Politicians Debate The Crisis In SAPS - Parliament Debate

Añadido: 2026-05-27

[00:00:00]active community participation and integrated state responses. through this.

[00:00:55]abstract budget lines. They determine whether citizens live.

[00:01:06]>> Thank you, house chair. Today we rise as the government in waiting a casualty of the 2024 vote rigging project. Still we rise to confront a painful reality.

[00:01:18]South Africans are under siege.

[00:01:20]Communities are terrorized by a violent crime. Women and children are unsafe.

[00:01:25]Police stations are under resourced.

[00:01:27]Corruption has infiltrated the criminal justice system. And public confidence in policing institutions continues to collapse. These three budget votes, police, IP and community secretariat for police are not abstract budget lines.

[00:01:41]They determine whether citizens live in fear or security. Let me start with subs chairperson. The crisis in subs is no longer merely operational. It is structural. It is political and increasingly it is a crisis of legitimacy. Even the portfolio committee acknowledges persistent concerns regarding SAP's ability to deliver on his commitments despite repeated reform promises. The truth is simple. South Africans do not feel safe. Go gang violence, [clears throat] cash and transit heights continue, construction mafias continue, kidnappings continue, illegal firearms continue flooding communities. Yet year after year, we received glossy annual performance plans filled with indicators, frameworks, and technical language. While communities bury loved ones every day, the MK party believes policing must return to fundamentals.

[00:02:34]visible policing, intelligenceled crime prevention, specialized units, border security, disciplined command structures, and ruthless consequence management. A police service cannot succeed when detectives are overwhelmed.

[00:02:51]Forensic backlog persist, stations lack vehicles, and morale collapses.

[00:02:57]and SAP's budget must the SAP's budget must prioritize operational capability not bureaucratic expansion. Let me move to IP chairperson. IP is supposed to be the firewall between the people and the police abuse. If IP was effective, the police criminals that killed unarmed people in Ktomeno would not be roaming the streets freely today. But they do.

[00:03:22]>> They even get paid millions by the NPA.

[00:03:26]Moving on, chairperson, increasingly South Africans are asking who investigates political power when political power itself may be implicated. The recent declassified IP report relating to the president, his protection unit and Danto's cooperation matter has left many South Africans with the disturbing impression that the report functioned less as an accountability instrument and more as a political get out of jail free card for number one.

[00:03:58]>> General Rou acted under instruction. The president received regular reports in his hide park palace. Go and read section 89 report. It's all in there.

[00:04:09]The president is the sole member of Estate Close Corporation. The entity involved involved in the transactions.

[00:04:18]Chairperson go to section 34 of PRAA subsection 4 paragraph E. You will find there that praa pierces through the vein of the closed cooperation and attributes accountability directly to the person.

[00:04:33]In this case, the sole member of is the president, not the manager.

[00:04:39]>> Yet despite these realities, the report says absolutely nothing meaningful about political accountability at the highest level. Nothing.

[00:04:49]No serious interrogation of executive responsibility, no meaningful scrutiny on the chain of command, no attempt to resolve glaring contradictions before the South African public.

[00:05:01]And what deepens public concern is not only what the report says, but what the report is deliberately avoiding to confront. The report sidesteps critical and constitutional questions. One, why were state security resources mobilized around what was initially presented as a private matter?

[00:05:22]>> On what legal basis were the intelligence and policing structures activated?

[00:05:27]>> If all was above board, how come the 2020 2021 SAP's annual report is silent about these shenanigans?

[00:05:37]Why were parallel structures why were parallel channels utilized outside ordinary uh investigative uh procedures and how does a president who receives continuous updates suddenly becomes a passive bystander with no accountability obligations whatsoever. Chairperson in any constitutional democracy accountability flows upwards especially to the highest office in the land. The president cannot simultaneously receive reports, direct authorize responses through subordinates, benefit from institutional protection and then be treated as entirely detached from responsibility.

[00:06:17]The proposition, this proposition is neither politically credible nor constitutionally sustainable.

[00:06:25]>> Oversight institutions lose >> Yes, >> can you please uh take a seat? There's a point of order. Yes, honorable member.

[00:06:32]House chair is honorable man able to take a question because it seems like he's reporting on >> you don't ask the question you said is he able to take a question I will ask on your behalf are you able to take a question >> the honorable man did you respond are you able to take a question oh okay >> my time >> thank you >> oversight institutions lose legitimacy when ordinary citizens are pursued aggressively while political elites are insulated from scrutiny. That is dangerous for constitutional democracy.

[00:07:08]The MK party warns that selective accountability destroys public trust not only to IP but in the entire criminal justice system. The constitutional principle is simple. Proximity to power cannot become immunity from scrutiny.

[00:07:24]That is why IP must be strengthened institutionally, financially and operationally but above all protected from political interference. We argue as MK party that the IP must report directly to parliament not to the minister. Chairperson, I conclude with the civilian secretarat civilian secretariat for police service. Even here the committee report itself raises concerns. The secretariat appears to l the necessary teeth to ensure implementation of his recommendation.

[00:07:57]That is at the heart of the problem.

[00:08:00]Oversight without enforcement becomes administrative decoration. The committee further highlights recurring failures regarding gender based violence and femicide responses, domestic violent acts um act compliance, victim support failures, weak consequence management and lack of measurable outcomes. The MK party maintains that civilian oversight must not become detached from realities on the ground. Communities do not care about the number of assessments conducted. They care about the following. Whether police respond, whether dos are processed, whether criminals are arrested, whether victims are protected, and whether justice is delivered. Oversight institutions must therefore be empowered to compel implementation to track compliance and ensure accountability across policing environment. In conclusion, the measure for South Africans is simply not all these glossy reports. It's about where they can walk safely, they can sleep peacefully, they can run their business securely, they can trust the police again. Right now, millions do not. And that is the indictment before this house. As I sit down chairperson, the MK party when we take over will ensure a professional service, a fearless oversight for institutions and a criminal justice system that serves the people, not political elites. South Africans, make it happen. Vote for MK party. Thank you.

[00:09:34]>> Thank you very much honorable member. I will now recognize no honorable members.

[00:09:40]No >> honorable Cameroon.

[00:09:45]Thank you, House Chair.

[00:09:49]House chair, today we are meant to debate a police budget of more than 127 billion rand and it's probably one of the largest allocations in the country's budget. But I think it's important that every failure in SAPS cannot be explained away by giving the reason that we supposedly do not have enough money.

[00:10:10]The deeper problem is the management of the money that is allocated. Before coming here, I uh ran back after wanting to make this budget vote a bit more practical as I quickly popped into the Western Cape Organized Crime Unit just across the road from Parliament. At the moment in the province for the narcotics unit proincially, only three out of 10 vehicles work. All of them have over 300,000 kilometers on them. for the entire province for organized crime specifically only 17 operational vehicles for the whole of Western Cape.

