| Government’s Programme of Action - 2005 | |
| Justice, Crime Prevention & Security Cluster | ||
| Updated 01 Feb 2006 | ||
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| Actions | Departments | TimeFrame | Progress update - 04 Apr 2006 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | REDUCING LEVELS OF CRIME | ||||
| 1.1 | Contact crimes reduced by 7-10% per annum, with a major focus on Social Crime Prevention, integrated law enforcement operations and the reduction of repeat offending | SAPS, DSD, DCS, DOJ, NICOC | 7-10% reduction a year | Decrease in contact crimes for the financial year 2003/4 and 2004/5: Murder 5.6%, Attempted murder 18.8%, Assault GBH 4.5%, Common assault 5.1%, Aggravated robbery 5.5%, Common Robbery 5.3%. Rape and indecent assault increased by 4% and 8% respectively | |
| 1.2 | Social Crime Prevention | SAPS, DSD, DCS, DOJ, SS and EIE Clusters | Ongoing | ||
| 1.2.1 | Expand the number of police areas for focused multi-disciplinary interventions from 63 to 169 | SAPS, DSD, DPLG, SS and EIE Clusters | Jul-05 | Cluster currently coordinating with other clusters and provincial and local government authorities regarding the development of developmental projects and their implementation | |
| 1.2.2 | Strengthen partnerships with business and communities, including the expansion of the coverage of close-circuit television in more metropolitan centres | SAPS | Ongoing | The cluster continues to collaborate with business sector through initiatives of Business Against Crime | |
| 1.2.3 | Sustain Crime Prevention Awareness campaigns, with priority being given to the 169 priority police station areas, The role of society regarding the rehabilitation of offenders to receive priority attention. | SAPS, DCS; DoE; DSD | Ongoing | Thirty community outreach and education workshops focusing on violence against women and children and SAPS service delivery were conducted in August 05. Various other crime prevention campaigns were carried out in EC, Limpopo and Gauteng | |
| 1.2.4 | Ensure attention to the priority police stations in upgrading infrastructure in informal settlements in partnership with the social cluster | SAPS, Housing, DPLG | Ongoing | Cluster is coordinating with other clusters interventions that should be implemented in the 169 priority police station areas, the presidential nodes and the municipalities identified as part of Project Consolidate | |
| 1.2.5 | Improving safety and security iro public transport, including routes to the relevant facilities | SAPS, DOT | Ongoing | SAPS is in a process of establishing contact points in the Western Cape Metrorail environment. A special operation was launched in Dec-05 and Jan-06 to protect passengers on long distance trains | |
| 1.2.6 | Socio-graphic profiles of 106 priority police station areas will be done in cooperation with HSRC and Statistics SA as a first step towards the crime reduction developmental plans to be finalised and implemented by 2006 | SAPS | Jul-05 | Cluster has finalised the socio-graphic profiles of the 169 priority police station areas. A process has been implemented to review the profiles | |
| 1.2.7 | Planning Sessions with relevant Provincial Government Departments and local authorities followed by Inter-Cluster planned meetings to finalise profiles and action plans, with emphasis on the remaining 106 priority police station areas | JCPS | Jul-05 | An inter-cluster meeting was held on the 18th October 2005. It was attended by representatives from JCPS and Social clusters. A decision to coordinate integration of all cross-cutting projects and activities of all clusters was taken | |
| 1.2.8 | Presentation of plans for approval to various Cabinet Committees, Cabinet, MinComs and President's Coordinating Council | JCPS | Sep-05 | Work in progress see 1.2.4, 1.2.6 and 1.2.7 | |
| 1.3 | Firearms, Drugs and Substance Abuse - attention to factors contributing to high levels of contact crimes | SAPS, DSD, DOE, SS Cluster | See 1.3.1-1.3.3 below | ||
| 1.3.1 | Implementation of the Firearms Control Act | SAPS | Ongoing | A total of 737 shooting ranges and training provider institutions have been accredited by the SAPS | |
| 1.3.2 | Administer amnesty for possession of illegal firearms. Further, the cluster to sustain interventions directed at confiscating and destroying illegal firearms. | SAPS | Mar-05 | 9972 legal firearms were voluntarily handed over; 5074 firearms have been confiscated; 58050 firearms were destroyed and over 376 000 rounds of ammunition were voluntarily handed over or confiscated | |
