budget.
Among the initiatives contained in the SAPS turnaround strategy, are programmes intended at asserting the authority of the state, ensuring a thorough and responsive investigation of every crime as well as an effective crime intelligence to support proactive and reactive policing. The strategy also makes provision for a collaborative and consultative approach to policing.
The Committee also emphasised that this strategy should also address basic policing issues such as ensuring that frontline police officers have tools of trade like pocket books and are trained to be able to take proper statements.
The Committee also received an update on the outcomes of the festive season strategy which recorded challenges and successes in some crime categories. A full report is still being consolidated and will be tabled in the coming weeks.
SAPS recorded a 12% increase in the crimes detected as a result of police action. SAPS also reported a decrease in crimes reported by community members such as contact crimes, property-related crimes, aggravated robberies, but saw a 0.8% increase in sexual offences.
The Committee commended SAPS where it has improved and said some of the successes are as a result of the heightened numbers of police that were deployed during the festive season. Where there has been increases, the Committee said more has to be done to address those.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON POLICE, MR FRANCOIS BEUKMAN.
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