[00:10:46]That's not even mentioning the rest of the country. We see the failure in the use of resources in the maintenance of vehicles, whether rape kits are available, whether detectives have the tools to build proper dockets, and whether IT systems work at station level, and whether supply chain management serves victims or insiders.

[00:11:06]And over the past week, we did a few surprise oversight visits to some of the stations and units just close to parliament. And [snorts] it's interesting what we found that in Finani Sats yesterday after 11 murders in less than a week, police told us that the population has nearly tripled in about 5 years. The resources have not followed the people.

[00:11:26]The station still faces a crisis of staffing and over the past weekend their IT system was once again off and therefore they couldn't scan just over 120 dockets for the weekend. In Fenny Fleet, 15 out of 24 frontline vehicles are down at the moment, some for over 6 months. Philippy East, only three out of 26 operational vehicles are currently available for police to use and serve the public. Eight visible policing vehicles currently serve 250,000 people in that community just because we intervened Thursday passed. Nyanga FCS only three out of 12 vehicles operational across all of those sites that I've just mentioned. And I know it's a bit of a a [snorts] simplification, but 70% of frontline vehicles and FCS vehicles did not work.

[00:12:20]Younger FCS unit severely under capacity. only 20% staffed, minimal vehicles, and had no rape kits when we got there. Stalen Bosch and Mitchell's plane FCS also no rape kits when we got there. If gender-based violence and femicide is truly treated as the national disaster that the president declared it to be, how do specialized units like this end up without rape kits?

[00:12:45]This is why SAP supply chain management is a frontline issue. It's likely the biggest corruption issue in SAPS as well. When procurement fails, the victims end up paying the price. And when vehicles are not repaired or then communities again pay when rape kits are unavailable, victims pay. And when IT systems fail, investigations suffer. And that brings us to integrity management.

[00:13:12]The suspension recently of Lieutenant General Mulefi, the SAP's divisional commissioner of supply chain management is welcomed, but suspension is not accountability alone. You see, this person was linked to allegations made by the SIU as far back as 2021, but was still appointed as the head of supply chain management in South African Police Service. 5 years later, he is finally suspended due to the intervention of not only the acting minister but also the acting national commissioner which is welcomed but now we need further steps.

[00:13:46]No one in SAPS or the DPCI or any other structure should be considered above the law no matter how high the rank. On the 17th of March, I wrote to the provincial commissioner of the South African Police Service in the Western Cape because of the list of members including stations like Lansburg, Swell &um, Lingulet to West, Stalin Bosch, Pinelands, Armanis, Milnit, Bquini, Kletdor, Provincial Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit, Samora Michelle Detectives, and the anti-gang unit who all have stakes in the taxi industry. It's now two months later after five follow-ups. We still don't have a response because of delays in the Western K provincial SAPs management and from what we've seen the provincial SAPs office has obviously not treated with the necessary urgency. Lifestyle audits cannot be a paper exercise and vetting cannot be selective. Outside remunerative work controls cannot be ignored and disciplinary processes cannot drag on until the public forgets.

[00:14:46]It's therefore that this budget must therefore be judged by what SAPS actually does with it. Will SAPS correctly distribute resources to match population growth and violence because of those communities that I've used as examples? because they are asking when the police will arrive or whether they will at all arrive, whether detectives will come back to them, whether evidence will be collected, and whether the case will actually end up in court, whether the gangster, the rapist, the extortionist, and the corrupt official will finally face the consequences. In this province, the unit responsible for extortion only has five operational members for the entire province. That means the budget up to now, the previous one wasn't used properly. As we continue to fight for optimal resources, I want to use my closing as an opportunity to thank two sets of people. The one being the brave men and women who despite these challenges show up regardless of the challenges that they face. They show up and they try to serve. and then also the brave men and women in iPad who clearly especially over the last few months have stepped up their game in the fight against cops who shouldn't be in that uniform. I thank you.

[00:16:03]>> Thank you very much honorable member.

[00:16:06]I'll now recognize honorable Ka.

[00:16:11][applause] Uh thank you very much uh chair. Want to take this opportunity to firstly greet the commanderin-chief and president of the economic freedom fighters president Julas Malma commissars and fighters and ground forces members.

[00:16:34]It is firstly it is regrettable that the minister came here in front of us to read his speech word by word showing fi disorientation showing confusion from what the subs is expected to do he shows that he doesn't understand where subs comes from where sabs is confronted with and what's the future that is expected for our people it's we are dealing with a blotted ministry here with four ministers, one who is at home drinking coffee, doing nothing at the expense of our of of our people who are paying him for doing nothing. We have two deputy ministers who are also not given any meaningful responsibilities. Minister, acting minister Kachella, I think it's high time you do an honorable thing and step down because it shows that you don't know what you are dealing with. You've you have you you have shown this through the speech that we're reading that you don't understand the frustration the blue badge is dealing with. It's been almost a year now since we are appointed. Have you ever even taken time to go to the police station? Taken time to be on the ground with the operation to deal with what are the material condition on the ground. Unfortunately you are not interested because you are enjoying eons in your offices. You are enjoying statements without any action.

[00:17:59]We are we are we are aware of that.

[00:18:02]House chap the economic freedom fighters reject this budget vote because subs IPD and the civilian secretariat have failed the poor failed justice and failed the people of South Africa. The July 6, 2025 media briefing by Left Tenant General Muanazi opened a Pandora's box for the South African police and exposed that while there are many men and women who are dedicated on the ground on the police service. Their work is eroded or erased by the deeply embedded criminal elements within subs. Subs increasingly protect politician connected elites and corrupt network while brutalizing the working class protesters and the unemployed. In township and villages, police are absent when crime strikes but heavily materialized militarized when committees and student protest against living condition, poverty and unemployment. Speaker, it is unfortunate that this debate on policing takes place under the cloud of parala judgment by the constitutional court of South Africa which have once again exposed the selective application of justice in South Africa. When the powerful are implicated, the state moves with secrecy and protection. But when the ordinary people face murder, rape and violent crimes, they are abandoned by the collapsing police service. The parala involving Mr. S. Raaposa has depend public trust, distrust in South Africa, in South African police services because it confirms the growing belief that there's one law for the political elites and another for the poor.

[00:19:48]Chairperson criminality within the South African police is so deeply embedded that without the SES involvement the extortion the extortion gangs ravaging the capless will have been disseminated a long time ago. It is members of SES who are actively working with these extortion gangs to wreck havoc on the lives of our people in the cap flats.

[00:20:13]Billions are allocated to subs. Yet women are murdered, children disappear, gangs terrorize communities and doets vanish without accountability.

