Minister Fikile Mbalula statement following IPID, POPCRU and SAPU meetings at his Pretoria Office
The Minister of Police, Mr Fikile Mbalula met with the leadership of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) at his Pretoria office today the 6th of April 2017. The Minister also met the Police and Prisons Civic Rights Union (POPCRU) and the South African Policing Union (SAPU). The meeting served as an introductory platform for both the Minister and all other stakeholders in policing in the fight against crime.
The Minister met with Mr Robert McBride: Head of IPID, leadership of POPCRU and SAPU.
Speaking after the meetings, Minister Fikile Mbalula undertook to meet IPID in future and all other strategic partners in the fight against crime.
“The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa mandates and requires us to have independent institutions like IPID to serve as mechanisms of checks and balances of the work we execute. As part of my 100 days in office, I will meet IPID to get a report of the pressing issues regarding policing. It is in the normality of our work that we will have contradictions. Ours role is to ensure that the contradictions that hinder our work are eliminated to the benefit of our communities.” Minister Mbalula said.
The Minister stressed the pivotal role police union play in not only safe guarding the interest of the South African Police Service in keeping our communities safe. The meeting covered concerns by unions with regards to working conditions of their members.
“Policing unions are part of our programme of action in eradicating crime in our communities. We commend their role in spearheading the interest of their members. Ours as government is to listen to their concerns and work together in addressing them. The department and the unions agree that the safety of our men and women in uniform is a priority and more strides must be done in improving their working conditions. At the centre of this is our shared vision of a Human Rights cantered policing that is demilitarised for the service of our people.” Minister Mbalula concluded.
The Minister further undertook to meet more of the Department of Police stakeholders in his 100 days in office.
