041028vote25

JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING :28 OCTOBER 2004

VOTE 25: SAFETY AND SECURITY

1. Adjustment Estimates of National Expenditure 2004

The adjustment is mainly necessitated by the shifting of funds between votes, and to the following extent:

The amount of R30 million will be transferred from the Department of Transport as a once-off contribution for security infrastructure at the Cape Town Metro Rail Project, the latter being implemented by the Division: Protection and Security Services.
The amount of R33,494 million will be transferred from the Department of Health for the medico-legal mortuaries for maintenance and upgrading, office equipment, mortuary equipment and vehicles. These funds will serve the purpose of ensuring the transfer of fully equipped and maintained mortuaries from the SA Police Service to the Provincial Departments of Health at some point in time.
The amount of R246 000 will be transferred to the Department of Public Works for leasing of accommodation for the Firearm Control Project Office.

2. Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS)

2.1 The MTBPS in relation to Safety and Security, includes the following high level medium term policy aim and priority.

"improved remuneration of police and combating crime and improving safety and security".

The key priorities of the SAPS Strategic Plan are in line with this MTBPS priority. It includes:

* The enhancement of service delivery especially through sector policing

* Combatting serious and violent crimes, particularly in the high crime areas and enhancing the control over ownership and possession of firearms, as well as confiscation of illegal arms

* Dealing with organised crime and combatting crimes against women and children

* Establishment of the protection and security division.

The key priorities further supports the SAPS in working with the other departments in the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security cluster to focus resources on addressing the incidents of crime and public disorder, while improving the efficiency of the Integrated Justice System.

2.2 The 2005 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) will build on the policy priorities that were laid down in the 2003 and 2004 budgets. Other key elements of the growth strategy involve inter alia the reinforcement of crime prevention. The 2005 MTEF therefore again prioritizes the continued expansion of capacity in the safety and security sector to prevent and combat crime.

It specifically enables the following:

Personnel: Provision for the appointment of 9 090 additional personnel over the MTEF period, which should be added to the 37 760 additional personnel already provided for in the pre-adjusted baseline allocations totalling 46 850 over the period 2002/03 to 2007/08.
Amounts to be allocated over the medium-term to improve remuneration and address grade promotion and progression and retention of scarce skills.
Vehicles: Further modernisation and the expansion of the vehicle fleet also in relation to the growth in additional personnel.
General Equipment: Equipping personnel with various items such as bullet proof vests, hand cuffs and road block equipment.
Information Technology : Enhancing a process of renewing and extending end user equipment and network infrastructure.
IJS: Promoting the implementation of various projects.
Establishment of the Division: Security and Protection Services
Cabinet approval was obtained during June 2003
Funds have been provided to initiate the implementation of the pilot projects such as:

· Airports (Johannesburg International Airport)

· Rail Transport (Cape Town Train Station)

· Harbours (Durban)

· Land Border (Beitbridge)

Courts (All High Courts)

3. The SA Police Service has confirmed that the MTBPS addresses its needs as identified.