| 1.3.3 | National Drugs Master Plan to be finalised | SAPS, DSD, DOE | Jun-05 | The new National Drug Master Plan has been finalised and will be presented to Cabinet for approval within this financial year | |
| 1.4 | Co-ordinated focus on apprehending the most serious criminals | SAPS, NIA, DSO, DOJ, FIC | See 1.4.1-1.4.2 below | ||
| 1.4.1 | Special Joint Teams set up to focus on serious crime to target those of the Top 200 not yet arrested | SAPS, NIA, DSO, DOJ, FIC | Ongoing | Activity completed | |
| 1.4.2 | Target a broader group of top criminals using criteria related to repeat offending | SAPS | Ongoing | 94 suspects have been arrested for serious crimes ranging from Armed Robbery, Murder, Rape, firearm, House Robbery, Counterfeit goods, Theft and Burglary. 43 repeat offenders were arrested for Burglary, Robbery and Serious theft | |
2 | ORGANISED CRIME SYNDICATES | ||||
| 2.1 | Co-ordinating role players and facilitating greater use of information from the Financial Intelligence Centre and the National Communication Centre | NICOC, NIA, SAPS, DSO, FIC | Ongoing | The law enforcement and intelligence structures are making greater use of information generated from the FIC and the NCC | |
| 2.2 | Southern Africa and Africa - better co-ordination and development of mutually beneficial activities, systems and processes | SAPS, NICOC, NIA ,DHA | Ongoing | More than 400 vehicles were identified for repatriation to South Africa from the SARPCCO countries as part of Operation Morogoro | |
| 2.3 | High-level priority crimes - special attention over next 5 years to high level priority crimes, including organised crime syndicates | SAPS, DSO, NICOC, NIA, FIC | 2009 | A total of 97 syndicate leaders and 228 runners were arrested over the period Jul-05 to Nov-05 | |
| 2.4 | Special attention to be given to fraud and corruption in the cluster, prioritising corrupting syndicates, finalising outstanding cases, auditing systems and practices, and building capacity within the cluster departments | SAPS, DCS, DOJ, DHA, | Jan-06 | The Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (Act 12 of 2004) which was enacted to prevent corrupt activities has been completed. Corruption strategies are being implemented. | |
3 | IMPROVING EFFECTIVENESS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM | ||||
| 3.1 | Review of the Criminal Justice System to be completed | DoJCD, DCS, SAPS, NPA | Dec-06 | ||
| 3.1.1 | Established Commission with broad terms of reference to conduct a review to further enhance the functioning of the CJS, building on progress made towards modernisation and integration | DoJCD, DCS, SAPS, NPA | Jan-06 | The Criminal Justice Review is currently in Phase 1, i.e. the establishment of the secretariat, identification of the research teams with representation of all CJS departments and the submission of the budget to National Treasury | |
| 3.1.2 | Improve the capacity of the Criminal Justice Departments | DoJCD, SAPS, NPA & DCS | Ongoing | 7000 copies of the case flow management guidelines have been printed and distributed to all judicial and prosecutorial officials as well as registrars and clerks of the court. Case Flow Management Workshop was held in Sept-05 | |
| 3.1.3 | Improve monitoring of case loads to reduce case cycle time, and improve performance of justice officers through revitalization of the Justice College | DoJCD, NPA,, DCS | Ongoing | The implementation of case flow management is being monitored, and Provincial Monitoring Committees will be set up to deal with challenges related to local or area level | |
| 3.1.4 | Reduce the backlog of cases pending trial, giving special attention to the Regional Courts | DoJCD, NPA,, DCS | Ongoing | At the end of Oct-05 the outstanding roll of the Regional Courts comprised a total of 46 007 cases. This is a slight improvement from 43% measured at the end of May-05 | |
| 3.1.5 | Reducing backlogs of cases pending trial; improving the number of finalised cases; improving conviction rates and reducing recidivism | IJS, DCS, DOJCD NPA, SAPS | Ongoing | At the end of Oct-05, the backlog in the District Courts comprised a total of 15 327 cases, which constitutes 11% of the total outstanding roll of 135 301. This is also a slight improvement from the 12% measured at the end of May-05 | |
| 3.1.6 | Investigation and Prosecution - improving quality and turn around time with adequate bias to the 169 priority police station areas and serious organised crime | IJS, SAPS, DOJ, NPA | Ongoing | Work in Progress | |
| 3.2 | Strengthen the capacity of the justice system to protect the rights of children | JCPS and SS clusters, DoJCD, SAPS, DSD, NPA, DCS | May-05 | ||
