Chairperson, Minister, Deputy Minister, MECs and hon members, there is no doubt that the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security cluster is faced with mounting challenges in the fight against crime.
Over the past few years the intelligence and crime-fighting agencies have often spent more time fighting against each other than fulfilling their mandate to create a secure society for our people.
We would like to appeal to government and the department to ensure that this does not happen again. We would also like to remind the department that fighting crime must involve a holistic approach, with a huge emphasis on stamping out the root causes of crime.
Die Polisie moet weer ons trots wees. Daar moet weer dissipline in die SA Polisiediens wees. [Our police force should make us proud again. Discipline should once again prevail in the SA Police Service.]
The ID's vision involves implementing the kind of solutions that promote the idea of collective action for collective security. Our social democratic adherence to the principle of people-centred development means that partnerships with communities and community policing forums, CPFs, should receive special attention. We must provide CPFs with resources and equipment and encourage police to work more closely with them.
The costs of alcohol abuse and its links to criminal activities are not properly accounted for in South Africa. In 2006, for instance, 47% of homicide victims were drunk at the time of death. We must therefore effectively enforce the laws on underage drinking, while liquor licenses should be more strictly controlled and restricted to a certain number within each community.
Forensic laboratories should be given proper resources and more detectives should be hired to ensure the increase in conviction rates. We welcome the fact that the Minister has already answered that one.
Besides this, we must give far more attention to the reintegration of offenders into society and the reforming of prison systems, but today I would like to say to the hon Minister and hon Deputy Minister to look at police stations throughout this country. The condition that some are in is not good. There are police stations, for instance, in my constituency in the Kalahari and Andriesvale, to which you can go at 21:05 in the evening and stand there waiting until 00:25 without ever seeing a policeman. And the doors are open!
In Andriesvale kan jy maar gaan kyk. Dit het al meer as tien keer gebeur - dis in my kiesafdeling, ek werk daar - dis die werklikheid. En ons mense moet die waarheid in die o begin staar. Die werklikheid is dat baie polisiebeamptes ... [Tyd verstreke.] [Applous.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[You can just go and see what is happening in Andriesvale. It has happened more than ten times - it's my constituency, I work there - it's a reality. And our people should start facing the truth. The reality is that many police officers ... [Time expired.][Applause.]]