Issued by African National Congress - Parliament
10 June 2003
Madam Speaker,
Minister for Safety and Security, Comrade Nqakula,
Comrades,
And Honourable members
I rise to support this Budget Vote of 2003/2004 on behalf of the African National Congress. The 11% increase will go a long way in achieving the goals that were set by the President in his State of the Nation Address: that is "improving capacity of the SAPS to discharge its crime prevention and combating responsibilities".
Whilst I do not like to always refer to the past, but I must state that the ANC-led government inherited a police force that was highly centralized, paramilitary, and authoritarian against any collective challenges to Apartheid. Consequently, the Police were poorly equipped for crime control and prevention under a new democratic dispensation.
Section 205 (3) of the Constitution states that the objectives of the Police Service amongst other things, is to protect and secure the inhabitants of the Republic (not all inhabitants) and their property and to uphold and enforce the Law. This objective, Madam Speaker, is in line with the Freedom Charter's vision that proclaimed, in 1955 that "There shall be Peace and Friendship".
To achieve these objectives the government introduced a philosophy of Community Policing to make sure that the inherited Police Force is transformed into professional and effective law enforcement Police Service, a police service that will never again infringe on Human Rights.
This Community Policing approach - true to its premise that a community and its police service are equal partners with shared responsibilities in ensuring safety and security - has produced good progress, because it has yielded partnerships with relevant departments, relevant sectors, and the community at large. This partnership is a necessary strategy that is not only turning the tide against crime, but will also initiate and implement programmes to fight the scourge of violent crimes such as rape, gangster fighting and shootings.
This Budget informed by our National Crime Prevention Strategy (NCPS) is accommodating the increase of police by 45 000 by the financial year 2005/2006. This holistic approach against crime refuses to look at crime only in terms of statistics and numbers of Police. Of course, Madam Speaker, I am not alluding that statistical data for measuring crime, are useless. Any good democracy needs good statistical data to be able to identify and measure patterns and trends of criminal activities. However, statistical data must not be politicized, and not be over-emphasized as if it is the only measure for solving crime.
Safety and Security for all citizens does not only mean 150 000 more police on the streets as some would like us to believe. Combating violent crimes against women and children will not be successful by merely increasing police in the streets. That is why this government led by the ANC emphasizes the importance of the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster (JCPS). The success of the 16 Days of Activism Against Abuse of Women and Children during November and December 2002 by this Cluster, is commendable. To create an impression or even say that nothing is done against the abuse of children and women is highly irresponsible.
The training and enlisting of more police officials will enhance visible policing, not only in the urban areas, but in the rural areas as well. We want to make sure that rural areas are given equal emphasis. Some people would like the farmers to believe that this government dos not care about farm killings, because to them farm killings is only farm-owners. This government, however, also acknowledges that attacks against farm residents/workers are as much big problem. The government has embarked on a Rural Safety Plan that sees to it that the Police equally protect farmers and farm-workers. Phasing out of Commandos, which have their own history, is a major step taken by the government to ensure that all residents in farms (farm owners and workers) are protected. The government has made sure that rural safety is not compromised, that is why, each month, 9 000 reservists are activated to support the envisaged 35 000 sector policing.
Madam Speaker, restructuring of the SAPS is one of the most critical tasks of the government. Closing down of some specialized units does not mean that those tasks have now ceased to exist, but are included in multi-disciplinary units to avoid unnecessary duplication and redundancy. The restructuring of these units into Organized Crimes, Serious and Violent Crimes, Commercial Crimes and Crimes against Women and Children, means leaner, effective, and easily monitored units.
Another leg of restructuring was the implementation of Resolution 7 of 2002, which I must state was not meant for the Police alone, but for all government departments. The main aims of this Resolution 7/2002 are (1) equal distribution of skills and other resources to bridge the divide on how the rich and poor are policed in this country; (2) improve service delivery; and (3) to progressively implement the SAPS National Employment Equity so that the Police Service reflects the true demographics of this country.
This restructuring and transformation within SAPS has resulted in a state of panic to those who are unhappy with change. They are threatening to do all sorts of actions against the Department. The National Commissioner and the Minister will definitely sort out any genuine problems. The Minister has already indicated this when he was briefing the Safety and Security Portfolio Committee.
However, it must be emphasized that the transformation of SAPS is a progress towards rebuilding the nation, sharing of skills, and enhancing safety and security of the country.
The greatest concern of all peace loving South Africans, Madam Speaker, is the high rate of police killings. Community Policing is meant to facilitate mutual respect and understanding between the Police Service and the local community it serves. This is endorsed by the Constitution (Section 206 (3) (c), which says: "to promote good relations between the Police and the Community". The Community must realize that killing of Police officials is against the Constitution and hence against the hard-fought democracy and related achievements of this country.
This government will continue to enhance measures of safety and security of our police members. This Parliament must look at the laws and check if they are adequate enough to make criminals think twice before killing a Police official. An attack on the Police is an attack on our democracy.
The ugly head of vigilantism is re-emerging again. Some politicians in this house have tried to justify these acts of barbarism by putting the blame on the Police, eluding the inability of the Police to deal with crime. These prophets of doom allege that vigilantism is public frustration with the criminal justice system. Whilst this is debatable; but trying to resolve crime and conflict in a violent way cannot be frustration, but criminal aggravation to other human beings.
The Police will continue to work with the public to insist on proper law enforcement rather than resorting to vigilantism. The Police will not hesitate to act against vigilantism of any kind.
Yes, SAPS is still facing enormous challenges in combating crime. Corruption within SAPS and lack of skills are some contributing factors to allegations of "sloppy work" by Police officials. There are indeed constant complaints against police for their slow response to calls of emergency; if they respond at all. The Division Crime Prevention is currently addressing these complaints as a matter of urgency in order to ensure that the response to calls will be enhanced thus ensuring professional and rapid response to incidents of crime. The remedies to the situation include the
In conclusion, this Government must be commended on the tide it has turned on crime. Many of our people are beginning to realize the importance of the role in fighting crime. That is why some serious crimes were quickly and easily defused with the assistance of the Community. Community Police Forums have been established all over the country and they meet and discuss means and ways of preventing crime and the role that can be played by the communities. We commend these CPF's for discussing positively on how they can prevent attacks so that they can create a safe environment.
I want to appeal again to Members of all parties to speak with one voice against crime. It is saddening to discover that some parties are even using crime for electioneering purposes. They even get carried away by their imaginations to suggest that there is chaos in this country. Even criminals are shocked with disbelief as they know that the Police are making it very difficult for them to commit crime.
Though the levels of crime are still unacceptably high, we can say with confidence that we have turned the tide, and people are generally safer than they were before 1994.
I thank you.