Acting Minister of Police welcomes inaugural workshop of the National Police Advisory Council
The Acting Minister of Police, Mr Firoz Cachalia, has welcomed the inaugural workshop of the National Police Advisory Council (NPAC), marking an important step towards strengthening strategic policy guidance and advancing policing reforms in South Africa.
The NPAC, recommended in the 2012 National Development Plan, will provide strategic and policy advice to the Minister of Police and the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS). The Council comprises 14 members drawn from diverse fields, including law, finance, law enforcement, academia and business.
The inaugural workshop, which was held today, aims to formally constitute the Council, orient members on its mandate and familiarise them with the Police Reset Agenda, among other key priorities.
Addressing members, the Acting Minister emphasised the urgency of reforming policing in response to the country’s high crime levels and revelations emerging from the Madlanga Commission, stating the following: “A light has been cast on the darker side of policing and society. These developments have further deepened the trust deficit between the police and the communities they serve, undermining public confidence in policing. The police service belongs to the people of South Africa, and citizens have a legitimate expectation that the police will serve and protect them. It is against this backdrop that the Police Reset Agenda has become necessary. At its core, the Reset Agenda is a programme of policing reform aimed at reshaping the SAPS to ensure that it delivers on its constitutional mandate, upholds the rule of law and restores public trust. We look forward to the Council’s contribution towards ensuring that the Police Reset Agenda translates into meaningful and measurable improvements in policing and, ultimately, safer communities for all South Africans.”
The Reset Agenda encompasses critical institutional and operational interventions to strengthen the capacity, effectiveness and professionalism of the SAPS. These include filling critical vacant posts, improving supply chain management processes, strengthening vehicle management and addressing police infrastructure challenges through the construction of new police stations and the maintenance and upgrading of existing facilities.
For more information, contact
Ministry Spokesperson
Kamogelo Mogotsi
Cell: 076 523 0085.
For media releases, speeches and news visit the SAPS portal at: www.saps.gov.za
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