Hon Speaker, hon members, ladies and gentlemen, the Crime Intelligence environment received the smallest increase to its allocation within the police budget. It received an increase of R124 million in the 2013-14 financial year, which allocated this environment a total budget of R2, 71 billion.
The spending focus over the medium term will be on enhancing overall capacity and aligning functions with the organisational profile of the Crime Intelligence Division. The bulk of spending in the programme goes towards the compensation of employees, as Crime Intelligence functions are labour-intensive.
The increased focus on capacity-building within this environment is welcomed, as it is becoming increasingly evident that this environment is not functioning optimally and does not support crime investigation as it should. The strategic priorities of the Crime Intelligence Programme were expanded in the 2013-14 financial year. The commitment made towards appointing Adv Hamilton Maenetje, and towards combating serious crimes - drug and people-smuggling syndicates, as well as human trafficking - is welcomed.
The proliferation of drug abuse has a negative impact on our communities and is largely responsible for the violent nature of crime in our country. Our communities must be rid of this evil. The increased focus on human trafficking syndicates is welcomed, as trade in human beings is equivalent to modern-day slavery, which can never be accepted.
The expansion of strategic priorities in the crime intelligence environment also led to many performance indicators being set with classified targets. The classification of measurable targets does not allow for effective oversight of the crime intelligence environment. The lack of measurable performance indicators makes it increasingly difficult to oversee the performance of this environment. Unfortunately, it is becoming increasingly clear that the crime intelligence service is not functioning optimally. This is made clear through various issues that are identified during engagement with the department on its budget and performance plan.
The main challenges identified during these engagements are: firstly, the high incidence of criminality within the environment; secondly, the lack of proper vetting of personnel operating within this environment; and thirdly, the high vacancy rate and number of acting personnel in the unit. These are crucial threats to the optimal functioning of the crime intelligence service and need to be addressed as a matter of urgency.
The issue of criminality within this environment is a serious concern. During the previous financial year, a total number of 101 members were suspended on serious criminal charges. These included fraud, robbery, theft, murder and sexual assault. We cannot allow the situation to continue, and the department needs to address this issue as a matter of urgency. Decisive action must be taken against members of the service who regard themselves as being above the law.
An investigation should be launched into the high rate of criminality in order to identify the reasons for this high rate of criminality within this environment. Criminality in our police must be stamped out. It must be made clear to members that criminality can no longer be tolerated.
Bothata bo okediwa ke gore bangwe ga ba a tlhatlhobiwa; ba dule ka soba la nnalete. Gore ba le sekete se le sengwe go ba le dikete di le robedi ba falotse ka soba ba nnale ke tlhoba boroko. (Translation of Setswana paragraph follows.) [The situation is exacerbated by the lack of vetting of some members; some passed by a small measure. Only 1 000 out of the 8 000 passed by a small measure and this is not a good indication.]
One thousand out of 8 000 passed the vetting, and that is not good.
Lefapha le tshwanela go ipaakanya le go thusa ba bangwe. [The department must make its own repairs and assist others.]
As mentioned earlier, the crime intelligence environment has a high vacancy rate, which is amplified by the fact that about 80% of the personnel within this environment are employed in acting positions. This invariably leads to instability and uncertainty within the unit. A permanent head must be appointed in order to bring stability to the crime intelligence environment and to bring capacity within it.
In its Ready to Govern document, the ANC committed itself to eradicating underdevelopment, poverty and abuse of human rights, as my Deputy Minister has said, because these are grave threats to the security of people, and invariably give rise to conflicts between individual communities and countries. They threaten the security of states as well.
The Protection and Security Services programme remains the smallest programme in the department and receives less than 3% of the department's total budget. The Protection and Security Services programme was allocated a total of R1,96 billion for the 2013-14 financial year. The protection service environment is doing well in auditing our National Key Points and strategic installations. This is a crucial responsibility and is executed with great care.
The service understands the importance of maintaining the integrity of the security of government buildings and prides itself on doing more than is legally required of them. This environment is, however, not beyond reproach. One of the biggest challenges within this environment is the prolonged placement of members at static security points.
These members are not afforded adequate career development opportunities. The department should take greater care to effectively manage the career development of all members of this service, especially in the protection and security service environment. These members cannot be expected to guard gates for the duration of their entire careers as it is unfair and demoralising for them. Although we understand that there are some opportunities available to them, it is not enough and we urge the service to look into this situation and uplift deserving members. Crime Intelligence and Protection and Security Services received the smallest monetary allocation of the SAPS budget. These men and women in blue work undercover most of the time. Their aim is not to be seen, but to protect and inform. They operate in the background and shadows. This covert nature of their job does not mean that we should also not see them while they are doing their work in the shadows. We must see them as members of the service, and do our duty to oversee their performance. The service must also see and develop these men and women, who put their lives at risk to protect us on a daily basis.
The ANC welcomes the emphasis by the Minister on his 10-point Plan. The ANC supports the drive by the Minister to develop a policing model that is intelligence-driven. The ANC supports the Budget Vote. I thank you. [Applause.]