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Safety, security and defence
South African Police Service
The aim of the South African Police Service (SAPS) is to prevent,
combat and investigate crime, maintain public order, protect and
secure the inhabitants of South Africa and their property, and
uphold law enforcement.
As part of its commitment to fight crime, government has
redeployed more resources to the various police stations in
the country.
The policy documents governing policing in South Africa
include the SAPS Act, 1995 (Act 68 of 1995) [PDF], and the 1996 National Crime
Prevention Strategy.
The SAPS' Strategic Plan provides a clear framework for
personnel members to focus their efforts during a five-year
period. It also provides the community with information on
the direction of policing during this period. The department's
Strategic Plan for 2010 to 2014 lays down the following key
operational priorities for the medium term, namely:
- crime prevention
- effective investigation of crime
- supporting the investigation of crime
- crime intelligence.
2010 FIFA World Cup™
Security forces, together with several other key government departments and role players, ensured that the 2010 FIFA
World Cup™ unfolded in a safe and secure environment.
Inner-perimeter security duties were undertaken in five of
the 10 stadiums – Port Elizabeth, Durban, Western Cape and
Gauteng (Soccer City and Ellis Park). Each of the 32 playing
teams was allocated a team security liaison officer and close
protection officers.
The SAPS initiated the world-first "International Police Cooperation
Centre" to host almost 200 foreign police officers
from other playing countries. These officers assisted the SAPS
at the stadiums during matches in which their country's team
participated. The centre also consisted of senior officials from
the Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation
Organisation to coordinate information among neighbouring
countries, especially the movement of soccer fans across
borders and the coordination of cross-border crime-combating
operations.
At the National Joint Operational Centre from where all
security-related activities were coordinated, personnel from
22 departments worked around the clock on 12-hour shifts.
This structure was duplicated in each province and at various major events.
Reducing crime
Crime prevention in South Africa is based on the principles of
community policing; that is, partnerships between the community
and the SAPS. Partnerships between police officers (who
are appointed as sector managers) and communities strengthen
existing community policing forums (CPFs), which have been in
place since 1993. By July 2009, CPFs were 95% operating at
1 116 police stations. By the end of March 2010,
1 114 functioning CPFs had been established at the 1 116
police stations, including the 169 high-contact crime stations.
During 2009/10, the National Community Policing Consultative
Forum amended its name to the National Community
Police Board (NCPB). The NCPB serves as a platform
or means of communication where the nine provincial CPF
chairpersons, the national chairperson and other stakeholders
meet. They share best practices, address the challenges of
CPFs, advise the SAPS on how to improve service delivery
and give relevant guidance on the implementation of community
policing.
A total of 532 reservists were appointed in terms of the Public
Service Act, 1994 and 2 733 in terms of the SAPS Act, 1995. By
March 2010, the Reserve Police Force stood at 64 049 active
reservists.
During 2009/10, 8 598 reservists were trained, of whom 7 964
(92,6%) were found competent. In addition to this, short skills
programmes on topics such as the administration of community
service centres, crime investigation, crime prevention and street
survival were presented to improve the skills and knowledge of
reservists in performing policing duties.
Sector policing was implemented at 129 of the 169 high-contact
crime police stations by the end of March 2009. It is a policing
model that focuses on the geographical division of a police-station
area into smaller manageable sectors, based on the geographical
constraints, the composition and diversity of communities and the
specific interests and needs of a community.
The success of sector policing depends on, among other
things, dedicated and well-trained sector commanders, active
participation of community role players and sufficient resources
on a 24-hour basis.
The SAPS contributes to various social-crime prevention
initiatives relating to the Anti-Rape Strategy, the Domestic
Violence Programme, youth crime-prevention capacity-building
programmes, violence-prevention programmes, the Victim-
Empowerment Programme and community-based crime-prevention
projects in the Integrated Sustainable Rural Development
Programme and Urban Renewal Programme nodes.
