Media statement: Justice Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) delivery agreement

Introduction

The rule of law has been described as the foundation of a fair and just society, a guarantee of a responsible government, and an important contribution to economic growth.

As government, we have identified the fight against crime as one of the priorities we need to address as part of building a better society and country envisaged in our Constitution, and demanded by all law-abiding citizens.

Today, the Justice Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster Ministers have signed the Cluster’s Delivery Agreement with the President through the Minister in the Presidency.

The Agreement constitutes government’s program of action in making South Africa safer for all citizens and residents, and to make the country more attractive to investors and visitors who have expressed concerns about crime in South Africa.

The cluster’s vision is articulated in its main objective that is Outcome 3 which asserts: “All people in South Africa are and feel safe”.

This outcome is a rallying call to all South Africans with government in the lead to work together in the fight against crime and corruption, in order to build safer communities.

The Agreement focuses on areas that include the following:

  • Targets for reducing serious, violent crime
  • New measures to fight corruption in the JCPS Cluster
  • Improved management of caseloads in the country’s courts
  • Regulations to combat cybercrime
  • Protecting the integrity of identity documents and citizenship status.

The initiatives to which the JCPS Cluster is committing itself must be seen as complementing the efforts made by other clusters to eradicate poverty, create economic opportunities and build stable families and communities. A combination of these factors is required to stem crime in the country.

Government’s outcomes approach demonstrates our commitment and determination to deliver services to the people of South Africa. It allows for a collective and common approach and ensures accountability, providing for improved decision making, and timely interventions. Today’s signing of the JCPS Delivery Agreement signifies a renewed, coordinated and transparent approach to the fight against crime. The agreement pulls together all stakeholders in the criminal justice system and channels all efforts towards a common goal.

It sets standards against which government will be measured as it pursues a safer South Africa in partnership with various sectors of society.

The signing of delivery agreements further builds on the performance agreements signed by individual ministers with the president and the cluster’s strategic and tactical interventions which have begun to yield positive results in reducing crime.

The crime statistics released recently indicates the successes government and social partners are making in the fight against crime. Among the encouraging achievements are a 7,2% decline in murder between 2003/04 and 2009/10, with a decline in assault of 20% during the same period.

JCPS Cluster outcome: “All people in South Africa are and feel safe”

Cluster outputs

Hereunder follows a list of outputs (specific areas of attention) intended to contribute towards the realisation of our outcome:

1. Reduced overall levels of serious crime, in particular, contact and trio crimes in order to create a feeling of safety amongst the people of South Africa.
2. An effective, efficient and integrated Criminal Justice System.
3. Eradicating corruption within the JCPS Cluster.
4. Improving public perception of the fight against crime.
5. Levels of corruption reduced, thus improving investor perception and willingness to invest in South Africa.
6. South Africa’s borders effectively safeguarded and secured.
7. Securing the integrity of identity and status of citizens and residents.
8. ICT systems integrated in order to combat cybercrime.

Targets and Indicators for each output

In order to achieve the expected results, as a cluster we intend to reduce reported serious crimes from 3,924 (1,910,847 crimes) to at least 3,767 per 100 000 people.

Furthermore, we will make every effort to reduce contact crimes from 1,407 (685,185 crimes) to 930 per 100,000 people whilst reducing trio crimes from 97,1 (47 273 crimes) to 67 per 100 000 people.

These will be done by ensuring that the JCPS Cluster: 

  • improves coordinated crime intelligence
  • increases visible policing/patrolling in identified hotspots
  • increases crime prevention actions
  • reduce the proliferation of illegal and legal firearms
  • aligns and integrates strategies and information sources to apprehend and charge known perpetrators
  • reduces the number of escapes from custody
  • strengthens the management of bail processes and legislation
  • improves forensic services and fingerprint management using integrated technologies and databases
  • implements social crime prevention programs
  • activates Community Safety Forums.

On the effectiveness of the criminal justice system, we intend to increase the detection rate for contact and trio crimes (car hijacking, bank robbery and house robbery).

