Motlotlegi Modulasetilo, Ditona le Batlatsatona, badirimmogo ka nna mo Palamenteng le Lefapha la Sepodisi, puo ya me e a go itshetlega mo mafokising kgotsa matseka. [Hon Chairperson, Ministers and Deputy Ministers, my fellow Members of Parliament and the Department of Police, my speech will be about detectives.]
Hon Chairperson, last year was declared the Year of the Detective by the hon Minister of Police. This was preceded by years of intensified focus placed on the upskilling and resourcing of the detective environment of the SA Police Service. This led to tangible improvements in the quality of investigations conducted by the Detective Services, as well as improvements in the forensic science environment. These successes must be applauded.
Due to the increased resource allocation to the Detective Services over the last couple of years, this environment is now being stabilised in respect of resource allocation. The Detective Services were allocated R805 million more in the current financial year, and received a total budget allocation of R14,3 billion. Spending in the Detective Services programme will be prioritised for the provisioning of specialised equipment and training for detectives to enhance the process of investigating crime. Also, focus will be given to the implementation of an integrated criminal justice system to ensure single, co-ordinated management of the continuum of criminal justice and performance across utilisation in the South African criminal justice system utilisation.
Tau e senang seboka, e siiwa ke none e tlhotsa. Le rona fa re ka dira mmogo, re ka kgona. Le, ke lenaneo le disenyi di lebelelang gore re a reng ka bosenyi, mme di itshiamise gore di nne kwa pele ga mapodisi. (Translation of Setswana paragraph follows.)
[Charity begins at home. If we can work together, we can achieve more. This is a programme that makes criminals curious about our thoughts regarding crime and they always improve their skills so that they can be a step ahead of the police.]
This will essentially direct funding to the Forensic Services and broader Detective Services environments with regard to crime scene management and further resourcing of Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Units.
A recurring challenge in the detective environment has been to establish the actual number of detectives. This is due to various organisational challenges and information systems used by the department. Although we understand these challenges, the department must be urged to address the problem as a matter of urgency. The actual number of personnel is essential for proper planning and resource allocation. Subsequent to engagement with the department, a verified number was made available, and the personnel strength of the Detective Services of the Police is currently at a figure of 25 844 investigators, supported by 3 151 Public Service Act personnel. The provisioning of this number is welcomed.
The recruitment of detectives should be focused on ensuring the highest possible quality and calibre of detectives to be appointed to the detective branches of the service. This focus on professional marketing of detectives as a career of choice within the SA Police Service should be reflected in quality-focused recruitment criteria and assessment, which should be defined in policy.
The proper protection of the crime scene is essential for effective investigation. Training on crime scene management should form an integral part of the basic training curriculum of the service. Training on crime scene management should also be rolled out to all existing members of the SAPS, including visible policing members.
Motlotlegi Modulasetilo, re le ANC re a re, dikgolegelo tsa rona di tletse e bile di a phophoma. Batshwarwa ga ba ikise kwa kgolegelong, ba tshwariwa ke mapodisi. Ka jalo, re a ba akgola. Ke ka moo Freedom Charter e reng go tla nna teng tshireletso le kgomotsego. Mo bekeng eno ya Boset?haba ya Tshireletso ya Bana, ke rata go bua ka lefokisi kgotsa letseka le re le tlhokang. Dibeke di ka nna tse thataro tse di fetileng, kwa Naboomspruit, Leloko la Palamente eno, motlotlegi Maggie Mashishi, o ne a timetsa mogala wa letheka kwa marekelong. Ka ntlha ya manontlhotlho a a dirilweng ke letseka le le bidiwang Lefotenente Sam Ledwaba, mogala oo wa letheka o fitlhetswe kwa Windhoek. Go tloga kwa Naboomspruit go fitlha kwa Windhoek. Re batla matseka a a tshwanang le le ke buang ka lona le. Re rata go mo akgola fa a ntse a thusana le Mogenerala Lebea. (Translation of Setswana paragraph follows.)
[Hon Chairperson, as the ANC we say our prisons are full and overcrowded. Prisoners do not send themselves to jail, they are arrested by the police. We therefore compliment the police. That is why the Freedom Charter says there shall be security and comfort. During this National Child Protection Week, I would like to talk about the kind of detective we need. Three weeks ago in Naboomspruit, a Member of this Parliament, hon Maggie Mashishi, lost her cellphone at a mall. Due to the great job done by the detective called Lt Sam Ledwaba, that cellphone was found in Windhoek. From Naboomspruit to Windhoek. We need such detectives. We would like to compliment him, together with Gen Lebea.]
A defined career path and retention strategy should be developed for detectives and must be implemented as a matter of urgency. We are losing experienced detectives because of the lack of upward mobility opportunities while remaining a detective. This retention strategy may include delinking salary promotion from rank promotion. We will consider addressing the promotion policy in the White Paper on Policing, and having this form part of future legislation when the SA Police Service Amendment Bill is tabled before Parliament later this year. We feel that promotion should be clearly linked to training, qualifications and experience, and should be transparent to all members of the service. Additional incentives to be considered to improve retention may include a scarce skills allowance and the reintroduction of the clothing allowance for court appearances. Manageable caseloads and more effective resourcing could also assist in the retention of detectives.
The Resource Allocation Guideline must be brought in line with the current needs of detectives at station level. All detectives should have access to basic resources in order to function effectively. These include sufficient vehicles; computers, specifically laptops with 3G cards; and cellphones. Detectives should be trained to utilise these tools effectively as investigative aids. We hope that the newly developed asset registry approach of the department will ensure that detectives are resourced at station level, and that resources are not funnelled away from the stations, where they are most needed.