Fighting crime
In September 2010, crime statistics for the 2009/10 financial
year were released:
Contact crime accounted for 32% of all crimes. During this
time, the number of reported business robbery cases decreased
by 51% when compared to the previous year. Robbery with
aggravating circumstances decreased by 7,5%. Cash-intransit
robberies declined by 7,3%. House robberies increased
by 2,7%. During the 2009/10 financial year, the number of bank
robberies declined by 8,8%. During this period, street robberies
declined by 10,4% and common robberies increased by 4,4%.
Truckjackings decreased by 1,7% and carjackings by 6,8%.
Sexual offences decreased by 4,4%. The increase of 6,5%
in stock theft is a matter of serious concern. Commercial
crime increased by 8,1%.
During this period, murder declined by 8,6% and attempted
murder by 6,1%. Assault (common) declined by 4,3% and
assault (grievous bodily harm) by 0,5%.The police detection rate of illegal firearms and ammunition
increased by 2,4% and 61,6% of stolen or lost firearms were
recovered. There was an increase of 13,6% in apprehending
people in drug-related crime. The Hawks arrested 46 of
the top 50 criminal suspects. Driving under the influence of
alcohol or drugs increased by 10,6%.
During the 2009/10 year, 110 members of the police were
killed during the course of their duties.
Forensic Science Services (FSS) and Criminal
Record Centre (CRC)
The function of the CRC is primarily the provisioning of previous
conviction reports to courts, while the FSS provides scientific
support in the investigation of crime.
Various technologies have been implemented in the forensic
science environment, including the installation of the national
Integrated Ballistics Identification System (IBIS) database. This
has improved case turnaround time and examination quality. The
Genetic Sample Processing System has increased the capacity to
process more DNA-related entries. A three-dimensional correlation
system has been implemented as part of the IBIS, and has
improved the accuracy of firearms identification.
Analysts at the FSL received 207 660 entries and analysed
221 337 (including entries from previous years) during
2009/10, which included ballistic evidence; scientific and
chemical substances; biological material, for example DNA
and primer residue analysis; and questioned documents.
During 2009/10, the CRC received 1 181 797 crime-related
fingerprints for possible identification and/or confirmation.
Of the enquiries received, 564 143 (47,73%) were enquiries
that resulted in previous convictions being identified and/or
confirmed. A total of 929 297 non-crime-related enquiries
were received. These enquiries are made to determine
whether or not persons applying for firearm and professional
drivers' permits have had any previous convictions.
Detective Service
The Detective Service is responsible for maintaining an effective
crime-investigation service.
Visible Policing
The crime-combating capacity within the SAPS deals with
the combating of crime and the maintenance of public order.
Various major incidents such as strikes and public gatherings
were monitored in 2009/10.
During 2009/10, 8 907 crowd-related incidents were recorded, including 7 913 peaceful incidents such as
assemblies, gatherings, meetings and demonstrations and
994 unrest-related incidents (labour disputes, dissatisfaction
with service delivery and dissatisfaction with security-forceactions). A total of 4 157 persons were arrested during the
994 unrest-related incidents in which violence erupted and
SAPS action was required to restore peace and order.
Visible Policing is provides a proactive
and reactive policing service. It is regarded as a line
function and its components are Social-Crime Prevention,
Crime Prevention, Police Emergency Services, Specialised
Operations, Borderline Operations and Crime-Combating
Operations.
Visible Policing is responsible for combating crime through
anti-crime operations, activities at police stations, maintaining
high visibility and the availability of police officials at grassroots
level. It also oversees sector policing, reservists, municipal police
services and closed-circuit television surveillance.
Social Crime Prevention deals with crimes affecting the
social fabric of society, including crimes against women and
children.
The Police Emergency Services responds to crimes in
progress, and provides dog and mounted services. Hostage
and suicide negotiators, police drivers, and uniformed units
such as the 10111 emergency centres and the Flying Squad
provide specialised services.
The Police Emergency Services is also responsible for
optimising the Integrated Crime-Prevention Road Policing
Strategy, which aims to improve safety and order in the road
environment by preventing and combating criminality and
lawlessness.
The division eradicates the proliferation of firearms for use
in crime and violence in South Africa. The component also
ensures compliance with and effective enforcement of liquor-control
legislation to address serious, violent and contact
crime in South Africa.
