Police will confront crime with more vigour and sharpness. This is according to Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu, who released the fourth quarterly crime statistics for the 2024/25 financial year on Friday.
Mchunu was outlining measures to reinforce policing in
South Africa. It comes from the back of SAPS’ National Policing Summit, held in
April.
COURTESY: X - @SAPoliceServiceThe National Policing Policy was approved by Cabinet on the
15th of May, giving effect to Section 206 of the Constitution which mandates
the Minister of Police to determine the National Policing Policy with
provincial governments in consideration of the provinces policing needs and
priorities. The National Policing Policy aims to, amongst others, strengthen
police service delivery to communities by ensuring professionalism and
efficiencies in policing and is supported by the Integrated Crime &
Violence Prevention Strategy, which seeks to address crime and violence at its
root cause.
‘’The insights and resolutions from the various commissions
will now move into implementation phase. We are steadfast in our commitment to
building a policing system that is effective, efficient, responsive and professional—a
service that reflects the values and aspirations of our democracy.’’
‘’As a measure to intensify our efforts against crime, we
are repositioning police to confront crime with more vigour and sharpness. To
achieve this, we have had to review our organogram and divide Visible Policing
(VisPol). All the legislative processes have been undertaken, inclusive of
engagements in the Safety and Security Sectoral Bargaining Council (SSSBC). The
division will lead to two division, namely: VisPol and the Operational Response
Services 9 (ORS). We will soon be appointing a Divisional Commissioner to head
ORS; processes in respect of that appointment are underway.’’
Mchunu says there are 5 500 trainees at the various SAPS
Academies; who will pass out in August and November.
He says a number of enablers have been identified, which
will be key in the fight against crime.
‘’Improving the efficiency of our forensic services is
critical. To this end, we are increasing the number of our laboratories
throughout the country, and we are equipping them with state of the art
equipment and technology. We will be entering into a Memorandum of
Understanding with the CSIR, for the use of their facility to assist with
backlogs in the Gauteng province. Further to this, we will be establishing a
laboratory in KZN and following a number of meetings with the Department of
Public Works and Infrastructure, processes in this respect are at an advanced
stage. We will ensure that there are labs in Mpumalanga and will extend to
other provinces such as Limpopo and the Free State.’’
Mchunu said other enablers which have been identified and
which will be implemented are: the adoption and improvement of technology to
enhance detection, response, and analysis, strengthening Crime Intelligence,
capacitating and upskilling our detectives and finally, the improvement of the
general environment under which our police officers operate.
‘’We are focusing on improving the conditions of our police stations, for better citizen experience and conducive working environments for our members; this includes the building of new police stations and the refurbishment of existing ones.’’
Done by: Mitchum George
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