REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON SAFETY AND SECURITY ON THE ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY AND SECURITY FOR 2003/04

10 November 2004

The Portfolio Committee on Safety and Security, having considered the Annual Report and Financial Statements of the Department of Safety and Security, reports as follows:

On 3 November 2004, the Committee met with the National Commissioner and other representatives from the Department of Safety and Security to discuss the 2003/04 Annual Report and Financial Statements of the Department of Safety and Security.

The following members of the Portfolio Committee on Safety and Security attended the meeting:

 

 

The Department of Safety and Security was represented by:

 

The Department of Safety and Security provided an overview of the crime situation in South Africa for the period 2003/04 as well as an overview of the financial statements of the Department during that period. Members of the Portfolio Committee were given the opportunity to pose questions to the Departmental representatives on these and other issues related to the Annual Report 2003/04.

1. Introduction

The Portfolio Committee on Safety and Security has scrutinised the Annual Report of the Department of Safety and Security for 2003/04 including, the Report of the Auditor-General.

In terms of the Annual Report, the Portfolio Committee notes that following key issues:

 

 

In terms of the Report of the Auditor-General, the Portfolio Committee notes the following key issues:

2. Crime Situation 2003/04

An improved or deteriorating crime situation is the key indicator of the effectiveness or lack thereof of the South African Police Service (SAPS). Thus, the Department of Safety and Security provided the Portfolio Committee with a summary of the crime statistics for 2003/04 in comparison with the previous two years.

2.1. Successes

Key successes in the crime situation for 2003/04 included:

Contact Crimes (identified as the most critical crime category as it involves violent crimes where the victims suffer psychological trauma, are injured, or dead):

Property related crimes:

Generators of crime (crimes such as the illegal possession of firearms, drugs and driving under the influence of alcohol, which have a major role to play in the commission of contact and property crimes):

2.2. Problems

Problem areas identified by the Department of Safety and Security during 2003/04 included:

Contact Crimes:

Property crimes:

 

 

2.3. Committee Concerns

Members of the Committee raised the following concerns regarding the crime situation for 2003/04:

The problem of unreported crimes and the accuracy of crime statistics

According to the SAPS, the latest Institute for Security Services (ISS) Victim Survey illustrates that underreporting has reached the lowest levels for many years. Even in terms of rape, which is generally underreported it can now be presumed that every 1 in 2 or at least 1 in 3 rapes are reported to the police.

The SAPS uses the official population figures based on the most recent Census and supplements these with each mid-year population census when it compares the crimes as a ratio per 100 000 of the population. This equalizes population growth and also makes it possible to compare statistics between provinces.

There is a recognised 5% margin of error in the accuracy of the crime statistics. In order to reduce errors, the system is centralised and in addition, a team visits stations periodically on an unannounced basis to check the station statistics in relations to dockets. Disciplinary action is taken if discrepancies are identified.

Role of statistics in reducing crime

According to the SAPS, the purpose of the crimes statistic is to plan interventions to further reduce crime in the country. Statistics are also inserted onto the Geographic Information System, which provides operational data such as the location of high crime areas that may require additional policing.

Killing of police

A total of 108 police officers were killed in 2003/04, many while they were on duty. This number decreased in comparison to 2003/04 where 150 police officers were killed. The public needs to be educated to respect the police. In addition, the police need the correct protective equipment such as effective and wearable bulletproof vests, to protect themselves. Police members must also ensure that they carry their firearms and handcuffs with them while they are on duty.

Human trafficking

The SAPS stated that contrary to reports by some non-governmental organisations (NGOs), there is no basis for the suggestion that organised human trafficking, for sexual or other purposes exists in South Africa. There are cases of human smuggling where people are assisted to enter the country illegally some of whom may be married off to South African to legitimise their stay.

International assistance and Interpol

All 182 members of Interpol have access to the Interpol databases including the fugitive database. A total of 25 people are situated within the office of the National Commissioner to deal with international assistance and Interpol issues.

Border control

The SAPS is only responsible for security at ports of entry. The SANDF is responsible for security on the borderlines, but from 31 March 2009, the SAPS will replace the SANDF on the borderlines. Drugs and firearm trafficking across borderlines is dealt with in terms of the Organised Crime Approach supplemented by sector policing in terms of the Rural Safety Plan with the involvement of local policing.

3. Financial Statements 2003/04

According to the financial statements of the Department of Safety and Security for 2003/04, the following is noted:

Revenue: The SAPS exceeded their target revenue set at R130 million for 2003/04. A total of R158 million was collected by the SAPS. This money was returned to the National Revenue Fund.

Donor Funding: Approximately R7 million is retained in a surplus account from 2003/04 and this money will be used, mainly for programmes to enhance personnel capacity, in 2004/05.

Expenditure of Voted Funds (Appropriated Budget): The SAPS spent all of their allocated budget for 2003/04 with the exception of R1 000 which was given back to the Exchequer. In terms of particular programmes the following was identified:

Key spending priorities identified by the police for 2003/04 were apparently implemented and spent during this period. These included:

The Department stated that they have requested additional funds from Treasury for the 2005/06 financial year and MTEF for recruitment of additional personnel and improved remuneration of police.

3.1. Committee Concerns

Members of the Committee raised the following concerns regarding the financial statements for 2003/04:

Qualified Report of the Auditor-General: Members raised a concern that the audit opinion of the Auditor-General received a qualification in terms of leave management. Other concerns raised in the report and addressed by Members included the high number of vacancies within the police and the effect on operational efficiency, deficiencies in the appropriation of vehicles, the high loss and theft of firearms within the Department, the relationship with the Department of Public Works (DPW) and the conditions of police stations, and corrective measure that have been taken to address all these problems.

The SAPS reported that the Portfolio Committee should recognise that the Auditor-General made only one qualification to the report (regarding the management of leave) and that all other concerns raised where emphasis of matter and not qualifications. According to the SAPS, the management of leave is difficult within the SAPS due to the nature of their work that requires that they report to duty when the need arises. The Public Service Policy states that leave must be taken within 18 months and that if a person does not take leave within this period, it gets forfeited. It is thus more difficult to manage leave effectively in a department such as the Department of Safety and Security.

The SAPS stated that lack of capacity and lack of understanding of the needs of departments, including the Department of Safety and Security, hampers the ability of the DPW to offer effective maintenance and infrastructure services. Maintenance and infrastructure projects are often delayed and funds allocated are unspent. The SAPS has some internal building capacity for improvements and additions to infrastructure.

The SAPS has taken steps to address the concerns of the Auditor-General. They have identified all issue of concerns raised by the Auditor-General over the last few years and have identified what steps have already been taken to address these problems. In addition, they have identified what still needs to be done to ensure that the problem is solved. A 2-day workshop was held with top management who were given the task of developing action plans to address all the concerns as well as to prevent a recurrence of the problem.

 

 

4. Conclusion

The Portfolio Committee on Safety and Security has scrutinised the Annual Report of the Department of Safety and Security and the Auditor-General’s Report on the Financial Statements for 2003/04. The Committee commends the Department of Safety and Security on successes attained during the 2003/04 financial year and recommends that concrete steps are taken to address areas, which have been identified as problematic, particularly those areas of financial management identified as concerns by the Auditor General.

 

 

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Ms MM Sotyu (MP) Date

Committee Chairperson