Programme director
Divisional commissioner: training
Provincial Commissioner of the Western Cape
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police
CEO of Safety and Security Sector Education Training Authority (SASSETA)
Management from the division: training
SAPS training institution commanders
Commander of Bishop Lavis and your personnel
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen
One of the fundamental values of the South African Police Service (SAPS) is: evaluation of our service continuously, making every effort to improve on it and developing the skills of all members. The significance of this value and commitment cannot be realised if the development of such skills is not translated into tangible actions. Subsequent to this commitment by members of the police is the utilisation of all available resources at our disposal to use them responsibly, efficiently and cost effectively. How then do we ensure that our resources are effectively utilised? The fundamental element to achieving this goal is through proper training.
The leadership and management of police views training as of paramount importance if we are to defeat this scourge of crime. We need to ensure that our members do not just receive a certificate as proof of training but that this translates into clear implementation. Knowledge without practice becomes irrelevant if one does not apply it appropriately. We have prioritised and continue to invest both in human and financial capital in our members to empower them to fulfil their duties.
The awarding of the Institute of Sectoral and Occupational Excellence (ISOE) to Bishops Lavis Training Institution is both an honour and a reminder, an honour of recognition to the leadership and management’s efforts in equipping our members with the necessary tools in their jobs. We recognise that this is never an easy task. It is also a reminder that the fight against criminals who terrorize our communities requires an even stronger commitment from all our members. This evening’s ceremony serves as a testimony to our efforts, and we are particularly pleased about this achievement.
Our presence here this evening re-affirms our commitment in supporting our members with all the necessary tools. Training is one of the many priorities we have outlined in our new approach of crime-fighting. We are glad to see our efforts already beginning to yield positive results. The bestowing of this accolade to Bishop Lavis comes at a critical period in our crime fighting strategy, a time when we are looking at new kinds of approaches, a type of approach that seeks to tackle crime head-on with more vigour and determination than we did before. The question then arises: Are our current training programmes suited to support our Police in dealing with crime? What further enhancements can we apply to our current training and development programmes?
As police we remain confident that our training and development programmes have and continue to serve as arsenal to our members in fulfilling their duties. Of course as we have mentioned before, from now and then we will review what has worked in the past to inform our approach as we move forward. The one clear message we are sending to the criminals: we will never give up in our endeavours. We will use each and every available resource to defeat you! Programme director, the accolade is indicative of our goal of creating safer communities societies. We are informed that one of the requirements to inform the awarding of an ISOE Award is that, an institution needs to adhere to the principles of good practice.
The timing of this recognition comes at a time when our attention towards fighting crime has been strengthened and recommitted. As the leadership of Police, we do not view this achievement as default. The strict criteria that have guarded this process include: meeting of SETA requirements of accreditation, demonstrating that the institution can become an industry focused institute of training; demonstrating that the institution has commitment to excellence; demonstrating of capacity and engagement with the sector as well as providing training which meets occupational needs, preferably in those areas of scarce and critical skills. The importance of this award to our institution allows for the delivery of comprehensive education and training programmes as required within the policing sector.
Programme director, we are told that by March 2010, each of the 23 SETAS must have recognised five ISOEs spread as widely as possible geographically, for the development of people to attain critical occupational skills, whose excellence is measured in the number of learners successfully placed in the sector and employer satisfaction ratings of their training. We are particularly impressed to learn that our Division Training has already excelled above the expectations of SASSETA by obtaining eight ISOE Awards. The eight SAPS training institutions who have already acquired this prestigious award are Graaff-Reinet, Chatsworth, Oudtshoorn; Bisho, Pretoria, Mthatha, All Saints and Ulundi.
This evening, Bishop Lavis joins these institutions and we remain confident that we will still have more recognition in the near future. We commend and urge the management of Bishop Lavis to continue with your innovation and practice good governance, sound human resources practices and compliance with legislation. Your placement of an effective, efficient reporting, administrative, technological, communication and financial systems must serve to inspire other centres. This evening, let us re-dedicate ourselves to take the fight to the criminals with more vigour, determination and importantly within the boundaries of the law.
We can confidently do so when we have all the best resources at our disposal. From time to time, we know that criminals re-sharpen their modus operandi as they seek to rob, kill and harm our society. This we cannot allow to happen and that is why it is important to continuously revitalise our training and development. While we focus on training our members, we do so by also bench-marking our training to international practices.
Crime, after all, is an international phenomenon. To date we are pleased to learn that our education, training and development practices, especially with regard to standards-setting, assessments and qualifications development were on par with some of the international police services. Congratulations once again to the entire team at Bishop Lavis for the accolade and may this recognition inspire you to serve and produce more committed members within our force.
For us to win this battle against crime, we would require all the best machinery available at our disposal. Together we can win the fight against crime.
I thank you.
Issued by: South African police Service
23 October 2009
Source: South African police Service (http://www.saps.gov.za/default.htm)