[00:20:26]Equally, we must ensure that the practice of using IP to fight internal battles within subs comes to an end. We are aware of these concocted internal fights that are being used or spaded by IP for political scorings and political gains were aware and it must come to an end. IP must must be both functional and operationally independent and ensure that the police perform their functions with within the ambience of the law. The civilian secretariat has became bureaucratic, disconnected from communities and ineffective in transforming policing culture. Civilian secretariat for police continue to move on like a headless chicken. The entities used for chip tenders of the African National Congress comrades and does and does nothing to assist to bring the police and the people together.

[00:21:26]Chairperson, if we vote to pass this budget without a clear plan for holding the South African police to account, we will be voting to give millions to criminals. We reject this vote as the economic freedom fighters and we are saying today, minister, can this serve as your last address? You have the deputy minister next to you. Honorable Castle Matani, we think if you can just save the taxpayers money by going home.

[00:21:58]You he's a capable man. He can take us through and show some confidence to these crimes and these gangs that are happening out there. You are here telling us absolutely nothing. Your your your speech has been one and the same thing since the past 5 years. There is no change. is just a rephrase speech with no action. We are saying to you as the economic freedom fighters, do the right thing, resign and the next the next person next to you, the minister must take over and save the taxp. Thank you very much.

[00:22:32]>> Thank you honorable member.

[00:22:39]>> I will now recognize the honorable Uh starting forchech.

[00:23:44]Oral chairperson South Africans cannot feel safe, protected and confident in state uh unless policing is uh professional, accountable and prop properly resourced. The IFP has noted uh the work of uh the parliamentary committee and the mad commission which have highlighted weaknesses in the system uh in the police system.

[00:24:09]Therefore, these votes must be judged on whether they improve safety and restore trust and for communities living in fear of violent crime, gender based violence and corruption. The IFP is concerned that the police still faces a personal h shortfall. This means that uh the country remains under capacity in the very area that uh matter most of ordinary people. Visible patrols, investigations, crime intelligence and the ability to respond quickly and credibly when crisis are are reported.

[00:24:54]The IFP supports the directorate's focus on more serious and priority uh offenses as well as on strengthening case management, forensic support and digital case tracking. Increasing public trust in policing depends not only on arrest but also on holding police accountable for abuse of uh power, police power. The IFP welcomes the increased emphasis on strategic partnership and community outreach. This supports a crimerevention approach rooted in communities uh rooted in communities. I'm sorry. This supports a a crime prevention uh approach rooted in communities. The IFP therefore supports these three budget uh votes be because they really uh they realize I'm sorry they realize the goals of uh medium-term development plan. We support this budget votes because of the direct benefits that lower crime rates have on the quality of life for all South Africans. I thank you.

[00:26:07]>> Thank you honorable member. I will now recognize honorable Hendrix.

[00:26:18]Honorable speaker, honorable minister, DMS, chair of the portfolio, portfolio committee members, honorable members and all departments present.

[00:26:29]Chair is muscador excuses chairperson. Today we debate vote 28, SEPs, vote 24, iPad and vote 21, the civilian secretariat for police. The three pillars that should guarantee accountability, professionalism and public trust. But the truth in this that the system is cracking and our people are paying the price in blood. SEP's detective capacity has collapsed from 26,000 a decade ago to barely 17,000 today. Firearm control backlog stretch into the hundreds of thousands. Police stations in the Cape Flats, Westbury, Elorado Park, and rural townships are drowning with no support. Violent crimes continues to rise. Let us be honest, there is nothing manageable about 80 murders a day. There is nothing manageable about children dodging bullets on their way to school. And yet, SEP SEP's leadership behaves is this crisis is under control. Chairperson, we cannot fix policing while corruption sits comfortable at the top. In recent years, multiple SES generals have been arrest have been arrested for procurement fraud, firearm license corruption, defeating the ends of justice and even collusion with organized crime. When generals, the very people entrusted to lead the fight against crime appear in court. What message does that send to the constables on the ground? The Patriotic Alliance says, "A fish rots from the head. We demand a full review of security clearance for all generals and senior officers, annual lifestyle audits, a public register of disciplinary outcomes and immediate suspension, not redeployment or any general under investigation. You cannot fight crime with compromised commanders. Chairperson vote 24 is supposed to be the watchdog that bites. Instead, it is the watchdog that parks softly and staff quietly.

[00:28:55]IP is underfunded, structurally dependent on SEPs and routinely ignored by SEPs leadership. This is not oversight. This is a theater. The patriotic alliance demand bind binding powers for iPad ring fans funding and a p public dashboard of iPad cases so communities can see who is being protected by the system. chairperson the civilian secretary vote 21 produces good research and good policy but se simply ignores what is done like what it doesn't like they simply ignore it a brain without muscle cannot move a body we call for a statutory mechanism forcing steps to implement secretariat recommendation proper monitoring of community policing forums and a complete overhaul of the national crime prevention strategy marat straight were hungsterism fighters went with and war zones of the floor bullets business extortion.

[00:30:12]The Patriotic Alliance demand a national anti-gang strategy with real funding, a specialized anti-extortion unit deployment of experienced detectives to gang cases, a communitydriven intelligent model, and a zero tolerance approach to corrupt officers who leaks information to gangs.

[00:30:32]>> Honorable Hrix, your time is expired.

[00:30:36]>> The PA will support the vote. Thank >> you very much.

[00:30:42]Honorable vessels, I on the virtual platform.

[00:30:48]>> I am.

[00:30:50]>> Thank you. Proceed.

[00:31:02]offer met and that is based on in honor self the md.

[00:31:32]That is that self mus is that is that is in the police.

[00:31:57]The South African Police Service has a leadership crisis. It has become a topheavy organization with high earning generals whilst the actual crime fighters are left underresourced and demoralized.

[00:32:13]Crime intelligence and IP has become structures that are abused and misused in a factional SAPS leadership battle that whilst communities are left vulnerable and unsafe due to a lack of effective crime intelligence. The systemic reforms that are needed minister can't be minuscule a complete overhaul of the senior top structure is needed. an operation cleanup with real consequences and a reconiguration of the South African Police Service architecture.

[00:33:07]Police in France.

[00:33:31]Thank you honorable member. I will now recognize honorable James.

[00:33:42]Honorable speaker, Minister, Deputy Minister, Allison Seps is missing. Drugs go missing. Firearms go missing. A couch is missing. Vi couch. Yesterday the IO went missing in the Sibony case. Dockets go missing. Alice is missing an Minister.

