The Portfolio Committee on Police has welcomed the implementation plan of the Marikana Commission recommendations as tabled by the Police Minister Nhleko today. The Committee also undertook to monitor the rollout of this plan.
The Committee was pleased to see that the plan does not only focus on responding to the Marikana events of August 2012, but also encapsulates an outline on how to improve policing in the country.
Another pleasing factor in the plan, according to the Committee Chairperson, Mr Francois Beukman, was the seriousness and urgency with which this process is being handled. “The fact that this plan has been categorised as a Presidential and Ministerial project is proof that our government is committed to improving policing in this country,” said Mr Beukman.
The Committee also welcomed the Minister’s pronouncement of a need to ensure that the budget and resource allocation, in particular that of public-order policing, was commensurate with the level of service delivery on the ground.
The realisation by the Police Minister for the need to improve the Information and Communication Technological systems in the South African Police Services (SAPS) was also applauded, particularly in the light of ongoing requests from the Committee for technological advancements in the SAPS.
On the matter of the establishment of a team of experts to look into public-order policing and other related policing issues, the Committee advised the Minister to ensure that this panel, which would comprise international and local experts, be mindful of the unique nature of policing matters in the South African context, such that its recommendations are more inclined to the local context.
On the aspect of the change management programme as it relates to organisational restructuring and organisational ethos, the Committee said it was important for SAPS to have senior management that is fit and committed to achieve the kind of South African Police Service as envisaged by the National Development Plan.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact:
Mr Temba Gubula
Tel: 021 403 8307
Cell: 078 735 8809
Email: tgubula@parliament.gov.za