In addition, we will also improve the production of court-ready dockets in order to achieve a 2% increase in the number of criminal cases finalised each year, in addition to reducing case backlogs.

Cases will be finalised through diversion and Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanism (ADRM).

Our cluster seeks to reduce the average time spent in remand by suspects or accused persons, while increasing the percentage of parolees who commit no offences while on parole. The cluster also intends to increase offender involvement in rehabilitation programmes.

Corruption/investor confidence

In the dealing with corruption and ensuring improved investor confidence and trust in the country, the Cluster has set as its indicators the compilation and submission of a Corruption Baseline Report by December 2010 containing detailed data for the period 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010.

The Database will include the following:

  • number of dockets security improved
  • number of fraudulent parole decisions eliminated
  • number of erroneous release eliminated
  • number of warrant of arrests manipulation eliminated
  • number of JCPS Personnel detected for corruption
  • number of JCPS personnel arrested for corruption
  • number of JCPS personnel convicted for corruption
  • value of the assets linked corruption aid fraud restrained and seized.

Improving public perception

In order to ensure that perceptions of crime are managed and improved to make citizens feel more protected, safer and free to engage in their daily life activities, the cluster will strive to promote trust in the criminal justice system by improving support to victims of crime and building partnerships with communities. On this note, the targets and indicators will include the annual publishing of statistics reflecting the percentage of crime victims.

Regular workshops and seminars will be conducted with the community and the Community Safety Forum (CSF) on security awareness, crime prevention and effects of crime on the society.

The number of Thuthuzela Care Centres will be increased from 20 to 35 by 2014 to assist victims of sexual violence and human trafficking. Plans are also underway to increase the number of friendly facilities for victims of sexual offences and human trafficking at police stations. The intention is to increase the number of victims who attend parole hearings from 265 in November 2010 to 1 060 in 2014.

Border management

South Africa’s borders will receive priority to improve security. This will include establishing a Border Management Agency (BMA) interim structure by 2011, with effective management of borders under the direction of the Head of the BMA by 2012.

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) will progressively be deployed to the borders with Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland, Lesotho, Botswana and Namibia by 2013, followed by the establishment of a BMA as a single structure by 2014.

Securing the integrity of identity and status of citizens and residents

Our cluster is tasked with protecting the integrity of South Africa’s identity and citizenship status. Measures in this area include a new regulatory framework by March 2011 to address the late registration of births, while ensuring the issuing of identity documents (IDs) to 99% of citizens 16 years and above who are in possession of birth certificates by 2013.

We will also review and implement applicable Civic Services Legislation by 2012 pertaining to births, deaths, citizenship and identification, including revised penalties and implementation of revised immigration policy and regulatory frameworks with respect to managing economic migration and asylum seekers by 2013.

It will further develop a new immigration policy and implement new Immigration Act by 2013. The cluster will also increase the percentage of new born children registered before their first birthday from approximately 30% currently to 95% by 2014.

Combatting cybercrime

This is a relatively new crime phenomenon which the cluster will continue to fight against. Our initiatives on cybersecurity include the development and implementation of a Cybersecurity Policy in the course of 2011 and 2012.

What is being done differently?

  • At a leadership level, the judiciary and JCPS Cluster DG’s will be meeting monthly to address issues impacting on court performance particularly case flow management as well as case backlog issues.
  • Establishment of a database on corruption in order to enhance anti-corruption measures within the JCPS sector.
  • More effective utilization and integration of ICT systems to enhance productivity and service delivery.
  • Ensure that registration at birth is the only entry point for South Africans to the National Population Register.
  • Implement integrated management systems.
  • Use lessons learnt during the 2010 FIFA World Cup (WC) for better integration and speedy service delivery.
  • Regulations to fight cybercrime. 

Working with all partners in the fight against crime, the JCPS Cluster will deploy and manage our resources in a manner that will lead to safer communities where the people of our country are able to enjoy amenities of life. Enhanced service delivery must indeed be the hallmark of our commitment towards changing the lives of our people for the better.

For further enquiries contact:
Tlali Tlali
Tel: 012 357 8217 / 021 467 1700
Cell: 082 333 3880

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