[00:34:07]Honorable speaker, the votes before this house today relating to South African Police Service, the independent police investigative directorate and the civilian secretariat for police speak directly to the question of whether our state is capable of ensuring safety, accountability and justice for all South Africans. This is however much to be desired in this budget and in an an environment in which these institutions are expected to operate. We continue to face instability in leadership with acting appointments persisting at both ministerial and senior administrative levels. This lack of permanent leadership weakens accountability and disrupts continue continu yeah diver continuity. We heard you saying earlier on we are introducing and we keep on hearing you saying we have appointed a new task team when will we hear about results and this undermines the ability of these institutions to execute their constitutional mandate effectively. At the same time serious allegations of corruption maladministration have been exposed through the work of the parliamentary ad committee whose report is currently being finalized. These revelations further erode public trust in institutions that are meant to protect and serve our communities. It is disgraceful the findings of the ADOC committee. Honorable speaker, the South African Police Service remains under immense pressure. Our communities continue to live with daily realities of violent crime, organized criminal networks, and resource constraints that hamper effective policing. Frontline officers are left without adequate support, training and equipment to do their jobs effectively. Communities must be served while we root out and expose the rot in our system. Vehicles must be pro procured and provided so that resources are directed towards policing and not brown envelopes. Detectives must be given tools of trade while we confront the alarming reports of firearms like I said earlier on going missing and drugs going missing for forensic uh at forensic storage uh places. Rape kits must be available so that justice is not dei denied or delayed. Task teams must be properly supported to ensure that organized crime is dismantled not enabled like we've heard. Proper forensic and scanning equipment. Never again must we hear there's only one scanner in this country. [snorts] Proper forensic and scanning equipment must be provided so that evidence is secured and not compromised. Honorable speaker which is meant to serve as an independent watchdog over police conduct remains critically important to the integrity of our justice system. Yet concerns persist regarding its capacity, its independence and ability to investigate serious allegations without delay or interference. Recommendation after recommendation, zero enforcement.

[00:37:13]The civilian secretariat for police.

[00:37:16]Civilian secretariat for WHO. I've only heard of the secretariat when I came to parliament. It also plays a vital role in ensuring democratic oversight and policy development. Yet it its impact is often limited by structural weaknesses and insufficient implementation capacity. Honorable speaker, the stability of this entire security cluster far from where it needs to be, right?

[00:37:42]The gaps are real and the consequences are felt most accurately in our communities. action essay therefore calls for greater stability, accountability, and decisive leadership going forward.

[00:37:55]>> Your time is expired. Thank you.

[00:37:59]I'll now recognize the honorable deputy minister of police.

[00:38:07][applause] Uh thank you uh chairperson for the opportunity to participate in the in the debate.

[00:38:22]Uh minister acting minister Kachalia and deputy minister Dr. Pol in absentia, honorable ministers and deputy ministers, the chairperson of the portfolio committee, honorable Ian Cameroon, uh members of uh the committee and members of parliament, the secretary of the civilian secretariat, Mr. Buoui, and the acting executive director of IP, Dr. Bilah, the acting national commissioner, left General Dimani, ministry staff. Uh it's an honor to rise uh before this house today to participate in the budget votes 28, 24 and 21 uh of subs and the two institution the civilian secretarate and iPad.

[00:39:24]essential to maintaining the credibility, accountability and integrity of policing in a democratic South Africa. These are the independent police investigative directorate and the civilian secretariat for police. The importance of the work of both the API and the CSPS has never been questioned but has become even more important in recent times with the advent of the Madanga Commission and the ADO Committee of Parliament and other investigative bodies.

[00:39:57]The revelations playing out there from are concerning and are pointing to a deeper demand for rooting out corruption for public trust in law enforcement to be strengthened with more vigor and determination than ever before. It is therefore with this in mind that through this budget we are focusing on strengthening accountability, professionalization and rooting out corruption within the South African Police Service.

[00:40:27]To this effect, IP continues to execute its mandate independently without fear, favor, or prejudice while ensuring that police misconduct and criminality are decisively addressed. As a labor intensive institution, approximately 69% of the directorates's budget over the MTF period is allocated to compensation of employees.

[00:40:52]This investment is essential to sustain the specialized investigative capacity required to execute the directorates conal obligations effectively in response to operational demands and recommendation emanating from the majanga commission and the adoc committee. IP will continue reviewing and aligning its organizational structure with service delivery requirements. This directorate is also mindful of the growing security risks faced by investigators particularly in high-profile and corruption related investigation which require additional protective measures and resources. As I mentioned the major concern and strategic priority for iPad remains the reduction of the investigation backlog.

[00:41:41]Over the next 3 years, iPad aims to reduce the backlog by 13,500 cases through the implementation of a dedicated backlog reduction strategy and 25 experienced investigators will be recruited on contract to strengthen the existing investigative capacity. At the same time, the directorate is intensifying its anti-corruption efforts within the police service. IPD aims to finalize 45 corruption cases within 90 days of registration, reinforcing the principle that corruption within law enforcement structures will not be tolerated. This intervention is essential in restoring integrity within law enforcement institution and reinforcing public confidence to improve prosecution [snorts] outcomes and strengthen the quality of investigations. iPad will continue enhancing its quality assurance mechanisms. The directorate plans to conduct quality assurance on at least 80% of the dockets annually to improve case readiness and legal compliance.

[00:42:53]To further improve investigative excellence, the directorate is establishing an in-house forensic investigation capability.

[00:43:02]This include the recruitment of financial data analysts, cyber forensic experts and crime analysts as well as the procurement of forensic electronic system to strengthen the handling of complex cases.

[00:43:18]IPD accepts and understand the resource constraints that they have but they will try to do the best with what is available during the 2025 26 financial year. iPad finalized 132 rape investigations which resulted in nine criminal convictions and 19 departmental convictions around GBV related cases. In addition, 17 criminal convictions and 27 departmental convictions were secured for other GBVF related cases. There is an additional 97 rape cases still on the court role. A total of 21 investigators will receive specialized training in sexual offenses investigations in the current financial year. This is done in order to strengthen the capacity of the investigations within iPad to deal specifically with GBV related cases. In order to deliver effectively on the mandate of iPad, the budget is projected to increase from 426 million in 2526 to 479 million in 2829 despite baseline reductions over the medium term. The civilian secretariat for police in it exercising its conional mandate remains committed to using evidence-based research to develop safety and policing policies as well as to continue to provide monitoring and evaluation reports to improve overall police performance and service delivery.

[00:45:04]The department has elevated the integrated crime and violence prevention strategy as key intervention in the 2429 medium-term development plan to advocate for the whole of government and whole of civil society approach to address drivers of crime and violence. As reported last year, a national working committee which meets on a regular basis to facilitate and monitor the implementation of this uh strategy outline key achievement and challenges in addressing safety, crime and violence concerns in the country. Thus far, the findings emanating from the NWC demonstrate that departments have sound policies and programs addressing the root cause of crime and violence. But the impact is not felt. Issues of social cohesion, poor parenting and break in family values as well as poor service delivery at money per level is hampering progress and must be addressed.

