Minister Bheki Cele: Police, IPID and Civilian Secretariat for Police Service Dept Budget Vote 2021/22

Budget vote 28, 24 & 21 presentation for 2021/2022: Department of Police, IPID and the Department of the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service delivered by the Minister of Police, General Bheki Cele (MP) at the National Council of Provinces (NCOP)

Honourable Chairperson;
Honourable Ministers;
Honourable Deputy Minister of Police, Mr Cassel Mathale;
Honourable Deputy Ministers;
Chairperson of the Select Committee on Security and Justice, Hon S Shaikh; and Members of the Select Committee;
Honourable Members of the NCOP;
Honourable MECs;
National Commissioner of the SAPS, General Khehla Sitole;
Heads of entities;
Heads of Department;
The leadership of organized labour;
Ministry of Police;
Ladies and gentlemen;
Fellow South Africans

Receive our revolutionary greetings on behalf of the brave and dedicated members of the SAPS and all the employees in the entities serving under the Ministry of Police both nationally and in provinces.

This year we dedicate this budget vote, to our members/employees from the South African Police Service (SAPS), Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), Civilian Secretariat for Police Service (CSPS), Private Security Industry Regulating Authority (PSIRA) and all other supporting structures who are a strong ‘engine’ that keeps the policing machinery active in responding to the fundamental and constitutional obligations that governs our existence.  

Honourable members, every car on the road boasts on the strength of its ‘engine’ capacity – therefore, without a solid ‘engine’ a car remains a useless shell that never moves nor reach any desired destination. This chairperson juxtaposed the Ministry I serve – If we don’t take care of our solid manpower within SAPS, IPID, CSPS, PSIRA and other supporting structures; we will end up with a non performing and useless institution.

Capacity building and training as part of human capital investment will be prioritised during this financial year. Meanwhile proper and adequate resourcing of police stations and operational environments are top on our agenda. Police station visits in provinces and community outreach programmes will be enhanced to ensure that the solid ‘engine’ is running effectively and efficiently in servicing the communities.

To date, a number of Ministerial Izimbizo have been hosted in different provinces; where stringent operational interventions were implemented in responding to the policing needs and crime fighting strategies of various policing precincts. In the next few weeks we are scheduled to visit Zanderspruit in Gauteng and this weekend we will visit Ulundi and Nongoma in KwaZulu-Natal.

Once again, we dedicate this budget vote to the safety and wellbeing of our members and to further elevate and properly position the subject of police safety as the responsibility of the nation. Equally, as our members uphold the oath of office to serve and protect on a daily basis; our communities must unite in supporting the work of the police and most importantly communities must stand together in ensuring the safety of our police members on and off duty.

Last but not least, we dedicate this speech to all members and employees of this sector who have succumbed to the deadly COVID 19 pandemic. We have painfully lost hundreds of our employees both uniform members and support personnel across departments and entities. To date 636 police members have died of COVID 19 related complications and 29 334 have recovered.  Many of them could not get their well- deserved dignified send off because, we had to observe COVID-19 regulations. Policing under the COVID-19 pandemic has left the sector with numerous lessons and unmatched level of experience; of policing against all odds.

SAPS budget breakdown on planned priorities

Chairperson, the SAPS budget breakdown per programme make visible the initial budget allocation and the adjusted budget allocation thereof:

Over the medium term, we endeavour to mitigate the impact of budget reductions on service delivery. The expenditure is expected to decrease at an average annual rate of 0.8 per cent, from R99.6 billion in 2020/21 to R97.1 billion in 2023/24.

Compensation of employees accounts for 78 per cent (R225.9 billion) of the department’s expenditure over the period ahead. To remain within government’s expenditure ceiling for compensation of employees, the department’s budget for this item is reduced by R35.8 billion over the medium term. Of this, R15.9 billion is in line with the decision not to implement the third year of the 2018 public sector wage agreement, and freezing of salary increases for the next 3 years.

The remaining R19.9 billion represents Cabinet’s approved baseline reductions to narrow the budget deficit and shift the composition of government spending from consumption to investment. Excluding the reductions on compensation of employees, Cabinet has approved

Further reductions on the department’s baseline amounting to R3.4 billion over the medium term.

These reductions will mainly be effected on non-core goods and services items. The department’s spending focus for the year, which is mainly on goods and services as well as Capital Investment over the medium-term includes the following:

• Reductions in the compensation of employees budget baseline, requires reprioritisation of SAPS resources as well as investment in technology;
• The department will sustain the Forensic Services baseline allocation as increased in the 2020/21 financial year;

• The baseline allocation for the DPCI baseline as recently increased will be sustained.

