The Honourable Speaker and Deputy Speaker
Honourable Premier Cde Chupu Stanley Mathabatha
Members of the Provincial Executive Council
Chairperson and Members of the Portfolio Committee on Safety, Security and Liaison
Chairperson and Members of the Limpopo Provincial House of Traditional Leaders
Honourable Members of the Provincial Legislature
Executive and Local Mayors
The Head of the Department of Safety, Security and Liaison Mme Nchabeng Tsebe and the Executive Management
Heads of Fraternal Departments and Agencies
The Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Fannie Masemola and the SAPS Executive Management
Provincial Chairperson of the CPF Mr. Edward Mafune and Members of the Limpopo Provincial Community Police Forum Board
Provincial Chairperson of the CSF Mr. Stephen Kgorutle and Members of the Limpopo Provincial Community Safety Forum
ANC Provincial leadership
Organised Labour and Business
Faith-Based Organisations
Leaders of the Opposition Parties
Comrades and Friends, Ladies and Gentlemen
It gives me great pleasure to present before the people of Limpopo my first budget vote as the MEC responsible for the new Ministry of Transport, Safety, Security and Liaison. This budget vote of the Department of Safety, Security and Liaison comes at a time when our country is celebrating women’s month. It also comes at a time when we are marking 60 years of the anniversary of the Women’s Charter. This is a crucial moment in our history, which must keep us reminded of the gains women have achieved in the last 20 years of our democracy. Only just a month ago, we celebrated 67 minutes of service in honour of Tata Nelson Mandela, a product of the ANC. He is an embodiment of everything wonderful and good about our movement. Not least important of all the people whom I consider resilient in our country are the women – Bomma Baswara thipa ka bogaleng, I therefore dedicate this budget vote in their honour.
Honourable speaker
Mandela month may have come and gone, but nothing stops us from making everyday a Mandela day.
It is 20 years since our people voted in the country’s first democratic elections. Our journey since 1994 can be characterised as a mixture of triumphs as well as tribulations. We celebrate not only 20 years of democratic rule but also 20 years of community and democratic policing. Transformation in the SA Police Service has been long and torturous. While it is far from being complete, we shall be less than honest if we do not recount moments of victory and glory in the 20 years of SAPS’s life.
One hundred and one years ago when the then South African Police (SAP) was established, its primary mission was to protect the narrow interest of a pariah state. 1994 did not only see the amalgamation of different homeland policing agencies but also changed the course of policing in South Africa for the better. Before 1994, the primary focus of law enforcement and the justice system was on upholding, securing and entrenching the apartheid state. The result was a highly centralised, para-militarised and authoritarian police force which concentrated its efforts and resources on eliminating opposition to the apartheid system.
Policing needs are now derived from the community and exercised, on behalf of the community for the community. The police are now held accountable by a Civilian Authority including the Independent Police Investigative Directorate. This is a far cry from the “skop, skiet en donder” culture we inherited in 1994. Gone are the days of sjamboks, detention without trial, death in detention, death squads, secret funds and Vlakplaas. The successes which the police themselves have achieved, in the last 20 years far surpass the challenges and weaknesses. The commonly reported weaknesses in the use of excessive force which still do occur are those that are detected by government itself through oversight bodies; and in the very few instances by the progressive media. But overall, we can say without fear or favour that we have a good story to tell even when it comes to the transformation of the police service.
The majority of members of the SA Police Service are hardworking, committed individuals who have the interest of our people at heart. They too, like all of us, have families and therefore would want to bring up their children in an environment which is free from crime. They yearn for peaceful days when they do not have to use force to control somewhat angry mobs and crowds.
This is not to say that there aren’t those in the service who are corrupt and self-serving. We know that there are still those who through their actions or omissions undermine the integrity of the entire service – thereby treading on a dangerous territory that holds possibilities of reversing our gains. I implore on these officers to change their mindsets and embrace a new tomorrow. The Code of Conduct and the Service Charter are there to guide you so that you do not go astray. What every officer ought to remember is that transformation in the police service will not happen unless it starts with us as individuals.
As we enter the second phase of our radical transition, we have to pause and ask ourselves difficult questions like; how far have we gone in transforming the police service and the entire criminal justice system? How professional are our police in controlling crowds and dealing with members of the public? How satisfied and confident are we as citizens in the service we receive from police stations on a daily basis? Are we safe and do we feel safe in our homes, schools and at work? Can we say with confidence that we now have the police of the people for the people?
Full speech [PDF]