[00:46:08]The department of social development in particular must address the sociological and social issues and in this regard more social workers must be employed and utilized at family level. Importantly as the as the ICVPS is a whole of government approach joint planning and budgeting is critical to negate the silo approach of government implementation of programs. We believe an integrated approach will assist government and the whole of approach will assist us in our fight against crime because crime is not necessarily a police responsibility is everybody's responsibility is for every political organization represented in parliament to play its role. The CSPS continues to execute its mandate as best they can. However, the CSPS to fully realize it mandate as promulgated in the constitution. The department recently submitted its budget requirements to the value of about 973 million against the current proposed budget of 181 million which is a shortfall of approximately 792.

[00:47:29]Yes indeed this shortcoming impact negatively on the ability of the civilian secretariat to perform its responsibility. Chair and honorable house. I think it will be disingenuous for me to sit without talking about the issue of the future government of MKP party. If it was not in South Africa, you will believe what is being said. But the fact of the matter is that the head of this organization was responsible for governing this country. The weaknesses we see in the civilian secretariat for police was upgraded and during their time nothing was done and it was only under president Rama Posa that the civilian secretariat for police was upgraded and today standing here chair the civilian secretary for police is led by a director general not a DDG. Thank you very much for the time to comment.

[00:48:31][applause] Honorable Gop, [applause] >> House Chair, Honorable Chairperson, Honorable Acting Minister, Deputy Minister, Members of the Portfolio Committee, leadership of SUBS, the ANC rises in full support of the budget and annual performance plan tabled for votes 21, 24, and 28.

[00:49:07]This budget vote comes before this house during a period of intense scrutiny and reflection on policing in our country, in particular this province. It comes at a time where serious allegation have emerged regarding the possible capture of policing structures by organized criminal networks in the Western Cape.

[00:49:30]Following remarks made by Judge Tular, it further comes at a time when Parliament through this portfolio committee is embarking on an anti-gang inquiry aimed at uncovering the extent of criminal infiltration and strengthening accountability mechanism.

[00:49:47]This moment demands seriousness from all of us because what it is at stake it's not only credibility of policing institution but the confidence of communities who continues to live under the daily threats of gangs extortions illegal firearms and organized crimes chairperson in response to the call to intensify the war against crime subs tabled its budget and annual performance plan on the 29th end of April 2026 and outlined several strategic priorities including specialized force multipliers operation, strengthening anti-gang intervention and responding decisively to organized crimes, extortion and illicit firearms. The NC welcomes this prioritization because the nature of crime confronting South Africa is evolving. We are no longer dealing only with isolated criminal acts. We are confronting organized criminal economies, gangs, extortion networks, illegal firearms, even crossber syndicates and violent criminal groups that undermine the state authority and community safety. We welcome the deployment of the S&PF as a strategic force multiplier in support of police operation in hotspot areas. This intervention comes at an important time.

[00:51:11]It sends a clear message that the state will not surrender communities to criminals. We cannot accept that our homes, streets and public spaces become terri territories controlled by gangs and syndicates who deliberately undermines the rule of law. The SNDF deployment in is therefore a necessary complement to ongoing subs operation aimed at combating gang violence, extortions, syndicates and illegal mining activities affecting communities across the country. We appreciate that this intervention have been carefully integrated into our A and aligned to the priorities outlined by the president in the state of the nation address. We further welcome specialized operations such as Operation Sella as well as targeted interventions aimed at dismantling criminal value chains. House Chair, one of the most pressing threats emerging in our communities is the growth of the extortion economy. The Western Ge has been particularly hard hit because extortion increasingly intersects with existing gang activities in the province. Communities continues reporting extortion targeting both formal and informal townships enterprises particularly in the Cape Flats, Kyicha, Gualtou and Nyanga. The transport sector is equally under pressure particularly in relation to taxes, buses and private operators affected by roots, rivalities and intimidation. The crime of extortion must be treated with the seriousness it deserve because extortion is not only a criminal matter. It undermines economic development. It destabilizes township economies. It discourages entrepreneurship. Our people are afraid to even start small spases because they would have then be expected to pay extortion to survive. And it creates fear and instability with communities.

[00:53:05]South Africans are waiting for an intelligenceled response capable of dismantling extortion network before violence is carried. The NC therefore welcomes the establishment of a specialized national and provincial tollfree hotline for extortion reporting and the monitoring of dockets for investigative progress and conviction outcome. However, we must also acknowledge that the intelligence gathering depends on public confidence.

[00:53:30]South Africa continues to struggle with a culture of fear and distrust when it comes to whistleblowing and reporting crime. Communities often remain silent because they fear retaliation.

[00:53:42]Therefore, SAPS must intensify awareness campaign, build trust and encourage anonymous reporting mechanism so that communities becomes partners in fighting crime. House chair, the budget before us demonstrate that organized crime remains a central priority. The hawks receive 2.76 billion under detective services to strengthen investigation into complex and crossber crimes. This allocation is important because organized crime increasingly operates across provinial provincial and national boundaries. We have also noted the crime intelligence receiving 5.24 billion allocation to strength intelligent le policing. Crime intelligence remains critical. We cannot dismantle criminal syndicates if we we cannot detect them. We can we cannot combat extortion if we cannot identify the networks and we cannot defeat organized crime without intelligence capabilities. We therefore welcome the strengthening of leadership and coordination mechanism including the elevation of latenant general muanazi to lead the priority committees on organized crime within the net joint. We also note that the ambitious performance targets adopted by SEPs to neutralize 75% of identify organized criminal groups to arrest and to dismantle 90% of 90% of identified drug laboratories.

[00:55:08]These targets indicates a shift from reactive policing towards proactive disruption of criminal networks. House chair gang violence remains one of the most devastating realities confronting communities. We therefore welcome the prioritization of anti-gang interventions and the allocation directed towards sustaining the anti-gang unit. This investment becomes particularly important as stabilization deployment are gradually scaled down and permanent capacity must be developed.

[00:55:38]The fight against gangs requires a long-term institutional capability. We also welcome allocation made towards specialized intervention including public order police tactical response team receiving 653 million the national intervention unit receiving >> honorable member your time is expired.

[00:55:57]>> Thank you sir.

[00:55:59][applause] >> I will now recognize honorable Misha from the virtual platform.