| 3.2.1 | Promulgation of Child Justice Bill to Law | DoJCD, NPA | Ongoing | The Cluster is awaiting Cabinet decision on constitutional and other implications | |
| 3.2.2 | Deal with organised crime syndicates involved in crimes against children such as child trafficking and child pornography | DHA, DCS, SAPS, DSD, NPA | The SA Law Commission is finalising legislation on trafficking of women and children | ||
| 3.2.3 | Expedite the identification of suitable secure care facilities for children in trouble with the law | JCPS and SS clusters | Jul-05 | The number of children within DCS facilities has decreased. The submission of a bi-weekly name list of Children within DCS facilities to the DSD is continuing. 1229 children were Awaiting Trial in Aug-05 as compared to 1330 in Jul-05 | |
| 3.2.4 | JCPS and Social Cluster to discuss operational matters relating to secure care facilities for children in trouble with the law as well as the plight of homeless children as part of social crime prevention | JCPS and SS Clusters | Jul-05 | A task team was set-up to facilitate this process | |
| 3.3 | Regarding the Victim's Charter, ensure that service providers including those in the social sector, receive training. Further an appropriate monitoring mechanism and a communication programme will be developed and implemented | DSD, DOJ | Sep-05 | ||
| 3.3.1 | Give life to the Victims' Charter through reorientation of the implementing personnel, information to citizens and, where applicable legislation to regulate this service | DSD, DOJ | Ongoing | The participating departments are still continuing with training of trainers. 4,237 trainers and 6,300 Justice officials have been trained. Training has been integrated into Justice College training schedule | |
| 3.3.2 | Implement the Victim Support Services Programme | DSD, DOJ, DCS | Ongoing | The NPA has 66 courts preparing officials on contract at various centers throughout the country. 47160 witnesses have been prepared for court testimony at various courts | |
| 3.4 | Rapidly reduce the number of children in police and prison custody with emphasis on KwaZulu/Natal, Western Cape and Gauteng Provinces | SAPS, DOJ, DCS | Ongoing. See 3.2.4 | The number of children in DCS has been decreasing since Jun – Aug- 05 except for fluctuating trends in Gauteng. The numbers are as follows: for KZN: Jun-05 386, July 360 and Aug 340. WCP: Jun 196, July 188 and Aug 186. GP: Jun 203, Jul. 160 and Aug 186 | |
| 3.5 | Complete, four additional Correctional facilities while introducing a new ethos in the treatment of offenders in order to reduce recidivism | DPW, DCS, NT | Apr-07 | Bulk Earth Works contracts, for Kimberley, Nigel and Leeuwkop have been finalised. The main contracts are at the bid evaluation stage. The contracts for Klerksdorp and Kimberley have lapsed and re-tendering has been considered | |
| 3.6 | Intensify programme to set up specialized courts (commercial crimes and women and child abuse) | DoJCD | Ongoing | Courts achieved a 67% conviction rate and Commercial Crime Courts achieved a 97% conviction rate in May 05 | |
| 3.7 | Intensify the transformation of the entire judicial system | DoJCD | Ongoing | Re Aga Boswa, was completed and submitted to the Director general DoJCD on the 10 October 05 , with the view of rolling it out to a further three provinces in 2005/6 | |
| 3.8 | Enhanced integration between the security, economic and social clusters | JCPS, SS and E&I Clusters | Ongoing | The three clusters are developing mechanisms for implementing projects in the 169 priority police station areas, the nodes and the municipalities identified in terms of Project Consolidate | |
| 3.9 | Meeting of Ministerial Committee set up to align DSO with other intelligence and law enforcement agencies. A commission to examine DSO mandate, how it integrates with police, intelligence structures and prosecuting service; and its location | MCC Ministers | Jan-06 | Meetings of Ministerial Committee held. The report of the Khampepe Commission to be formally handed to the President shortly. | |
4 | UPHOLDING NATIONAL SECURITY | ||||
| 4.1 | National Security Strategy - strategy to be finalised by Jul-05; including proposals regarding a suitable national security management system | NICOC, NIA, SAPS, DOD, Pres, EIE & IRPS clusters | Jul-05 | Draft strategy to be presented in first part of 2006 | |
| 4.2 | Strategy to improve capacity of the intelligence community to be finalised by Jul-05 | NICOC, Presidency, SA | Jul-05 | Work in progress | |
| 4.3 | Border Control and Security: - improve law-enforcement and security at ports of entry | SAPS, DHA, DOD, NIA, NICOC | 2005-2009 | BCOCC - Border Control Operations Coordinating Committee | |
