The annual report of the South African Police Service (SAPS) for the financial year 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008 was tabled in Parliament on Wednesday, 17 September 2008.
The annual report contains comprehensive information on the five policing programmes that is Administration, Visible Policing, Detective Services, Crime Intelligence and Protection and Security Services as well as the annual financial statements of the SAPS.
The SAPS has embarked on an exercise to strengthen police stations in an effort to add value and capacity in terms of human and logistical resources. We have noted the positive input that this venture has had on service delivery.
During the reporting period, our focus was again on the 169 priority police stations (that is, those police stations with high levels of contact crimes). 47.8% of all arrests made during policing operations were made in these station areas.
In terms of capacity building, particularly with human resources, we have gone beyond the half way mark of recruiting and training 55 000 police men and women from 2005 to 2009 and the number of employees is expected to grow to well over 200 000 by March 2011.
Our initiatives to deter illegal activities at our borderlines as well as our ports of entry continued during the year under review. During this period, the SAPS finalised taking over three borderlines in two provinces as well as six South African National Defence Force (SANDF) bases. Several hundred arrests have been effected and illegal items such as drugs, stolen vehicles, firearms and ammunition with the value of hundreds of millions of rand were seized.
In the build up to the FIFA 2010 World Cup, certain major events were utilised to implement, test and refine security plans and this was achieved successfully. These events included the 2007 Vodacom Challenge and the T20 Cricket World Cup.
Both FIFA and the Local Organising Committee were kept informed and abreast of our plans to secure the 2010 tournament.
Overall, given the turbulent times and unforgiving circumstances in which SAPS members had to work, this report reflects successful initiatives, hard work and commitment. Top management thanks them for their endeavours under challenging circumstances.
(The annual report 2007/2008 is available on the website http://www.saps.gov.za. Also visithttp://www.sapsjournalonline.gov.za for updated information on crime successes andhttp://www.crimeline.co.za for updates on the Crime Line initiative).
Enquiries:
Sally de Beer (Director)
Cell: 082 779 8658
Tel: 012 393 1574
Fax: 012 393 2165
E-mail: debeers@saps.org.za
Vishnu Naidoo (Senior Superintendent)
Cell: 082 567 4153
Issued by: South African Police Service
18 September 2008