Specialised Operations provides a rapid-response capacity
for intervening in extreme situations where normal policing
is ineffective, including combating public violence; stabilising
serious and violent crime incidents; policing public gatherings;
rendering specialised operational support (including the
Air Wing and Special Task Force); and handling high-risk
operations.
Defence
The Department of Defence defends and protects South Africa, its territorial integrity
and its people.
The Department of Military Veterans is responsible for managing and administering military veterans' affairs.
The Department of Defence under the auspices of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development, participates in various initiatives to secure
peace and stability on the continent.
The South Africa National Defence Force (SANDF) is an all-volunteer force consisting of a regular core force and a reserve
force. In addition to military matters, the Department of Defence
and Military Veterans is involved in search-and-rescue operations,
hydrography and securing national key points.
Uniformed members of the SANDF have the right to join trade
unions, but may not go on strike or picket.
Peace support
The promotion of peace and security is one of South Africa’s most
important objectives. This includes strengthening the region’s
conflict-prevention and resolution capabilities, rendering assistance
in monitoring and addressing domestic issues that affect
stability.
South Africa remains a significant participant and a major
contributor to peacekeeping operations on the continent and
elsewhere in the world.
The SANDF has formed part of and participated in various
peace missions on the continent since 1994.
Military veterans
In April 2010, the Minister of Defence and of Military Veterans, Ms Lindiwe Sisulu, opened the offices of the new Department
of Military Veterans in Pretoria.
The Department of Military Veterans was proclaimed by
the President as a separate and stand-alone department, in
December 2009, to create a department within government,
whose sole responsibility is to govern and cater for the affairs
of all former members of military organisations before thedawn of democracy and those who served in the SANDF
after 1994.
Armaments Corporation of South Africa
(Armscor)
Armscor is a statutory body established in accordance with
the Armscor Limited Act, 2003. The Minister of Defence is the
executive authority responsible for Armscor. The management and control of Armscor reside with a board of directors,
while its day-to-day management vests in the hands of the
management board.
In executing its functions, Armscor maintains capabilities
and technologies that are required to fulfil its mandate.
These include appropriate programme-management
systems, the Defence Industrial Participation Programme
and the management of technology projects and strategic
facilities.
Armscor acquires defence material for the Department of
Defence and, with the approval of the Minister of Defence, for
any organ of state, public entities and any sovereign state that
may require such services.
Denel Group of South Africa
Denel (Pty) Ltd is a state-owned company operating in the
military aerospace and landward defence environment. It was
incorporated as a private company in 1992 in terms of the
Companies Act, 1973.
Denel (Pty) Ltd is a commercially driven holding company,
with equity of varying degrees in several defence and
aerospace subsidiaries and associated companies.
With its focus on the military aerospace and landward
defence domains, Denel was incorporated as a private
company in 1992 in terms of the South African Companies
Act, 1973. Its defence capabilities, however, date back more
than 70 years when some of Denel's first manufacturing
plants were established.
Apart from being original equipment manufacturers in certain
product categories, the Denel businesses are also engaged
in the overhaul, maintenance, repair, refurbishment and
upgrade of the SANDF's defence systems and equipment.
Intelligence services
In September 2009, a single department, the State Security
Agency, was established by a presidential proclamation.
Some of the priorities for 2010/11 were as follows:
- ensuring that all people in South Africa are safe and feel
safe
- reducing crime levels in the country, particularly those
which are violent in nature
- establishing operations against domestic and transnational
crime syndicates
- developing a comprehensive counter-terrorism strategy,
which will guide counter-terrorism operations
- working together with the Department of Cooperative
Governance and the Independent Electoral Commission to
set up systems to ensure that the 2011 local government
elections would be held in a peaceful atmosphere
- monitoring and assessing the manifestation of xenophobia
across the country, with the aim of averting the possibility of
violent outbreaks against foreign nationals
- rooting out fraud, theft and corruption within the cluster
and government in
Source: Pocket Guide to South Africa 2010/11
Editor: D Burger. Government Communication and Information System
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Last modified: 20 July 2011 20:23:44. |
