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Speech at the Media Breakfast breifing for Economic Clusters
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Speeches and Media Releases
 Safety Liaison and Transport

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EASTERN CAPE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
 SPEECH BY MEC  FOR SAFETY AND LIAISON, DENNIS NEER
 AT THE MEDIA BREAKFAST BRIEFINGS FOR THE ECONOMIC CLUSTER
 ON 15 NOVEMBER 2000



INTRODUCTION

The Department of safety and Liaisons vision and mission is growth and quality of life through safety and security and to strive to make 
the Eastern Cape the leading province in providing a safe and secure environment which supports maximum growth and development for all. It 
is therefore in line with our strategic focus 2000-2003 as outlined in our policy speech, that of combatting crime and increase service 
delivery thereby increasing the levels of trust by the communities in the SAPS. We are therefore on course in trying to implement our 
strategic priorities in line with the Presidents state of the nation address and the Provincial governments goals. Our priorities:

* Civilian Oversight and Monitoring
* Crime Prevention and
* Community Policing

First six months of this financial year - Summary of progress made focussing on successes and key challenges of programmes

1. Oversight/Monitoring

1.1. Community Policing

Almost all police areas have established CPFs and there is a growing understanding of their roles since introduced in this Province and the 
country at large. As a department we are urging everybody to participate in these structures especially professionals like teachers, 
magistrates, prosecutors, nurses, clerks, business, politicians etc.

The problem area in this regard is the question of funding which is being debated and handled at a national level. Presently, the 
department together with the Provincial Commissioners office has contracted a group of NGOs to do training for targeted CPFs relating to 
developing crime reducing strategies in the local police station areas. Stations targeted also compliment the high crime zones as 
identified by the National Commissioner for attention. This programme is financed by the DFID.

Challenges in respect to Community Policing - Sustain-ability in relation to funding and training which are DFID funded.

* Election of CPF structures to take place in February to April 2001.
* Constraints - Budget limitation
* One person doing Monitoring
* Different views and approaches to monitoring of SAPS

Steps taken to improve the situation

* Proposed to open 4 regional offices in the Province and the process is underway by the department.

1.2. Policing priorities

Operation Crackdown - this operation is going well in the Province which needs support from all angles of our society in combatting crime. 
Police conducted several raids especially in shebeens which are the key focus of almost all police area operations. This is because most 
serious crimes like rape, murder and violence emanate from shebeens. Roadblocks and searches were also part of operation crackdown where 
illegal firearms, drugs, stolen vehicles and goods were confiscated in the period under review. A total of 28 stations are identified as 
high crime zones in the Eastern Cape. Out of that, all stations in PE are classified under this category and more than 50% of crimes are 
committed in these station areas.

More than 50% of the stations are in underdeveloped areas where the unemployment rate is at 40%. Statistics on reported cases showed that 
in April to July 1999, there were 96 157 cases reported as compared to 100 671 in 2000 in the same period. Police stations that reflect 
most increases were Duncan Village, Kwa-Nobuhle, Cradock, Kwazakele and Algoa park. This means that police should intensify their 
operations in these areas. We are mindful of the fact that these areas have limited resources with regard to logistics like vehicles and 
personnel but should try their level best with the limited resources they have at their disposal. For the period April to August decreases 
were noted in murder, arson, attempted murder, theft out of and from motor vehicles

We need to operate at an integrated approach with all stakeholders in social crime prevention strategies in addressing issues like poverty, 
unemployment which causes some of these crimes.

The departments challenges - effective redistribution of police resources both human and material to high crime areas; effective strategy 
to ensure sustainable crime decreases that will bring about social crime prevention programmes.

1.3. Transformation in the SAPS

There still seems to be a lack of commitment by some members of Senior Management to transformation processes in SAPS. An information 
session has already been held for senior management of SAPS to deal with issues pertaining to transformation. The session addressed issues 
like the skills development Act; Equity Act; racism; gender and also the Constitutional requirements relating to transformation. A broader 
workshop is planned that will start to develop an integrated approach to transformation in the SAPS.

There was an intervention by the department in terms of promotions from Captain to Superintendent recently being done by SAPS out of 
complaints made by other members. The process has been reviewed as agreed with national and in my opinion representativeness and 
affirmative action were adequately addressed.

Challenges facing the department - ensuring that the department is continuously participating on interview panels within the SAPS; 
development of an integrated approach and plan for transformation of SAPS; monitoring the effectiveness of discipline and ensure that its 
not based on racial basis as alleged and lastly, to engage the police more vigorously by working closer with them on key transformation 
issues.

Footage on SABC - Special assignment on the 07 November 2000

As a department we support fully the action taken by the National Minister to arrest and suspend those police members(Dog Unit) who 
brutally attacked innocent people driven by hate and racism. We want to urge all members of the public and SAPS members in the Province to 
assist the Provincial Commissioner to expose these rotten elements in our service because they are not only damaging the image of our 
department but undermining the good work done by dedicated officers under difficult conditions. This shows clearly that we should speed up 
the process of transformation in the SAPS and build up a clean and effective service with strong democratic values.

