Chairperson, the fact that about 70% of the department's total budget allocation goes to salaries, raises a fair expectation that the better-paid and increased police members should bring about value for money. This should result in a drop in serious crime levels, which we believe are desperate.
What I fail to understand is why the police have set for themselves a low target of 4-7%, to reduce all serious crime categories. The ACDP believes that the target of 4-7% for reducing all serious crime categories is too low, and should be reviewed and increased to a more acceptable percentage.
During the committee's meeting with the German MPs last month, I was pleasantly surprised to hear that the police in that country receive three years of comprehensive training before they can hit the road, while our police are given a mere six months of training. This insufficient training has resulted in the failure of many constables at police stations, with them taking improper statements from complainants and witnesses. This has also led to many cases being thrown out of court because of shoddy work by the police.
Even though the ACDP will support this Budget Vote, we are not convinced that the R1,3 billion allocated for training is sufficient to capacitate the police to deal effectively with crime syndicates operating in our country. More intensive training is needed for our police, we believe.
Listed among the department's priorities for 2010-11 is the elimination of corruption. We in the ACDP would have preferred that elimination of corruption in the police should have been particularly highlighted. If corruption in the police is not eliminated, then it will be difficult to eliminate it in business and in the Public Service.
Earlier this week it was reported that a suspected international drug kingpin was allegedly linked to a group of six Bloemfontein police officers who were reportedly transporting drugs between provinces in state vehicles while on duty.
These allegation are very serious and a great embarrassment. How can members of the public be assured that the police vans they always see speeding on national roads are not transporting drugs, particularly when the amount of drugs and their users in townships and amongst children are increasing?
The ACDP believes that the investigation of these allegations should be given priority as we do not want to see further transportation and misuse of state vehicles transporting illegal drugs. Corruption in the Police Service must be rooted out at all costs.
Having said that, I also want to salute the two exemplary police officers from Port Elizabeth, who refused a bribe of R1 million each. [Applause.] We need many more police officers like them. And to the Hawks, we note your successes and thank you for shutting down the drug laboratories and arresting 28 of the 50 most wanted criminals. [Time expired.] [Applause.]