Committee’s report on the Department of Community Safety’s performance for the 2015/16 financial year
The Legislature’s Community Safety Portfolio Committee today tabled its oversight report on the Gauteng Department of Community Safety’s performance for the 2015/16 financial year.
Led by Chairperson, Hon. Sochayile Khanyile the Committee’s oversight report was conducted primarily to establish the level of service delivery and the effectiveness of programmes and projects intended to achieve the national outcome of ensuring that the people of Gauteng are and feel safe within the province.
In its report, the Committee commended the department for achieving an unqualified audit opinion for the year under review.
However, the Committed expressed its concern on matters of emphasis raised by the Auditor General’s report. These matters of emphasis include lack of compliance to the 30 days payment period of suppliers, the department being a defendant in pending lawsuits amounting to over R52 million and irregular expenditure amounting to over R5 million.
The Auditor General’s report further reveal that the department is lacking adequate internal control mechanisms to ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations in relation to its expenditure management.
The Committee noted that the department during the year under review received a budget of R736 million and only managed to spend R714.7 million which translates to 97% of the allocated budget. Though the department managed to spend 97% of its allocated budget, it was able to achieve 83% of set targets in its Annual Performance Plan.
This remains a worrying factor to the Committee as it indicates a misalignment between the input and output within the department.
The Committee welcomed the efforts of the department to engage communities in the fight against crime, drugs and violence perpetrated against women and children.
This the department did by establishing various social crime prevention structures with Gauteng, which included the Community Policing Forums, Community Safety Forums, patrollers, street committees and youth desks.
However, the Committee is concerned that there seem to be minimal support provided to these structures to assist them to discharge their regulated functions effectively.
The Committee has called upon the department to develop measures to adequately support and monitor its programmes to ensure efficiency.
The Committee further noted that despite various road safety operations which were conducted in the period under review, the department still could not achieve the set target of 10% reduction of road fatalities. The epartment recorded 17% increase in road fatalities. This calls for a development of enhanced strategies to ensure that the target is ultimately met.
In its overall assessment of the performance of the department, the Committee also considered the 2015/16 Crime Statistics Report, 2015/16 Gauteng Annual Performance Report from the South African Police Service as well as the 2015/16 Annual Report of the Gauteng Community Police Forum Board.
With regards to the 2015/16 Crime Statistics Report, the Committee noted that most crimes under the contact crimes category registered an increase with an exception to the total sexual offences category which saw a decline by 4%. Murder cases increased by 4.7%, attempted murder increased by 8.9% and robbery with aggravating circumstances increased by 5.1%.
The Crime Statistics further revealed a noticeable decrease in contact related crimes, which include arson and malicious damage to property as well as property related crimes, which amongst others include burglary at residential and non-residential premises and theft out of motor vehicles.
The Committee is concerned about the increase in murder and attempted murder cases. The Committee’s opinion is that such cases demonstrates higher levels of violence in society and causes social unrest that need to be address promptly.
In its annual report, the SAPS reported that out of 69 targets for the period under review, 37 targets were met, 29 not met and 3 targets are not measured at provincial level. Whilst the Committee acknowledged the efforts of the SAPS in crime prevention, it was concerned that the report did not provide comprehensive details on the impact of the programmes undertaken by SAPS.
This made it difficult for the Committee to assess the extent of service delivery.
Noticeable in the report of the Gauteng Provincial Board of Community Police Forum is that it was able to mobilise the Muldersdrift community resulting in the arrest and conviction to 198 years each of two foreign nations for the murder and house robberies in the area.
The board managed also to mobilise the Duduza community through a number of public meetings and this has been reported to have been part of ensuring law and order after a reign of terror by criminals in the community.
The Committee has given the department until 31 January 2017 to provide it with plans on how it intends to address recommendations made by the Committee.
For interview requests with the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee please contact:
Thebe Khumalo
Tel: 011 498 5948
Cell: 072 266 1021
E-mail: TKhumalo@gpl.gov.za