[00:56:07]>> Thank you house chairperson. The Madlanga Commission exposed grave police corruption and the ACDP commends the specialized task team for concrete action in suspending 18 officers with prosecutions already underway. It is a disgrace to note that community safety and policing in our country is under the jurisdiction and leadership of an acting police minister and acting national commissioner because of allegations of corruption in the police. The ACP specifically commends Left Tenant General Kangam Konazi for the courage he showed on the 6th of July when during his media briefing he exposed serious corruption and rot in the police service that was exposed and he did not only do that but criminality in the country would have been continuing unabated throughout the country and we're grateful that he did what he did. Now hope is being restored that criminality in the police will finally be rooted out. We agree with the portfolio committee report noting that there is weakness weak accountability in SUP's leadership severe resource constraint in IPIT poor coordination between oversight bodies and persistent corruption. These must be addressed by requiring stronger financial controls and transparent reporting to parliament. The recent parliamentary ad hoc investigation into police procurement irregularities re revealed systemic failures in contract management with millions wasted on equipment unfit for purpose. Honorable chair, yet again we face findings that demand reform. History warns us that demand for reform does not guarantee delivery. The Zondo and Siridi commissions revealed systemic rot yet prosecutions remain low. We hope the Madlanga Commission will not join that list. Sentences of the corrupt must not be evaded by contract illnesses or manufactured mental incapacity. Justice must be seen to be done at all times.

[00:58:29]The civilian secretariat has a daunting challenge to accelerate programs that rebuild trust between communities and police, especially in the face of gender based violence, youth crime and gangs where trust has been eroded without community buy in reforms will fade. The ACB calls not only for adequate funding for IP but strict accountability in subs leadership and genuine community centered policing but also for a moral reformation within the police with the road cut out. We can restore integrity and justice into our law enforcement institutions. Our communities in the country are going and praying.

[00:59:18]>> Your time is expired.

[00:59:20]Thank you.

[00:59:21]>> Thank you.

[00:59:24]Is there any member from the UDM?

[00:59:31]>> Honorable Ghana.

[00:59:47]Minister, the police badge must protect and not betray the people. The first duty of any government is to protect its people. Before tenders, before infightings, South Africans must feel safe in their homes, the streets and communities. But today, criminals are becoming bolder while whilst public confidence in the police continues to collapse.

[01:00:11]The police are fast becoming the mice to the cats. As the police fight for tenders, the people are left unsafe.

[01:00:22]This budget vote cannot just be about allocations and the line items. It must be about restoring the credibility, the discipline and the effectiveness of the South African police service.

[01:00:34]The the image of the police badge has been tarnished by men and women who chose to save criminal networks rather than protect the the South African people. But this is a man-made problem and it can be corrected by dedicated, honest and ethical men and women in blue. Minister, the police badge must once again be respected by law-abiding citizens and feared by criminals. And the best way to clean the badge is through action is to arrest the criminals, properly investigate cases, build solid doggates for prosecution and improve communication between investigating officers and the complainants. South Africans are tired of opening cases and never hearing from the police again.

[01:01:18]I repeat the call that I made last year on the 4th of July. Every official that is involved in supply chain management must undergo regular lifestyle audits.

[01:01:28]Those found to be saving criminal syndicates must be removed immediately.

[01:01:33]Criminals wearing police uniform must not be spared because they carry the badge. Part of the reform required is to ensure the proper synergy between the IPID and and SAP's disciplinary process.

[01:01:45]At the moment, there's a dangerous disjuncture. IP may find a serious case against an officer, but SAP's internal disciplinary system failed to act decisively. That weakens accountability and destroys public trust. But but not is but not all is bad in the police service. They are brave men and women who risk their lives daily to protect South Africans. The work of the special task for force must be supported, their working conditions improved, and efforts made to retain them in the cities. We cannot continue to train excellent detectives and special task for task force members only for them to be pushed by the private sector while communities remain unsafe. They need to be supported by this budget. The South African Police Service must focus on protecting the South African people and stop the fight within the police.

[01:02:40]>> Thank you very much and >> I will now recognize Dr. Amen.

[01:02:54]>> Honorable Minister of Police and to the leadership of the police and honorable members who are here, I think today's budget vote needs to be seen against the context of where South Africa sits. We are facing between 60 and 70 murders a day. And in all reality, the probability of convictions for murder now sits at less than 20%, which means communities are living with the very people they have watched and know have murdered people. This isn't just an issue that sits with policing. It speaks to our broader criminal justice system.

[01:03:29]Honorable members, if we are going to restore the strength of the police and I want to thank the men and women who wake up every day to fight crime in in our uniform and I want to say to Minister Feros Kachchalia that now is a time that we finish with all the acting positions.

[01:03:48]Our crime cannot become another drama with a lot of actors. What we need is permanent appointments in all leadership positions starting with the minister of police and the national police commissioner.

[01:04:01]The if we've converted the police into this sort of military type of labeling with generals etc. Well, command of authority needs to be reestablished and I would argue that permanency is important. Secondly, I don't think we should deny honorable me uh honorable members that the SAPs establishment was reduced by more than 18,000 employees in 5 years from um in in in 5 years literally at the end of the 2016 and 2017 financial year. So our fundamental issue in dealing with crime is the fact that the police are facing a 6,000 men and women deficit. The budget that must respond to that question. It must speak to the fact that when detectives are overworked, the fundamental response is that 21 million criminal cases which were opened in South Africa, of those only 61.7 were closed without being resolved. That means 13.2 million victims never saw justice.

[01:05:02]So we have to perhaps maybe think differently about how we do policing.

[01:05:07]The purpose behind the committee and the work that must happen is about reform.

[01:05:11]IPID needs to be able to be well funded in order to in fact execute its mandates and and recommendations that came from the farm commission. So in this regard I want to suggest a few rather than playing with gimmicks. I would argue that building a wall on the N2 isn't going to help anybody. And furthermore, deploying more and more army is only going to give us reprieve to allow police to do their jobs, but it isn't a crimesolving mechanism. Let's decentralize police. Let's cut the 4 billion rand that goes to VIP protection and add detectives. Let's professionalize the service and let's ensure that wearing the uniform of the police is a restoration of dignity in our nation. Our citizens are tired and now it's time to act our support. Thank you.

[01:05:57]>> Thank you very much. Honorable member, is there any member from the ATM?

[01:06:08]>> Honorable Madi, are you on the virtual platform?

[01:06:13]>> Thank you very much. Uh, chairperson, honorable chairperson, these three votes represent the architecture of policy, enforcement, oversight and policy direction.

[01:06:31]All of them have failed and the entire policing system has lost its legitimacy.

[01:06:39]South Africa does not suffer from a shortage of policing budgets. It suffers from leadership and accountability.

[01:06:46]With two min with two deputy ministers and two ministers, South Africa continue to receive the largest budget share. Yet community experience experience the rising of violence crime, slow response time, poor detective work and collapsing for capacity.

[01:07:06]Stations are underresourced. Officials are demoralized and technologically behind the modern clan networks. But even more worrying is the weakness of oversight.

