Thank you, Chairperson, and thank you to the members for their contributions to the debate, which I think has generally pointed to some of the defects that have to be addressed and some that are being addressed.
Perhaps the first thing that I need to start with relates to the issue of police who are brutal towards members of the public and who do not conduct themselves in the way that their own code of conduct, training, philosophy and the Constitution of the Republic states. Nobody would excuse those who act in that fashion, which is why, whenever such things happen, there is no condonation from the side of government. I think we need to make that point firmly and without excuses.
We also need to say that when people are involved in public protests, they have a responsibility. Our own Constitution allows people to exercise their democratic right, but it's very clear that they should do so unarmed. I think that, as members of the committee, we should emphasise that important point as well, so that we shouldn't be seen as condoning members of the public who conduct themselves contrary to what the Constitution and the laws of the country say with regard to the way it should be done. The centrality of the partnership in the fight against crime cannot be overemphasised. This came across in the debate as members were making their points. Indeed, the police cannot alone claim success in the fight against crime without the involvement of the public, because part of the reason why successes are registered is because of the way members of the public have taken part in ensuring that we rid our country of the scourge of crime.
We need to emphasise the point of fighting the drivers of crime, including the abuse of drugs, alcohol and so on. With regard to those matters, let us emphasise the point that they are not security matters. They are the root causes of the crimes that we see in South Africa, and those root causes are founded in the socioeconomic conditions that we should be addressing.
There is no way that we would want to deal with problems of our kids becoming hooked on drugs by sending in the army, for instance. That is not the solution. The solution would be found in a multidisciplinary and a multi-agency approach, as the example of Eldorado Park shows. In fact, Eldorado Park was supposed to be second on the list, because we were emphasising the point in the matter of Cape Town, which is for us to deal with the problems on the Cape Flats and elsewhere in the Western Cape; we need to follow this approach. This is the best approach. [Applause.]
We also need to look at the point made by the hon Stubbe on the issue of crime intelligence and the regulation of that environment. In saying that, perhaps the hon member knows that Cabinet has agreed to the White Paper on policing, to further look into some of the issues of policies relating to policing per se. Beyond that, the amendment to the SA Police Service Act of 1995 is going to be of help in ensuring that where there are loopholes, including in crime intelligence, as has been identified, they are dealt with.
The hon Molebatsi has dealt with the issue raised by the hon George about the need for professional policemen or policewomen. I don't need to waste my time on that, but the fact of the matter is that I was tempted to listen to hon George, until I remembered that he is the former chairperson of this very portfolio committee and a former Deputy Minister in the cluster. He has just now realised - now that he has crossed the floor - that this is actually what is needed.
We need to heed what the chairperson of the portfolio committee said. Or rather, perhaps before that we need to hear what the hon Ndlovu, Gatsheni ...
Siyakuzwa baba ... [We hear you, sir ...]
The R14 billion that you were referring to is a contingency within the area of liability. But the point that you are making is that, even if that is the case, this is a matter that should be cut down to size, particularly as it relates to litigation.
The chairperson said that the police must respect the public. This is what we have been saying and will continue to say. Members of the public should know that when they go to the police station, they are going to be served with respect by members of the police.
The last points relate to what hon Kohler-Barnard said. On the first point that relates to bulletproof vests, let me say that perhaps the mistake about the lack thereof has to do with the member bringing a very old statement to the House, one that she had prepared some years ago. We don't have problems with regard to bulletproof vests. There is no problem with that. [Interjections.] It is an outdated statement, which is not actually helping. [Applause.] [Interjections.]
We also heard the member pleading for the chairpersonship of the portfolio committee. I need not say anything about that because ... [Interjections.] ... she will have to work to ensure that her party is elected to government. It's only then that she will be the chairperson. I sympathise with her as she really wishes to be the chairperson ... [Applause.] ... but we can't do anything about that. [Interjections.]
We have people working in the Ministry. There are old ladies, ladies and other people, and when we ask them how they are working, they say that they don't even know about their salaries because somebody gets their salaries for them and then gives them to them. We have taken the decision that from now onwards, if we like their services, we will pay them directly.
If that is fighting labour broking, then so be it, but there is no way that you will be visiting injustice upon those workers who do their best to ensure that what they are given to do is indeed done. [Interjections.] [Applause.]
Hon Kohler-Barnard talked about the police being ineffective and made all kinds of destructive comments, yet at the end she says that she salutes them. [Interjections.] How bizarre and patronising is that? The issue here is that the police ... [Interjections.] ... Don't panic! The issue here is that the police will continue to do their job. We have emphasised that those who are not doing their job will face the full might of the law, even within the police. Thank you very much. [Applause.]