• Professionalising the police service through skills development;
• Continued strengthening of the criminal justice system by supporting the Integrated Criminal Justice Strategy;
• Investing in capital assets consisting of machinery and equipment essentially transport assets as well as mobile police stations;
• A continued focus of other critical items such as bullet resistant vests, firearms, uniform etc will remain; as these are critical tools of trade for police to successfully render their duties.
• In our efforts to continue with the implementation of the Panel of Experts Reports emanating from the Marikana Commission recommendations, funding has been set aside to continue to capacitate the existing Public Order Police units. Members of this unit will be deployed in various provinces to stabilise crime in identified hotspot areas.

Departmental spending over the medium term will be in relation to the core programmes with Visible Policing taking more than 51% weight of the total 2021/22 budget. The Programme: Detective Services in terms of weight is also a significant portion of more than 20%.

Honourable members, taking into account the baseline allocations to provinces plus the additional once-off allocations to provinces, the total allocations of R6, 960 billion for operational expenditure can be summarized as follows:

In addition to these amounts, National Competencies with a provincial footprint, also contribute to provinces and must be taken into account, such as Forensic Services (Forensic Science Laboratories and Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management), Operational Response Services (Border policing, National Intervention Units, Task Force, Airwing, Public Order Policing reserve units) Technology Management, Facility Management (Leasing of facilities, municipal services, etc.) 

Progress on top 30 murder stations

Chairperson, the latest crime statistics revealed Plessislaer in Pietermaritzburg as a murder capital in the country; followed by Inanda and Umlazi which are also in KwaZulu – Natal. To date, operational interventions are yielding positive results following crime combatting operations that were held in Pietermaritzburg and other policing precincts in the past week.

Provinces with the highest incidence of reported crime, have been prioritized in terms of the allocation of baseline budgets. This will also ensure prioritization and resourcing of the top 30 high contact crime stations in the country. An additional amount of R62 million was allocated as follows:

• Western Cape  – R10 million
• Northern Cape – R  4 million
• Free State        – R  4 million
• Eastern Cape   – R10 million
• Kwazulu-Natal  – R10 million
• Mpumalanga    – R  6 million
• Limpopo           – R  4 million
• Gauteng           – R10 million
• North West       – R  4 million
   

Furthermore, national intervention plans, which involves crime combating and prevention operational deployment are activated to respond to the TOP 30 Murder Stations; in order to address the stubborn murder trend and other violent crimes. The interventions to date includes the establishment of the Anti-Gang Unit, introduction of Operation Thunder, the Base Camp approach, Operation Vala, Operation Lockdown, Operation O Kae Molao and many others.   

The negative impact of the environmental design on policing cannot be understated. Chairperson, it is a huge challenge to execute policing operations in areas where there are no physical addresses, no street lights, no access roads and many other challenges. Equally an integrated approach and generic involvement of other departments and sectors of local government in eradicating crime contributors must be intensified.

Gauteng Province continues to slow down the increase of cases of violent crimes including murder. The ongoing Operation O Kae Molau is yielding positive results in crime fighting. Once again we would like to acknowledge the supportive and exemplary leadership by Gauteng Premier David Makhura and MEC Faith Mazibuko for their assistance in policing interventions. Last year the province donated  100 BMW high powered motor vehicles to the police – to increase police visibility and contribute to other crime fighting initiatives in the province.

Enhancing the efficiency of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI)

Honourable members, The Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Units of the DPCI have a joint working relationship with the Specialised Commercial Crime Units of the National Prosecuting Authority. This joint working venture has resulted in 38 411 guilty charges being recorded in the 2020/21 financial year.

Covid-19 has also presented opportunities for corruption and some criminals have used this opportunity to target government initiatives such as the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), the special dispensation for unemployment, tender processes for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and to steal State resources intended to assist the most vulnerable. 

Honourable members, In the VBS case, the investigation team, which works closely with the prosecutors, was at some point expanded to 20 members. This assisted in recording more than 950 statements, which is commendable.  It is worth mentioning that

seventeen (17) suspects have been arrested and faces 188 counts of Patterns of Racketeering Activities; Theft; Fraud; Corruption; and Money Laundering in the courts of law.

One of the accused persons is now convicted and sentenced to ten (10) years imprisonment of which three (3) years is suspended for five (5) years. The case against the rest of the accused is postponed to 2 August 2021 for pre-trial process. May I add that the team is now focusing on Twenty (20) municipalities that deposited

an amount of R1,8 billion in the VBS. Other legs of the investigations are also receiving attention.

