Madam Deputy Speaker, the South African Police Service Act, Act 68 of 1995, was promulgated on 27 January 1995. Given the anniversary of the SA Police Service, SAPS, we should consider the essential role it plays to provide safety and security for all people in South Africa. In honour of the sacrifices members make in providing this service, Cabinet declared 27 January, annually, the day to celebrate National Police Day for South Africa.
The National Commissioner of Police, in consultation with his national and provincial management, took a decision to celebrate National Police Day for 2010 on 29 January 2010. We hosted this day, among other considerations, to thank members of the SA Police Service for their dedication and hard work. We understand the kind of environment in which they work, especially those members who served the country during the 2009 festive season.
The event was hosted in Bloemfontein at the Vodacom Park Stadium. Its theme was: South African Police Service Members: My Family. Approximately 42 000 members of the provinces and divisions attended this event on 29 January 2010. Thank you.
Madam Deputy Speaker, the two unions in the Department of Police told the portfolio committee that they were looking forward to yet another event. Was the country's security compromised in any way at any time in the run-up to the event, during the event or after the event? If not, why not? Thank you.
The country's security during the event was not compromised at all. The event was decentralised. Most of the police officers who attended are those who took leave because they were on duty during the festive season. Their attendance at the centralised event in Bloemfontein was part of an agreement with management in different provinces.
When the police gathered in the Vodacom Park Stadium in Bloemfontein, there were police officers manning police stations on the ground. They were on duty as agreed. We are convinced that the security of the country was well planned for in view of those who would be absent, and it was certainly not compromised.
Madam Deputy Speaker, will the Deputy Minister explain why food ran out, but liquor continued to flow when 50 000 police officers were celebrating in the Free State? Was this the best method of showing appreciation for their services? Does the Deputy Minister not have any other programme to acknowledge excellence in the police force or to incentivise other members to emulate those who performed excellently? Thank you. [Applause.]
Madam Deputy Speaker, there are various methods in the Police Service to acknowledge excellence. In the days preceding that gathering, there was an evening event where we were honouring police offices who had excellent performance in the Police Service for 30 years. This preceded that event. It's only that it was not publicised. Only the actual big celebration was publicised.
Regarding what came first, before food - liquor or cooldrinks - it's an operational question. If drinks were exhausted before food, that is another question. The budget and everything was the same. Everything supplied at that event was equal for everybody. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Madam Deputy Speaker, one in three of our SA Police Service, SAPS, members were ordered under penalty of disciplinary hearings to drop their duties and undertake a long and often chaotic trip to Bloemfontein. Many arrived after this party was over. No one will believe for a moment that removing 50 000 of our police officers from our stations to go to the party did not leave our citizens extremely vulnerable over a three- to five-day period: two days, travel, one day party, during which food ran out and no ablution facilities or accommodation was provided, and then two days to recover. In many instances two days were needed to recover from excessive drinking at the town's bottle stores.
Your spokesperson from the Ministry promised to reveal to the DA the total cost of the event before the event, during the event, and after the event, and has now lapsed into silence. We have asked you exactly how much was spent on the party and from which SAPS programme the money came. The country still does not know where their tax money went. Tell us now: What did the party cost the nation when it could have been held effectively, efficiently and safely for the citizens of this country in the provinces?
The question of the cost of the party will be addressed. We need an overall report, which we are still awaiting. The question of the cost of the party and how much exactly cost it the SA Police Service's budget is a matter that will also be addressed. There are many people who came to the fore to support the party and the efforts of the police, and to recognise them on that day. Costs did not only come from the SA Police Service's budget; they also came from the corporate sector that was saying thank you to the police for rendering a wonderful job. We take only one day to say thank you to the police officers, not every day. On that day, many people came to the party, and we are grateful for that. [Applause.]
Regarding the report, we are open to scrutiny. In the budgetary processes, this information will come up and we will be in a position to share how much the party cost.
Regarding the ablution facilities and the drunken behaviour of the individuals, and whether or not people were hung over for another day, it will require a detailed scientific analysis to determine if people were still suffering from a hangover the following day. Whether or not we are better placed here, or if we have a neurologist, I don't know.
Madam Deputy Speaker, on a point of order: I believe that the Deputy Minister has already informed us he is not a lawyer. May I ask if he is a scientist? [Laughter.]
Whether one is a scientist, a lawyer or something else, one applies different tools of analysis to arrive at particular conclusions about people. [Applause.] My school of thought is the university of wisdom, which teaches me that, logically, you cannot, from far away, make a determination about the social behaviour of an individual unless you have tested that person. In this instance we cannot come to that conclusion because we are responding to hearsay.
The most appropriate way to respond to that would be to come with empirical evidence that, indeed, people were tested and were hung over. In this instance, we do not have that report. [Laughter.]
Query regarding constitutional basis for shoot-to-kill policy
39. Mr V B Ndlovu (IFP) asked the Minister of Police:
On which provision of the Constitution does the shoot-to-kill policy rely?