Hon Chairperson, Ministers and Deputy Ministers present, hon Members of Parliament, acting Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Ms Van Wyk, MECs responsible for policing present, National Commissioner of Police, Gen Phiyega, all directors-general of the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security cluster, the SA Police Service, SAPS, senior management present, heads of entities, civilians and Secretariats of Police, Independent Police Investigative Directorate, Ipid, the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority, PSIRA, all strategic partners of the SAPS in the fight against crime, comrades, friends, ladies and gentlemen, I greet you.
In 2009, the ANC unveiled a manifesto which resonated well with the aspirations of the multitude of South Africans. In this manifesto, the movement prioritised five key areas for the term of office of its administration. For the purpose of this debate, we will concentrate on one of them - the fight against crime and corruption, under Outcome 3, which says, "People are and feel safe in South Africa". We have to reflect on the past three years of our term in office. In doing so it would be important to put facts and figures to the road we have travelled so far. The level of crime continues to drop and, contrary to the current discourse, more people are beginning to feel safe.
As we reflect on the progress over this period of three years, the national crime statistics indicate, amongst others, that murder decreased by 17,2% during the past three years, attempted murder by 21,8%; bank robberies by 64,2%; cash-in-transit heists by 53,6%; and robbery at residential premises decreased by 12,5%. Over the past three years, sexual offences decreased by 11,9%, rape, in particular, by 2,9%; carjacking by 38,9%, whilst stock theft decreased marginally, by 0,8%.
Furthermore, according to the Victims of Crime Survey, Vocs, of 2012 there is an increase of 8% in the public appreciation for how government is doing in reducing crime levels when compared to five years ago. The crimes against women and children, gender-based violence and domestic violence not only affect the most vulnerable in society, but also contribute to a mentality that violence is an acceptable and valid means of self-assertion. Protection of communities must also be central to strategies aimed at reducing incidences of gender-based violence.
I am encouraged to report before this august House that since the reintroduction of the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Units, based on capacity-building and investment in the environment, remarkable increases in life sentences continue to be experienced. There were 1 194 life sentences secured during the past three years, that is, 306 in 2010-11, 389 in 2011-12, and 499 in 2012-13.
Nationally, we now have 176 established Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Units attached to all police clusters within the SAPS. In support of the investigation of such crimes, 2 139 forensic social workers were appointed. These include 79 forensic social workers who where appointed to assist in cases of child sexual abuse by means of conducting assessments, evaluations; compiling court reports and providing expert testimony in court as a means to strengthen our cases towards increasing convictions in this area.
In this Budget Vote, we are joined by the top seven best investigators for the 2012-13 financial year. I ask you please to join me in congratulating the following officers: Lieutenant L T Monene from Limpopo, who secured 11 life sentences ... [Applause.] ... Constable A E Mathevula from Limpopo, again, who secured five life sentences ... [Applause.] ... Warrant Officer N D Ligege from Limpopo, who secured five life sentences ... [Applause.] ... Constable C Mokone from North West, who secured four life sentences ... [Applause.] ... Constable Bokolo from the Eastern Cape, who secured four life sentences two weeks ago ... [Applause.] ... Warrant Officer O E Monnamme from North West, who secured two life sentences ... [Applause.] ... and Constable R R Visagie from the Northern Cape, who secured two life sentences. [Applause.]
We currently have 919 victim-friendly facilities rendering victim support services and intend to establish these rooms at all stations during 2013- 14. However, the main focus is on the establishment of a dedicated capacity and the requisite soft skills to enhance victim-friendly services.
The Hawks said that the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations, DPCI, has continued its fight against crime, especially organised crime relating particularly to drugs, for the past year, in the amount of R95 million. They have arrested 334 and so far secured the closing of 41 laboratories during the year under review.
On precious metals, during this 2012-13 financial year, the number of individuals arrested for the illegal purchase, theft and possession of uncut diamonds and unwrought precious metals was 198, in addition to 314 arrests in 2011-12. Of the number of arrested persons, so far 71 have been convicted.
We are pleased to report that crime intelligence conducted 37 network operations, which led to the arrest of 10 607 individuals and the recovery of goods to the value of R683 million for the past year. [Applause.] The work also continues in the forensic science laboratories. To this end, during the 2012-13 financial year, forensic science services reduced backlogs in the various disciplines to ensure the processing of cases through the criminal justice system.
We have continued to deepen our partnership with various stakeholders. From the time we were given this task three years ago, we have forged links and worked closely with partners like the SA Banking Risk Information Centre, Sabric, as one of the partners in the fight against crime. Through their industry expertise, they have been able to deepen and share their skills and expertise within the banking sector by setting up initiatives to combat automated teller machine, ATM, crime, cheque fraud and crime in general in business.
We are also working with Business Against Crime South Africa as another vital partner in the fight against crime. We have also continued to engage communities through Community Policing Forums, the CPFs, civic organisations, amongst others, as well as the religious bodies. These are bearing fruit, especially in the success of the SAPS in the fight against crime.