Chairperson, amongst the twenty thousands cases handled by the DPCI, is the Steinhoff International Holdings N.V investigations. The allegations that are being investigated include, the submission of false, misleading or deceptive financial statements to attract investors in contravention of the Financial Markets Act. 

The case is still under investigation, and so far two hundred and seventy eight (278) statements have been obtained. On 30 April 2021 a draft report was received from the appointed Forensic Auditors and is currently being analysed by the investigation and prosecution team. 

Investigating Serious Corruption, Serious Organised Crime and Serious Commercial crime remain the focus of the DPCI. The DPCI will be enhancing its capacity through the filling of prioritised vacant posts within its approved structure. The procurement and maintenance of the vehicle fleet and the procurement of specialised technological aids and equipment will also be attended to.

Corruption levelled against State Owned Enterprises (SOE’s) and municipalities, serious violent crimes such as cash-in-transit (CIT) robberies and the murder of police officials, crime committed by organised criminal groups who tamper, steal or damage essential infrastructure will remain the high focus of the DPCI.

Enhanced approach towards addressing Gender Based Violence and Femicide  (GBVF)

Honourable members, his excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared GBVF as the second pandemic faced by our country. The latest crime statistics has revealed Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape, followed by Inanda in KwaZulu- Natal and Thohoyandou in Limpopo as the rape hotspots. While the overall sexual offences have decreased by -3,9% in the last quarter of the financial year. The truth of the matter is that, one rape is one too many.

In this regard we would like to acknowledge the leadership of the Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane and the MEC Weziwe Tikana -Gxothiwe in supporting police interventions in Lusikisiki in the past few weeks which were aimed at addressing crimes against women and children and sexual offences crimes. 

Meanwhile, the Department has allocated over 1,2 billion rand on baseline activities related to fighting GBVF, both proactive and reactive responses to these crimes, and the resourcing of FCS Units. :

• R 1,142 billion on FCS units’ human and other resources, that includes operational expenses.
• R 30 million on youth, children and vulnerable groups including awareness campaigns. 
   

An additional amount of R100 million was allocated to provinces for prioritization of Gender Based Violence response and the strengthening of FCS units. The amounts was allocated as follows:

• Western Cape  – R13, 336 million
• Northern Cape – R 5 921 million

• Free State        – R 7 937 million
• Eastern Cape   – R14, 336 million
• KwaZulu Natal  – R 17, 051 million
• Mpumalanga    – R 7 937 million
• Limpopo           – R  8 494 million
• Gauteng           – R 17 051 million
• North West       – R 7 937 million
   

Honourable members, last week the Ministry of Police hosted a successful virtual dialogue which was attended by more than 50 different formations of gender activists. The meeting was aimed at harnessing ideas that are aimed at addressing crimes against women and children.

Whilst the reality remains that on a daily basis, we are still awaken by news of another Gender Based Violence and Femicide related incident; what is encouraging is the high impact joint response from the criminal justice system in bringing perpetrators to book.

The FCS unit has been instrumental in securing heavy sentences for perpetrators in this regard. The most recent heavy sentence to mention, is the five life sentences and 1088 years imprisonment imposed on a convicted Pretoria High Court last month. Sello Abram Mapunya was found guilty of 35 counts of rape, 36 counts of house breaking and robbery with aggravating circumstances committed between 2014 and 2019.

Another heavy sentence is the six life sentences handed down this week to a Zimbabwean born Eastern Cape man who slaughtered Nokuthula Mhlanti a mother and six of her children including a six month old child with an axe.

Furthermore, there has been significant arrests made that involves pastors in places of worship, supervisors in the workplace, teachers in schools, family members, spouses, boyfriends and girlfriends – this must be applauded and highly publicised in order to reduce the number of reported cases going forward.

In response to capacitate the SAPS members to deal with GBVF, 1 763 members across all provinces were trained on GBVF-related courses during 2020/21 financial year.

Honourable members, last month we had a robust debate in the National Assembly; discussing an emotional but imperative subject of the massive DNA backlogs in the Forensic Science Laboratories. We are equally concerned about the negative impact this has on the court processes involving crimes against women and children and GBVF related cases.

In addressing the issues of capacity, a total of 127 Scientists have been promoted to critical posts within the FSL. An additional 150 posts of forensic analysts at Warrant Officer level, have been advertised externally and the new incumbents will commence on duty by the 1 July 2021.