[01:07:20]IP exists to ensure that when policing fail abuse abuse when policing fail abuse power or act unlawfully there are consequences. Yet IP itself is compromised. It overwhelmed by delays, case backlogs and limited capacity to conduct complex investigation that has political sensitivity or involve senior figures.

[01:07:47]That was demonstrated through the Palapala investigation delays.

[01:07:52]The fight against economic crime in South Africa does not require continuous prolific proliferation of specialized fragmented tax teams that operate in silos. But rather than strengthening of permanent wellresourced and integrated unit within the existing law enforcement architecture, such solid unit should be capacitated to deal holistically with the full spectrum of economic crimes including corruption, fraud, money laundering, hijacked buildings, procurement irregularities, cyber related financial crimes and state capture related offenses. rather than being narrowed confined to isolated mandate that limit coordination and impact.

[01:08:44]Fragmentation has historically produced duplicate duplication of efforts, jurisdictional disputes and weak institutional memory. Whereas consolidate consolidated units with clear command structures, foreigny capabilities and prosecutotorial alignment will enhance efficiency, accountability and deterrence. But currently the SAPS, the IP and the secretarian le leadership. So with that the UAT would reject vote 28, 24 and 12. Kimu.

[01:09:22]>> Thank you very much honorable member.

[01:09:25]Um any member from Aljama NCC PAC good.

[01:09:44]Oh I was giggling.

[01:09:55]Good afternoon, honorable house chair.

[01:09:58]South Africans deserve a police service that works, oversight institutions that function, and a criminal justice system capable of protecting communities.

[01:10:10]Today, as we debate votes 28, 24, and 21, we must confront a painful truth.

[01:10:16]Our criminal justice system is failing victims long before the cases even reach court. South Africans are not asking for miracles from the police. They are asking for basics. A detective who answers a phone. Enough working police vehicles to respond to victims and investigate crime efficiently. Rape kits available that are processed timelessly.

[01:10:40]A DNA result that comes back before a trial collapses. a justice system that treats women and children with urgency instead of indifference. The crisis begins with detectives. The portfolio committee's own report recognizes that the SAPS urgently needs to strengthen detective capacity and retain skilled investigators. Detectives are drowning under impossible case loads, outdated systems, and low morale. When detectives are overburdened, justice suffers.

[01:11:12]Victims wait for months for feedback.

[01:11:15]Witnesses miraculously disappear.

[01:11:17]Dockets are poorly investigated. Cases collapse even before they reach prosecution. The betrayal of justice, honorable members, occurs then in the charge office before it even reaches a courtroom. And nowhere is this more devastating than the in gender-based violence and female cases. South Africa remains one of the most dangerous countries in the world for women and children. Yet survivors still walk into police stations where victim support services are inconsistent, underresourced, and where domestic violence act compliance remains a concern. That is why the family violence, child protection, and sexual offenses units or the FCS units are so important. FCS detectives investigate some of the most traumatizing crimes imaginable: rape, child abuse, and domestic violence. They are expected to support victims, manage forensic evidence, and secure convictions, but may not claim overtime. Yet, many of these units remain overstretched and severely underresourced. In rural communities, especially, shortages of personnel, vehicles, and specialized resources continue to undermine service delivery, a self-made crisis since the disbandment of the SDF rural commando units. Government tells us that GBF is a priority, but is it really? The report before us speaks about strengthening specialized units and improving forensicled investigations. Those commitments are welcome, but they must translate into implementation because a strategy without capacity means very little to a survivor waiting for justice. Honorable speaker, a major part of the problem lies with the forensic science laboratories. The committee report confirms that the forensic science laboratories faces a significant and growing backlog. Case volumes have increased by more than 45% since the 2021-22 while personnel capacity has declined.

[01:13:21]This is devastating consequences. It means rape survivors wait endlessly for DNA analysis, delayed prosecutions. It means dangerous criminal criminals remain on the streets. and it means investigators cannot finalize cases because the evidence is still outstanding. The report also confirms that the SAPS continues to rely heavily on overtime funding to keep them open.

[01:13:45]The DA believes that we need practical reforms to fix the police. Where capable and accredited forensic laboratories already exist in provinces, government should make use of them. Outsourcing portions of forensic processing to establish labs would help reduce backlogs, speed up DNA analysis, and allow detectives to finalize cases faster. Victims do not care whether DNA is processed by a state lab or by an accredited private laboratory. They just care about justice, that's all. We must also acknowledge that excessive centralization is failing many communities.

[01:14:20]Capable provinces should be granted expanded policing powers and greater operational flexibility, particularly in specialized investigations and forensic support. Provinces with the capacity and political will to strengthen policing outcomes should not be held back by bureaucracy and delays from national government. The ANC's own Tokyo Siquali in his fair address as the Kaing premier remarked that I have sat here incapable of making any impact of crime. I don't have the authority to control police, not even a constable. All the direction comes from the national headquarters. If we could exercise great authority, we would also be able to be more accountable and work harder to end the problems in our provinces. Madam Speaker, votes 24 and 21 also remind us that policing without accountability is dangerous. The iPad continues to face resource pressure while investigating police misconduct and corruption. At the same time, the civilian secretariat continues to highlight concerns regarding oversight, domestic violence, compliance, and police accountability.

[01:15:27]These essentials are essential if we want to rebuild trust in the policing. South Africans can no longer afford institutional collapse, but a budget is not a blank check for business as you usual. It must translate into stronger units, faster DNA processing, greater policing powers to capable provinces. And every unresolved that case that we have weakens public trust in justice itself and harms the efforts of the good men and women that want nothing more but to fix the police service and clean up its senior ranks. I thank you.

[01:16:02]>> Thank you honorable member. I will now recognize honorable Muella.

[01:16:11]>> [applause and cheering] >> Thank you very much, House Chairperson, uh, Honorable Minister Kachalia, Deputy Minister Castel Matali, uh, uh, the SAPS leadership and all entities present here, honorable members, the NC rise in full support of the budget and annual performance plan tabled for police votes 21, 24, and 28. Eight. A vote is tabled during a tomote time for the police service with two inquiries looking into matters related to the police service.

[01:16:46]If you are referred to the president's commencement during the state of the national address, the president was clear that our democratic journey is undermined by high levels of crime and corruption and that the rule of law depends on police service that is ethical, responsive and rooted in the communities it serves. It is within this climate, honorable members, that I deliberate on the performance plans of the police and supporting entities in order to highlight and stress importance of good governance and ethical responsive services. The police tabled the budget a 29th April 2026 central to responding to these issues of good governance and building ethical and capable police service. The following focus areas have been addressed.

