PQ 65
[pic]
[pic]
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCESÂ
QUESTION FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO.: 65
DATE OF QUESTION: 05 MARCH 2010
Mr D A Worth (DA-FS) to ask the Minister of Justice and Constitutional
Development:
(1)Â Â Â Â Â Â Whether, with reference to the reply to Question 42 on 18 May
2005 by his
predecessor, and the incident regarding the serious breach of security
that took place at the Free State Supreme Court on 16 February 2010,
the basic standard level of security was in place; if not, why not; if
so, what are the relevant details;
(2)Â Â Â Â Â Â whether any steps have been taken to secure the various courts;
if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
CW91E
REPLY:
(1)Â Â Â Â Â Â I would like to inform the Honourable Member that my Department
had a 24-hour Guarding Service in place at the Free State Supreme
court on the 16 February 2010. The Department of Justice and
Constitutional Development and the South African Police Service are
still investigating this incident which occurred on that day.
It should be noted that the South African Police Service is
responsible for the security of Awaiting Trial Detainees (ATDs) from
the various police stations to the holding cells at various court
buildings.
(2)Â Â Â Â Â Â My Department has initiated the National Security Infrastructure
Programme, including the Free State Supreme Court, to court buildings
throughout the country.
The National Security Infrastructure Programme includes:
⢠Perimeter fencing of the court buildings;
⢠Secured entry and exit points to the courts;
⢠Secured Prisoner drop off Areas;
⢠Secured Prisoner routes from police cells;
⢠Secured Areas for members of judiciary and prosecution;
⢠Secured Cash hall and record rooms;
⢠CCTV cameras will be installed to monitor and record activities at
all controlled entry and exit points;
⢠On-site operational control rooms; and
⢠An Alarm detection system.
The National Security Infrastructure Programme will be incrementally
rolled out to various courts throughout the country during the
following three financial years and will ensure that all court
buildings and the members of the public who utilise these premises are
secure and safe.