4 JULY 2024

Greetings to the House Chairperson

Members of the executive – Minister and Deputy Minister

The National Commissioner

Honourable Members

We welcome and support the 120 billion budget allocation for police, civil secretariat and IPID as it is anchored by the National Development Plan, aligned to the ANC manifesto commitments which include intensifying the fight against crime, strengthening our response to Gender based violence and femicide, keeping our homes and streets safe, protecting our boarders and creating employment opportunities. Though no budget can ever be enough to address all the policing concerns, We are at least confident that this allocation will be able to respond to some of our pressing concerns including the crime of murder, illegal firearms, extortion, capacity and resourcing.

Administration

The Construction and maintenance of the police station is fast becoming a burning issue under the conditions we find police stations in. it is a no brainer that a person’s working environment will most likely impact on their morale and that is why we need to push for the devolution of functions from DPWI to SAPS so that SAPS can be somewhat more self sufficient when it comes to repairs and maintenance.

We need police stations to be maintained and adequately resourced. We have heard in far too many cases, instances where a police station did not even have paper, basic stationary and working tools to carry out their work efficiently.

The other issue is the number of vehicles in the fleet services. Too many times, we hear of what could have been preventable taking place simply because there was no vehicle to attend to the scene because the vehicle was engaged elsewhere.  We need to know how many of these vehicles are there ready and available to service the communities.

Rebuilding trust and confidence

The people of South Africa want professional and quality policing. Efficient and effective service delivery. Active public and community policing. Strong and ethical leadership and governance.

The dignity and moral fibre of South African Policing Services must be protected and restored at all costs. We cannot afford to keep receiving demeaning and concerning reports of members of the police involved in corruption and extortion, members of the police raping victims of crime, members of the police being involved in serious and violent crimes and turning their own family dwellings into crime scenes of domestic violence and perpetuating the scourge of Gender Based Violence and Femicide.

We acknowledge the role of IPID in investigating such cases and we call for a speedy resolution of the IPID backlog cases so that those who must account must be made to account. We must be clear and firm that nobody is above the law.

This brings me to my second point chairperson that as the portfolio committee of police we have noted the recent developments with General Khumalo and associates. We welcome the bold and positive step by the SAPS to investigate allegations of corruptions within their own ranks, corruption in the police force at all levels undermines and erodes public trust and confidence. We welcome these developments in two fronts, that the police are now inward looking and not immune to allegations of corruption and also that the police are determined to run a clean administration in this term. This is the first step towards rebuilding public trust and confidence in the Police and we welcome these developments.

We need more police oversight in an effort to increase accountability and responsiveness.

Employment and Job creation

We have noted the statement from the police detailing that over 185 000 applications have been received in a space of 48 hours of the applications going live. Though this is a progressive step towards the realization of personnel capacitation amongst the SAPS we are disappointed that the number has been decreased from the original 10 000. The response in the applications 185000 plus people competing for 5000 post goes to show just how desperate people at home are for employment opportunities.

We note the 15 000-case backlog, confronting IPID and the main case drivers being assault, discharge of an official firearm and death due to police action.  We urge the police ministry to look into skills transfer and train a new crop of investigators that will be able to successfully investigate these cases

We call for SAPS to stretch its budget to cater for the hiring of short-term administrative clerks to assist with case backlogs and also to create further employment opportunities over and above the 5000 established posts.  Young people are sitting at home, qualified graduates, nurses, social workers, lawyers, criminologist all who are waiting for an opportunity to showcase their skills and capabilities.

On Extortions

Crime intelligence must be able to detect and prevent extortion crime. We have an emerging threat of extortions that targets individuals running businesses and some parts of the transport industry. The Western Cape has been particularly hard hit by the extortion economy, particularly because of its existing, and related gang violence problem. We have been made aware of the township enterprises extortions targeting both formal and informal businesses particularly in the Cape Flats, Khayelisha, Gugulethu and Nyanga.  The transport industry is also under threat more especially as it pertains to the busses, taxis and private vehicles on route rivalry.

 The crime of extortion must be taken very seriously as it undermines businesses, the growth of the township economy and disrupts peace and order, creating a climate of fear and instability. If the government is not at a place where it can provide employment opportunities to all, surely it should not be too much to ask, to ask for protection and safety in pursing individual business.  South Africans are desperately waiting for intelligence driven strategies to combat extortion networks.

SAPS has not been very effective and coordinated in their response to the growing crime and we hope that in the 2025/26 financial year we will see more focus in this area.

While we emphasize on the need for improved crime intelligence, we must also take note that the whistle blower culture in south Africa is one of fear and distrust and we need the SAPS to actively embark on awareness and trust building campaigns, emphasizing on the importance   of crime reporting, even if it is done anonymously.           

Illicit firearms and violent murders

We remember the family of 18 from Lusikisi

We remember the family of 5 from Bityi village in the Eastern Cape, OR Tamb District

Patrons from Marry me settlement in the North of Pretoria

The Gugulethu Mass shooting from 5 days ago

To name a few…

Everyday we are informed of a blood bath of firearm related murders which highlight the extent that the rampant flow of firearms that cannot be accounted for. The mass shootings the country has witnessed across the provinces have signaled the alarm for stricter legislative and other measures to ensure public safety. It is in this breath that we welcome the prioritization of the Firearms Control Act and PSIRA ammendent Bill.

In the growing climate of violent crimes, the ANC welcome this positive step towards the clamping down of illicit firearms and the determination towards working to realize the African Union vision of silencing the guns by 2030. The ANC remains firm on its commitment to fighting crime and keeping our homes and streets safe.

Conclusion

The ANC supports this budget vote, thank you.