[01:17:34]capacitating administration to respond to service delivery, rebuilding public trust, and integrity in the police service and expanding the reach and visibility of policing. We believe that department has carefully considered its annual performance plan and aligned to priorities outlined in the Sona address by the president of the country in his address. The president committed to the recruitment of 5,500 additional police officers into the police labor force and this is directly reflected in the A for 2026 and 2027. However, honorable members, we are concerned that this recruitment targeted only offsets the natural attrition that department is confronted with on annual basis.

[01:18:16]Performance reports have revealed that that pant loses close to 6,000 to 7,000 officials every year to the private sector and as it currently stands the departments operating in almostly half of its intended full capacity which would enable it to execute its mandate fully. As we welcome the budget and performance plan, it is important that we highlight the importance of having a full complement of the police force to maintain law and order in the republic.

[01:18:46]We have noted a concern and on the ongoing backlog that the API is confronted with owing to a lack of constraints investigators. As a result, the directorate has had the contract of 25 investigators to assist in resolving a backlog currently confronting the institution. We find this concerning because it highlights the issue of skills building and skills transfer within the police service and police ranks. Why has the directorate been confronted with such embarrassing uh reality of having to contract the skills of retired experts? Because there is no house in capacity. These are critical questions that we need to answer as we cannot risk having institutions that are established and tasked to perform particular mandate only to be told that there is a skill shortage within the very core mandate that informs the functioning of those institutions. We welcome the move by IP to establish forensic investigation unit. It is a much needed intervention. However, the comments I have made on skills budgeting capacity remain intact. Cherson note the public confidence has been shaken by appearance and arrest of several SAPS officials in both inquiries process on allegations of corruption and requirement and procommen irregularities which has raised difficult questions and about accountability and integrity of the police. Honorable members, I will be doing injustice to South Africans if I can leave this podium without clarifying some of the issues that have been raised here uh by honorables in this house. Uh honorable members uh honorable man uh stood here uh and report like an 8 and7 reporter uh and also insinuating on the issue of IP report on pala pala. I think honorable man is not aware of the mandate of IP because mandate of IP is clearly to investigate the issues that are being done by the wrongdoing of police. It has nothing that has to do with the president of the country. So your obsession with the president honorable man leaves much to be desired. Honorable Musa you stood here and you said that the minister has no capacity. Maybe we should clarify you honorable Mi that acting minister Kachalia is the professor honorable members with bed knowledge of policy.

[01:21:20]He's well vested in terms of policy matters. So he's got thorough knowledge in terms of police matters and as they see we support him and we are very much aware of the work good work that he's doing and honorable membership I think you must also be told that every individual in South Africa they have got conal right to take any decision or any report to review. Yes, >> as your president has done the same. He has appealed the decision that he have done and also the president has the right to take any decision. Honorable members report under review as we will need to have that particular misleading the household the reports and to ensure that we've got full support in the policing matters we have seen under h >> you protect me on the platform that one just uh I Wait, wait, wait. I'm not telling >> that person just opened the mic without being recognized. That period has been a problem for a long time.

[01:22:38]>> It's like this person in the house.

[01:22:42]>> You are also doing the same thing.

[01:22:45]>> So now we can't then correct the two wrongs.

[01:22:50]>> Continue. Honorable members, you are second.

[01:22:53]>> Are you biased?

[01:22:55]There's nothing.

[01:22:55]>> Are you the chair when there >> the NC has a full confidence in the leadership and we support this? Thank you very much.

[01:23:09]I not support me. Honorable Khalib, what is wrong with you today?

[01:23:22]Honorable members will now honorable members can you please also not engage.

[01:23:30]We will now allow the honorable minister of police to close off the debate.

[01:23:38][cheering and applause] [snorts] >> Honorable minister before you speak honorable Khalibi >> chair what's wrong with including yourself he's not a minister he's acting acting acting.

[01:23:51]Okay. Thank you very much honorable Khalib must be clear is acting >> but he's a minister whe acting or not he is a minister honorable member >> that's why you lose because we are missing country acting honorable members on the full powers can you please with full powers honorable member I'm going to ask you to leave the chamber >> because what you are doing is wrong.

[01:24:24]>> Both you and honorable Malib if you continue again >> I will now give an opportunity to the minister of police. Um thank you.

[01:24:34]>> Thank you chairperson must leave the house.

[01:24:42]Thank you chairperson.

[01:24:46]The Midlanga Commission indeed has cast a a light on very deep structural problems that have accumulated in policing over at least the last three decades.

[01:25:07]If the truth be told, this moment requires serious reflection, not rhetoric, not ad hominemam attacks, not point scoring on the challenges that we face as a country.

[01:25:34]The political parties represented here collectively represent the country as a whole and collectively even as you focus on your short-term interests with regard to the coming election.

[01:25:58]are going to have to collectively assume responsibility for the reset agenda in policing.

[01:26:14]I've listened carefully to all of you and for the most part I was stimulated by the contributions and interested in what you have to say.

[01:26:30]For the most part, I think a consensus is indeed emerging on what I have called a reset agenda.

[01:26:42]And that the question before the house today is whether the elements of that reset agenda on which we should be building a consensus is reflected at least as a starting point in this budget.

[01:27:00]No simple answers, no quick fixes, no empty rhetoric will serve our people.

[01:27:12]I've heard quite rightly that our attention to building rebuilding the accountability framework is the focus of this conversation.

[01:27:24]So what do we need to do to strengthen iPad?

[01:27:29]What do we need to do to reppos reestablish the position of the civilian oversight secretariat?

[01:27:37]Because there was a moment in this country when collectively that civilian secretariat position was undermined.

[01:27:49]Does this budget reflect at least the beginnings of an effort to strengthen iPad within its mandate and the civilian secretariat which has a crucial role in exercising oversight?

[01:28:10]The chairperson of the portfolio committee made very important observations about the efficiency and management of the funds that have been allocated.

[01:28:25]We need to strengthen the forensic laboratories. We need to strengthen fleet management. We need to strengthen the performance service delivery at station level.

[01:28:36]How are we going to achieve that massive structural transformation of the South African Police Service?

[01:28:46]I have not heard in this conversation any fundamental disagreement with the policy direction that is reflected in this budget.

[01:29:02]Not one, not even from the honorable members who have been shar sharply critical of me in quite personal terms frankly.

[01:29:15]But I think the people, our people deserve much better, a much greater sense of the moment, a much greater willingness to address their issues, not yours.

[01:29:32]Nobody can reasonably say that over the last few months you have not seen signs of effort to improve accountability to take action which only a year ago was possibly completely unexpected or considered impossible. Honorable minister, your time. [applause] Thank you honorable chairperson. I thank all the honorable members for their contributions in this conversation.

[01:30:02]Thank you very much.

[01:30:04]>> Thank you very much honorable minister and uh honorable members.

[01:30:11]That concludes the debate and the business of this miplinary session. The miplinary will now rise.

[01:30:21]Good night. Good night.