The criminal environment in which the service is required to operate is becoming increasingly sophisticated and reliant on technology. A lack of understanding within the police and detective services regarding the concept of modernisation is a threat to the effective operation of the service. Technology must be embraced and used to the advantage of the police. The Forensic Services laboratories of the SA Police Service have advanced significantly over the past couple of years. The completion of the state-of- the-art laboratory in Plattekloof is applauded. The backlogs in analysis have been eliminated, and the services of the laboratories are used increasingly. The ballistic testing of firearms is welcomed. The increased caseload is being managed well. As we will soon start with the Criminal Law (Forensic Procedures) Amendment Bill, or DNA Bill, we have confidence in the ability of the service to effectively implement DNA analysis.
We, as a nation, are struggling to come to grips with the violent nature of crimes against the most vulnerable groups in our society. Efforts to curb violence against women, children, people with disabilities and the elderly must be intensified. The investigation of all sexual offences must be prioritised and Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Units must be increased and adequately capacitated.
We must continue to empower all victims of crime by empowering them with the legal resources available to them when they become victims of crime. The policy on the victim empowerment centres needs to be further developed to ensure that child and women-friendly spaces are created at all police stations to assist with increased reporting of crimes against women and children. A crucial concern remains the excessively slow roll-out of the e-docket system. The fact that this system was launched in 2002, more than a decade ago, and is currently rolled out to only 79 stations out of more than 1 000 police stations is a cause of great concern. Since the 2004-05 financial year almost half a billion rand has been spent on this system, with very poor results. It is not feasible that the system could take another decade to complete, as the technology will be obsolete by that time. The department should increase their efforts to fast-track this system, as it was developed to assist detectives to investigate crime more effectively, as part of the revamp of the SA criminal justice system and integrated justice system.
Agb Voorsitter, die ANC stem saam dat die aanbring van 'n nuwe stelsel moeilik is. Die ANC glo egter dat waar die stelsel reeds bestaan, speurders aangemoedig moet word om dit te implementeer. Die misdaadadministrasiestelsel sal uiteindelik uitgefaseer word en vervang word met die e-dokumentstelsel. Speurders moet nou reeds opgelei word in die gebruik van die nuwe stelsel. Hulle behoort ook van die voordele van die stelsel bewus gemaak te word. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Hon Chairperson, the ANC agrees that the introduction of a new system is very difficult. The ANC, however, believes that where the system already exists, detectives must be encouraged to implement it. The Crime Administration System will eventually be phased out and be replaced with the e-Docket System. Detectives must be trained now already in the use of the new system. They also need to be made aware of the advantages of the system.]
E re ke bue jaana le bomabina go tsholwa ka fa letsogong la me la molema, sesinyi fa se tla go tlhasela, ga se kitla se go botsa gore a o wa mokgatlho wa ANC kgotsa DA kgotsa ofe; se tla tlhasela. Ka jalo, ga go tlhokege gore re tle mo seraleng re batle go bonwa. Bosenyi ga bo na melelwane ya sepolotiki. Fa re dirisana mmogo le sepodisi sa rona, re ka fokotsa bosenyi mo nageng. (Translation of Setswana paragraph follows.)
[Let me address the opposition to my left: When a criminal attacks you, he or she does not ask if you belong to the ANC or DA, they just attack. Therefore, there is no need for us to come to the podium just to be seen. Crime does not have political boundaries. If we work together with our police we can reduce crime in our country.]
We agree that change is difficult, but the detectives must be encouraged to use the e-Docket System where it is implemented. The Case Administration System of the SA Police Service, commonly known as CAS, will be phased out in due course and replaced with the e-Docket System. Members need to be trained in the use of the new system and to be made aware of the significant advantages of the system.
Motlotlegi Modulasetilo, re le ANC, re dira boikuelo mo set?habeng go thusa sepodisi ka tshedimosetso mo dikgetseng. Fa o tshaba, e ya kwa go molaodi wa lekala o ye go mo naya tshedimosetso. Fa Molaodi wa Lekala a sa dire sepe, fetela kwa pele kwa go molaodi wa sedika o mo neele tshedimodetso. Le ena fa a sa dire sepe, e ya kwa go Komi?henara wa Porofense o mo neele tshedimosetso. Le ena fa a sa dire sepe, e ya kwa go Komi?henara wa Boset?haba. Fa a sa dire sepe, e ya kwa go Tona, o tla bona thuso. Fa re ka kopanya matsogo, re ka kgona go lwantsha bosenyi. (Translation of Setswana paragraph follows.)
[Hon Chairperson, as the ANC we humbly request our public to help the police with information on cases. If you are afraid, go to the nearest station commander to give out the information. If the station commander does nothing, then go to the regional commissioner with the information. If he or she does not do anything also, go to the provincial commissioner with the information. If he or she also does nothing, go to the National Commissioner. If she also does nothing, then go to the Minister, you will get help. If we work together, we can fight crime.]
Our detectives have made significant advances, but we want to see an increase in the detection and conviction rates of crimes across the board. Quality investigations will be followed by successful convictions. Although we appreciate that the convictions of alleged offenders are outside the control of detectives, every effort must be made to present evidence in a way that supports the case and encourages a conviction.
E re ke bue le motlotlegi George - ekete ga a yo - gongwe o ile kwa kgotlatshekelo. [Let me talk to hon George - it seems as if he has left - maybe he went to court.] [Laughter.]
Under your chairmanship, a professional national commissioner was appointed and we fully supported it. [Applause.] Is this another sign of confusion in Cope?
To hon Ntapane, I am extending an invitation to come to the committee and participate properly.
Kwa bokhutlong bagaetsho, ntetleng ke bue jaana ke re ... [In conclusion, let me say ...]
Die ANC ondersteun hierdie begroting, en ek dank u. [The ANC supports this budget, and I thank you.] [Applause.]