In the coming year we are hoping to finalise some legislation that is going to help us to further deepen our fight against crime. Amongst others, there are the Private Security Industry Regulatory Amendment Bill, the SA Police Service Amendment Bill and other pieces of legislation that are meant to help us in the fight against crime.
Turning now to the National Key Points Act, in 2007 a draft National Key Points Bill was developed and progressed as far as the National Economic Development and Labour Council, Nedlac, process. At this juncture certain issues prevented the processing of the Bill.
Earlier this year, I asked the legal team in my department to look at this Bill, to begin the process of refining it, and introducing it in Parliament. We are now realigning the National Key Points Act with the Constitution and other pieces of legislation. [Applause.] In addition to this, in terms of section 6(1) of the National Key Points Act, I have appointed an advisory committee to assist me with evaluating this very important area.
This committee, which is going to be working on this matter, is led by Adv Hamilton Maenetje and other people from the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and civilian secretariat. We expect the first part of their work to be completed by the end of July this year. The Bill will then be introduced in Parliament before the end of the year.
We continue to focus on the issue of the training and recruitment of police officers. In January this year, I convened the top 1 500, meeting with all clusters and all station commanders in the country. In this meeting, we looked at the state of policing in South Africa and, amongst others, the issue of recruitment, and the need to change the way we recruit people into the police featured prominently.
The other issue, which becomes important for us, is the lives of members of the police and their psychological welfare. Policing is a difficult duty. Our officers operate under strenuous conditions, and they face some of the most dangerous criminals on a daily basis.
The nature of crime is unique and violent in our country. As part of our intervention, the Employee Health and Wellness programme is freely available to all members. Whilst some members have used this programme, sadly, we still have some amongst them who do not believe that they need to go through the counselling process and seek professional help.
However, this programme comprises qualified, experienced and registered psychologists, social workers and chaplains. There are clearly outlined referral processes between the different professionals. The programme and medical schemes are guided by the needs of employees and their immediate families. Members have access to a 24-hour call centre service where one-on- one telephone counselling and individual trauma debriefing is done. Through a number of different forums, I have already emphasised the need to have a concerted effort in the psychological welfare of SAPS officials, and we are beginning to engage external role-players to assist in this regard.
The Firearms Control Act is a crucial piece of legislation. It is important that we all understand the policy that underpins this legislation in a country that faces high levels of violent crime. There have been people who have sought to challenge our policies. I can say that ours rest on a very firm basis, and we remain resolute in our commitment to stand our ground on this matter. [Applause.] Where we were taken to court, as was shown in the Justice Alliance of SA matter, which went all the way to the Constitutional Court, we stood our ground, succeeded and won that case. [Applause.]
Over the past few months, concerns have been raised about the practices of certain unscrupulous firearms dealers who are not complying with the provisions of the Firearms Control Act. Last week, I instructed Ms Soraya Hassim, senior council, and Advocate Rams Ramashia to head an inquiry that is currently investigating these allegations because if indeed they are proven to be true, they could impact negatively on our crime reduction efforts. We cannot allow this. Within the next six weeks, they will complete their investigation and will provide me with a comprehensive report of their findings, including recommendations. There is no direct link between the number of deaths in custody and the introduction of ranks within the police. We have noted reports around a number of deaths in custody, or people dying as a result of police action. Let us utilise this occasion to highlight that the number of deaths in police custody does not necessarily mean that police were directly responsible. In some cases, it includes natural deaths while suspects are in police custody, while in other instances it includes the confrontation that criminals stage against the police, particularly in cash-in-transit heists.
We have looked into the Ipid figures and cannot correlate them with the introduction of ranks. In 2008-09, before the rank structure was introduced, the number of incidents recorded by Ipid had increased by 15%, but the following three years saw a decrease of 21,1%. Therefore, whilst we remain concerned about any loss of life, irrespective of whatever circumstances, there is no evidence that links this to the introduction of ranks within the police.
The number of private security guards registered in our country today stands at 1,2 million. It is also estimated that of the guards registered, 353 000 are active within the industry. This means that the number of private security guards operating outstrips that of the SAPS and SA National Defence Force, SANDF, combined. It is, amongst others, one of the reasons that we have taken this process through to Parliament and introduced it, to regulate this industry, which is very important, and to look into it.
Scholars across the spectrum recognise that social systems are founded on definite historical origins. If the saying, "out of nothing, nothing comes" is true, then it must follow that the future is formed and derives its first impulse in the womb of the present. The world is beginning to look at us and our continent, not so much for our lack of capacity, but for our capacity to do things in a way that makes everyone proud. Conditions have emerged where the world wants to do business with us.
In the future, policing must be guided by the understanding that the crime landscape will continuously evolve. This will require the SAPS to remain innovative and adapt its policing approaches to respond to this changing environment. The unity of citizens on the question of crime should act as a source of great strength to all of us. Today there can be no doubt about the determination of the overwhelming majority of the citizens of this country to take concerted action to help in the fight against crime. I thank you. [Applause.]