| 4.3.1 | Aligning border control and security strategy with strategies to promote trade, tourism and cooperation between South Africa and other countries | DHA, SAPS | Jan-06 | BCOCC Strategic Advisory Committee is facilitating the development of an over-arching border control and security strategy. It is envisage that the strategy will strike a balance b/w border security promotion of business and tourism | |
| 4.3.2 | Addressing disparities at ports of entry between departments including infrastructure, personnel, IT and technology - finalising upgrading 53 land ports of entry and building new border posts inter alia for the new Transfrontier Conservation Areas | DHA, SAPS, SARS | Ongoing | Nine new repair and maintenance projects have been initiated to value of Rm49. The planning for the total re-construction of three ports of entry (Vioolsdrift, Skilpadshek and Golela) has commenced. 36 IT projects have been initiated costing about Rm13 | |
| 4.3.3 | Action to deal with corruption at ports of entry involving especially officials at lower end of salary levels | SAPS, DHA, SARS | Ongoing | Specific projects are ongoing in provinces targeting corruption at ports of entry | |
| 4.3.4 | Finding a balance between facilitation of cross-border movement of SADC citizens and security needs, assisted by introduction of appropriate technology | DHA, SAPS, SARS SAMDI | Ongoing | The SADC Protocol on facilitation of movement of persons and goods was signed and will become operational after two thirds of member states have signed the Protocol | |
| 4.3.5 | Addressing fragmented enforcement of legislation by departments, with development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) | DHA, SAPS, SARS, SAMDI | Ongoing | The process of auditing all relevant legislation, protocols and agreements within the area of border control is going ahead. This is being managed by the Legal and Policy Committee at the BCOCC, under the chairpersonship of SARS | |
| 4.3.6 | Skills development to address poor service delivery, with specialised interdepartmental programmes. Establishment of an Inter-Departmental Training Institution will be investigated | SAPS, DOD, SAMDI | Ongoing | SAPS members presented training to new members of the National Immigration Branch and participated in the standards generating process for the Department of Home Affairs | |
| 4.3.7 | Upgrading of outdated border control technology | SAPS, DOD, DHA, National Ports Authority, NIA | Ongoing | A Mobile Connectivity Device (MCD) was developed by SAPS and is being utilized at 15 major Land ports of Entry | |
| 4.3.8 | Implementation of an exit and entry strategy by 2005-2009 to strengthen security of the country's borderline | SAPS, DOD, NIA | Mar-09 | The take over of the borderline by the SAPS in a systematic manner is proceeding according to schedule. The SANDF and SAPS continue joint intervention operations on certain borderlines | |
| 4.3.9 | Sea Ports of Entry - security to be enhanced by implementation of an International Ship and Port Facility Security Code; enhance law enforcement at smaller harbours and attention by SAPS and SANDF to white water and blue water security strategies | SAPS, DHA, DOT, SARS | Ongoing | An operational plan in terms of the National Maritime Security Procedures for foreign military vessels has been developed | |
| 4.3.10 | Air Ports of Entry - with attention to non-international airports and the affordability of options for upgrading radar systems will be investigated | SAPS, DOD, DHA, NIA, NICOC | Ongoing | Strategies have been developed. An operation has been launched covering identified airports | |
| 4.3.11 | Rail Ports of Entry - a short-term intervention has been implemented to strengthen security at crossings with limited control pending longer term development of infrastructure and placing of personnel | SAPS, DHA, DOT, SARS | Ongoing | The BCOCC Land and Rail Committee is in the process to develop a strategy for the cross border rail environment. The security model developed for Beitbridge also caters for the policing/security of the cross border railway station at this port | |
| 4.3.12 | An Integrated Implementation Plan will be presented to Cabinet outlining the action steps, budgets and time frames to neutralize all threats and enhance border control and security | SAPS, DOD, DHA, NIA, NICOC | Jul-05 | BCOCC Strategic Advisory Committee is facilitating development of an Integrated Border Control and Security Strategy. It expected that the strategy will be finalised mid 2006 | |
