Documents handed out:
Briefing to members of parliament - Broad outline.
Policing priorities and objectives for 1999\ 2000.

SUMMARY
The Commissioner outlined the functions, priorities, budget and personnel

of the department. The Deputy Minister announced that legislation on firearm control and an amendment of the Police Act is to be tabled with the committee but he would not commit to a date.

MINUTES
Deputy Minister for Safety and Security, Mr V Matthews, and National Commissioner of the South African Police Services, Mr J Fivaz delivered a briefing to members of parliament. The deputy minister informed the committee that the Minister for Safety and Security has introduced a note of urgency in the fight against crime and the restoration of law and order is being made priority, due to the rampant increase in crime.

Mr Fivaz outlined the structure of the Department of Safety and Security, as well as the functions of the South African Police Services (SAPS), as entrenched in S205 of the constitution, the function of the Secretariat for Safety and Security (SSS) as stated in S3 of Act 68 of 1995, and the function of the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) as stated in Chapter 10 of the South African Police Services Act 68 of 1995.

The commissioner outlined the priorities of the department, which is based on a 5-year focus plan, as well as the targets and the achievements of the department. The first priority is to maintain effective law enforcement, by targeting visible policing, and by improving the investigative capacity as well as the service delivery of the department. The second priority is crime prevention, which is aimed to be achieved by: focusing on the root causes of crime, proper focus on offenders and victims and their environments, as well as inter-departmental co-ordination and effective co-operation.

Targets for the department as set in 1994 are as follows:

-Amalgamation of 11 policing agencies;

-Transformation of Police Services into a professional, effective and efficient Police Service which is impartial, transparent and accountable;

-To ensure greater public participation in policing.

Achivements of the department since 1994:

-Completed amalgamation, which includes, structure standardization, new rank system, new uniforms, labour relations, code of conduct etc.

-Transformation through enhanced professionalism, code of conduct and service delivery.

-Improvement through proper utilization of resources, proper programs regarding affirmative action etc.

-Community participation by community policing, partnership policing, Community Participation Forums, the National Crime Prevention Strategy and community projects.

The budget and personnel figures for the department are as follows:

Independent Complaints Directorate –24 million rands / 135

Secretariat for Safety & Security –25 million rands / 281

SAPS -14004 million rand / 127 000.

Mr Fivaz presented a slide presentation of South African Police profile report on the nine provinces, highlighting major crime areas, police issues, police areas, police stations and operations in each of the provinces.

The commissioner announced the priorities and objectives for 1999\2000 which are as follows:

Firearm control,

Improved intelligence on criminal organisations,

Enforce legislation on crimes against woman and children,

Increase detection of corruption within the SAPS,

Conduct active visible policing.

To increase the investigative services,

Develop victim empowerment,

Improve budget and resource management,

Enforce professional conduct.

The deputy minister announced the legislation, which the department is presently dealing with. First, there is the amendment of the Police Act, which is to make provision for metropolitan police and their training. The second is the amendment of the Arms and Ammunition Act of 1969, which is to provide for effective gun control. Mr Matthews said that this 30-year-old legislation is no longer adequate. He added that no draft law has been placed before the minister as yet, neither has any bill been proposed. He said that if a bill is put forward, the normal procedure would be followed. Mr Matthews criticised the protest action against gun control as artificial campaigning, politically motivated and premature as it ignored the realities of the present situation. He said that the ANC has no intention of disarming the Afrikaner. Mr Matthews concluded by emphasising the importance of curbing the proliferation of firearms as most crimes are committed with a firearm.

Ms J Benjamin (ANC): How effective has transformation been? I feel that the police do not have the communities at heart.

Mr Matthews: The function of the old police services was to oppress the community. Transformation is therefore a long process. We must start by changing the judiciary and the magistrates. The Mitchell’s Plain area has a high rate of gangsterism, and this problem is going to be tough to crack, therefore fundamental changes are needed to achieve transformation. Transformation is evident in the increased amount of women coming forward to report incidence of rape because women are empowered and know their rights. South Africa has the most reported rapes in the world, but this does not mean that we have the highest rate rate. More South African women are reporting it.

Mr Fivas: The SAPS has an open process of appointments. They have created a situation whereby they develop people's skills, and gradually phase them into the service.

Mr A Mlangeni (ANC): How can the police be assisted in obtaining evidence from crime suspects, as ‘donnering’ is no longer permitted as in the old days? Should not legislation be introduced to assist police in obtaining evidence?

Mr Matthews: Other countries have good investigative methods of obtaining evidence. The opening of the detective academy is the first in the history of our country.

Mr G Mackintosh (DP): What is the position in terms of provincial and national transfers for the promotion and employment of police officials?

Mr Fivas: Any police officer can apply for a transfer to another province, for promotion or for the same position.

An ANC MP: We want Community Police Forums (CPF) in the rural areas as every area has the right to form a CPF.

Mr Matthews: The CPF is not an organisation that creates jobs, it is staffed by the community on a voluntary basis. This led to the collapse of the CPF in the rural areas. The CPF is still in the infancy stage in South Africa, and we are trying to find effective ways of developing CPF.

An unidentified MP: If there is no bill on gun control, how come an official was interviewed on a television programme regarding this issue?

Mr Matthew informed the committee that there are only two people, the Minister and Deputy Minister, that can communicate policy to the public on behalf of the Department of Safety and Security. Departmental officials have no authority to communicate policy to the public on any matter. He advised the committee not to get government policies from the media and from departmental officials.

Mr Matthews asked the portfolio committee to draw up a list on all subjects they wished to be briefed on. The meeting was concluded.