1.4. Visits to police stations

We are intensifying these visits to all police areas in the Province. Top management had visited police stations in Umtata, Drakensberg and 
Port Elizabeth. These visits were looking at resources both physical & manpower; morale and discipline; service delivery; conditions of 
cells, accommodation(office space etc.); crimes rampant in the areas; escapes and relationships between CPFs, police, Traditional leaders 
and the community. We are fully aware of the shortages of vehicles as reported in the media in our police stations and with the Provincial 
office of SAPS and National we are trying to address this issue by lobbying for more funds to cater for more new vehicles.

2. Crime prevention

Interventions had been made in resolving crisis situations in areas like :-
 Port St. Johns, Dordrecht. In Port St. Johns business and community had accused the police of conning with well-known criminals and that 
the police are not doing their job properly. The department instituted a Commission of inquiry into these allegations and the report is 
forthcoming. In Dordrecht there were two faction fights from the Apostolic Church, these people were fighting since 1990 resulted to a 
church being gutted down. The building is now rebuilt and both groups wanted to use the building which caused conflict between them. The 
Community Policing Forum invited the department to be part and parcel of the process of resolving this matter. Negotiations are still 
continuing in this regard.

We also had a crime summit in Sturtterheim and Cathcart areas called specifically to address farm attacks. Suggestions and proposals were 
made and we agreed that we should have local workshops to design action plans that will address short-term and long-term solutions. It 
should be noted that not only farm attacks were identified but also stock theft and other related crimes. The summit was also in agreement 
that the economic development of the area should be included in our strategies since stock theft might be caused by high rate of 
unemployment and poverty in the area.

As a department we have advertised for a post of Deputy Director Crime Prevention who will coordinate and implement the National Crime 
Prevention Strategy in the Province.

3. Special Programme Unit - RDP

3.1. Service Delivery

Some stations in the province have been able to reduce especially their station priority crimes and this is attributed mostly to Operation 
Crackdown as well as station operations. Their operations have been centred around raiding of shebeens because most of the crimes are 
committed whilst under the influence of liquor. There has also been a decrease in absenteeism rate in some stations which is also 
contributing to the decrease in the station crimes.

Challenges

* Low conviction rates as a result of postponement of cases.
* Release of prisoners without consulting the local SAPS which has led to an increase in crime in some station precincts.
* Shortage of resources both human and physical(especially for maintaining visibility in rural areas where there is an increase in 
housebreakings).
* The one person in the division has also been seconded to the Eastern Cape Gambling and Betting Board.

Suggested corrective action

* there needs to be closer cooperation between the Justice Department and the SAPS at local levels to address especially the postponements
* Justice should inform SAPS when prisoners are to be released so that they are able to prepare.

3.2. Victim Empowerment/Crimes against Women and Children

Challenges

* There is a problem in as far as this programme is concerned in that the SAPS coordinator was transferred to Communication in the 
Provincial Commissioners office.
* There is a domestic violence Act in place but there are problems with the implementation of the said Act. There is a need to find out how 
much of non-implementation can be attributed to lack of training and how much to non-commitment to implementation in the SAPS.

What has been done and what will be done to try to rectify the problem

* A letter was written to the Provincial office regarding coordination of the programme, the office is still waiting for a response.
* A training workshop has been organised to train some members on victim empowerment.
* A training workshop for station Commissioners and their second in charge will be held and they will be prioritised according to the 21 
priority stations (to sensitise them about their role in the implementation of the DVA).

* A monitoring mechanism for the DVA will be established.

4. Special Programme Unit - Youth, Gender and Disabled

The department has recently appointed a Special Programmes Unit to deal with issues of Gender, the Disabled and Youth Affairs.

Key responsibilities/terms of reference

* Development, co-ordination and evaluation of policies and programmes on youth, gender and disability in the Department.
* Development, co-ordination and evaluation of Transformation and HIV/Aids policies and programmes in the Department.
* Assisting management in promoting broad representative staff composition in the Department.

HIV/Aids - Several HIV/Aids forum meetings have been attended to discuss the Provincial HIV/Aids policy in the work place. An HIV/Aids 
action plan was submitted to the Standing Committee on Safety and security.

Included in the plan are workshops, awareness campaigns, care and support and condom distribution.

Challenges and Constraints

* SPUs are new in all departmental establishments, with no clear guidance on how they should operate.
* Non-existence of the SPU in the Office of the Premier to guide and monitor the activities of departmental SPUs which results in poor 
coordination.
* SPU is not budgeted for the next financial year.

Both the OSW(Office on the Status of Women) and OSDP(Office on the Status of Disabled Persons) do not have sufficient resources for their 
own operation and capacity building for the SPUs.

5. Progress on relocation of SAPS Headquarters

A Provincial Steering Committee was formed to look to the process of relocating SAPS Headquarters comprising of SAPS and Secretariat. An 
implementation task team was established to come up with a plan for the process i.e. looking at logistics and financial implications.

6. Investigation of the murder and robbery squad - Umtata

Umtata murder and robbery squad is under investigation as reported in the media because of serious allegations against them. The Provincial 
office has already instituted a Commission of inquiry which will come up with findings and recommendations. As a department we want to root 
out corruption in our ranks and bring confidence in the whole police force. If those members are found guilty I can promise you that they 
will be dealt with.

Conclusion

Members of the public and the media are urged to assist our departments initiatives in curbing the scourge of criminal activities in our 
Province.

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