| 4.4 | Readiness of SANDF - continuing priority including maintaining appropriate age-balance | DOD | Ongoing | Work in progress | |
| 4.5 | Disaster management - attention to capacity and readiness of systems with focus on security-related national disasters, involving cooperation on non-security related disasters with other clusters and countries in the region | SAPS, DPLG, DoD | Jul-05 | Members of the Intergovernmental Committee on Disaster Management (ICDM) have been appointed. The National Disaster Management Framework (NDMAF) was finalised and published in the Government Gazette in Apr-05 | |
| 4.6 | Review the Foreign Military Assistance Act in order to discourage, for their own good and the good of the country, those who seek to profit from conflict and human suffering such as Iraq | SAPS, NPA, DoD, NIA, SASS, IRPS cluster | Jan-06 | ||
| 4.6.1 | Finalise amendments to the RFMAA | DOD, DOJ, NIA, NPA | Oct-05 | Amendments of the RFMAA have been finalised and final draft submitted to Cabinet for approval The Bill was introduced to Parliament in Oct-05 and currently with Portfolio Committee on Defence for consideration | |
| 4.6.2 | Implementation of multi-pronged strategy to deal with breaches of the RFMAA | SAPS, NPA, DoD, NIA, SASS, IRPS cluster | Jan-06. See 4.6.1 | Implementation of the strategy depends on 4.6.1 above | |
| 4.7 | Terrorism, domestically and abroad to continue receiving adequate attention, including the monitoring of the global discourse on this important threat to security, stability and development | NICOC, NIA, SAPS | Ongoing | The cluster is currently examining the efficacy of establishing a National Counter Terrorism Centre | |
| 4.8 | Finalise plans to secure the forthcoming Local Government Elections | SAPS, NIA, SANDF | Mar-05 | Plans to secure the forthcoming Local Government Elections have been finalised and the Cluster is ready for implementation | |
5 | ONGOING PRIORITIES | ||||
| 5.1 | SAPS capacity - increasing numbers to 152,000 in 2005/6 | SAPS, NT | Apr-06 | The total staff establishment of the SAPS as in Aug-05 was 148113. A total of 11 000 trainees has been allocated for the 2005/2006 financial year | |
| 5.2 | Integrated Case Management flow: the cluster will sustain and expand this model to other centres, giving due priority to the areas that correspond with or have jurisdiction to the 169 priority police station areas | DoJCD, IJS | Ongoing | The implementation of case flow management is being monitored, and Provincial Monitoring Committees will be set up to deal with problems that cannot be resolved on local or area level | |
| 5.3 | Implementation of Sexual Offences Act | DoJCD, NPA, SAPS | Ongoing | ||
| 5.3.1 | Operationalise sexual offences courts, taking into account that the conviction rate in these courts, (at 62%), is much higher than in ordinary courts (at 42%), and improve the capacity of all dedicated courts | DoJCD | Ongoing | At the end of Oct-05, 70 72 Sexual Offences Courts were in session. Between April and August 2005, a total of 3 213 4 715 cases were finalised by these courts with 88% conviction rate. In addition to the finalised cases, a total of 60 cases were diverted | |
| 5.4 | Protection and Security Services Division - putting this division into operation and phasing out the Commando units and replacing it with a revised SAPS reservist system | SAPS, DOD | Ongoing | With regards to the phasing out of Commando Units it can be reported that for the 2005/06 year, 71 commando units stopped their operational support to the SAPS. Another 66 commando units to close during 2006/07 | |
| 5.5 | Speed up the setting up of community courts beyond the pilot projects so as to have at least 2 such courts per province | DoJCD | Mar-06 | A total of 3 232 cases were diverted by 15 Community Courts as at the end of October 2005. The Community Court in Cape Town Mitchellsplain has shown the best performance in this regard | |
| 5.6 | Instilling integrity and professional ethos in JCPS cluster departments - to curb fraud and corruption | SAPS, DoD, DHA, DCS, DoJCD, NIA, | Ongoing | DCS and DHA implementing their anti-corruption strategies. Other JCPS departments are drafting internal anti corruption strategies. Campaign on professional conduct launched in NIA and SASS | |
6 | BIG EVENTS | ||||
| 6.1 | Security for 2010 World Cup | SAPS, DHA, NICOC, NIA, DOD, NT | Ongoing | The planning processes are being driven through Priority Committees with the active participation of all role players. Strategic issues are being identified and managed through interventions between the various interested bodies | |
| Last updated: 2006 April 4 | |||||