The following steps have been taken to reduce the specified backlog, in cases relating to gender-based violence (GBV):

• All forensic analysts underwent medical surveillance and vaccinations as required.
• Engagement with Labour was initiated, to review the basic conditions of employment and allow for a shift system, in the Division: Detective and Forensic Services.
• The Bid for the procurement of a manual and semi-automated DNA processing system, for the Eastern Cape, was finalised and the contract was awarded.

Currently, the SAPS has GBVF coordinators at station level who are overseeing all related matters. The proposal is to implement the GBVF Desks in phases as follows: Top 30 GBVF hotspot areas, Top 30 per province (270) and remainder of the stations.  

Improving service offering at Forensic Science Laboratories

Honourable members, let me reiterate that improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the Forensic Science Laboratories is top on our agenda. Last month, I visited the laboratories in Cape Town and in Pretoria respectively. Last year I also visited the laboratory in KwaZulu-Natal, while I am yet to visit the Eastern Cape Laboratory. So far the outcome of the visits always brings better understanding of environment as opposed to reading reports sent on paper.

In this regard, a collaboration of a Public Private Partnership will be activated with private laboratories including laboratories in the institutions of higher learning to address this challenge. Once again feedback in this regard will be communicated in due course.

Human Capital Investment

During the 2019/2020 financial year, the recruitment of 7000 new police trainees was approved. The posts were subsequently advertised externally to cater for 3 Streams of recruitment namely:

• Stream 1: Matriculants, currently serving Public Service Act personnel in SAPS etc;
• Stream 2: Graduates in various fields to enhance the work of the police
• Stream 3: Permanent enlistment of current serving Reservists.
   

The recruitment processes were at an advanced stage but unfortunately as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the intake had to be suspended due to the restrictions imposed which led to the suspension of all training interventions.

During the 2020-21 financial year, the COVID-19 restrictions still persisted, however the SAPS was able to enlist 2511 current serving reservists as permanent members.

Meanwhile, Cabinet approved additional funding in the 2020 MTEF for capacitation of the DPCI function, essentially to create the required skills for the investigative functions associated with the work of the Hawks. This funding framework will allow for additional personnel numbers that will strengthen the capacity of the Cluster.

During 2021/22 financial year it is envisaged that approximately 3000 vacancies will be considered for filling by the recruitment of new police officers. A process will be embarked upon where Public Service Act personnel and current serving reservists will be considered for recruitment as fully fledged police officials.

Respectively, 2000 Public Service Act personnel and 1000 current serving reservists to be targeted.

Police Stations and Intrastructure improvement

There is a fast growing phenomenon of new locations (both formal and informal) human settlement mushrooming in our communities.

Our police manpower and resources is heavily overstretched to meet this growing demand. Hence our approach announced two years ago to embark on an infrastructure plan that will reduce the oversized police stations to smaller and more police stations to improve access to policing needs in both new settlements and rural arears.

The assessment of the 16 of the projects to build police stations was finalized. Recommendations were approved and the appointment of consultants is underway to proceed with planning and design of those found to be in line with new criteria.

Chairperson and honourable members, allow me to conclude this budget vote by presenting to you the South African Police Service Budget Vote 28 for this financial year to the amount of R 96,355 billion; the Independent Police Investigative Directorate Budget Vote 24 to the amount of R348 349 million and the Department of the Civilian Secretariat for police service Budget Vote 21 to the amount of R 148,961 million.

Lastly, may I take this opportunity to thank the Deputy Minister of Police Mr Cassel Mathale, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Ms Tina Joemat Pettersson and members of the Portfolio Committee, National Commissioner of the SAPS General Khehla Sitole, his management team and all SAPS members, the Ministry of Police – Chief of Staff Ms Nonkululeko Phokane and her team, Secretary for Police Service Mr Alvin Rapea and his team.

The Executive Director of IPID Ms Dikeledi Ntlatseng and her team, the CEO of PSIRA Mr Manabela Chauke and his team, the National Head of DPCI Dr/Adv Lt Gen Godfrey Lebeya and his team. The SAPS Audit Committee under the leadership of Mr Luyanda Mangquku, the PSIRA Board under the leadership of Dr Leah Mofomme, DNA Board under the leadership of Adv Nkosi- Thomas SC and the Firearms Appeals Board under the leadership of Adv Lungelo Shandu. The DPCI Judge Kgomo and his team, and most importantly my beautiful wife Mrs Thembeka Cele and our family for the unwavering support in executing my duties in this portfolio.

Siyabonga.