THURSDAY, 18 MAY 2000 __

                PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
                                ____

The House met at 14:02.

The Deputy Speaker took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayers or meditation.

ANNOUNCEMENTS, TABLINGS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS - see col 000.

               INTERNATIONAL CANDLELIGHT MEMORIAL DAY

                           (Announcement)

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Hon members, I would like to take this opportunity to note that today is International Candlelight Memorial Day for those who have been victims of HIV/Aids, those who have died and those who are living with it.

In view of this year’s theme for this day - break the silence, honour every death, value every life - I would like to take this opportunity to call on all parliamentarians to find every possible method to assist in the campaign for creating public awareness about this disease.

I would like to tell all South Africans who are living with HIV/Aids that their approach to this disease is appreciated, but also encourage those who have not yet come out and broken the silence about their suffering - ie they might be suffering in silence - to see whatever positive signs there are about breaking the silence regarding their status.

I would also like to encourage all of us to find ways of giving support to those who are living with HIV/Aids.

                          NOTICES OF MOTION

Ms N D NGCENGWANE: Madam Speaker, I give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the ANC:

That the House -

(1) notes with revulsion -

   (a)  reports of a white Randfontein farmer who forced his black
       workers to share accommodation with pigs after failing to evict
       them from his land; and

   (b)  that the farmer saw fit to cut off water supplies to the
       workers, while making sure that the pigs had enough water;

(2) recognises that practices such as these are not only racist, but represent a flagrant violation of basic human rights; and

(3) calls on all patriotic South Africans to live in a South Africa where there are no racial attacks, either on white farmers by black workers or on black farmworkers by white farmers.

[Applause.]

Mr W J SEREMANE: Madam Speaker, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the DP:

That the House -

(1) notes that the political situation in Zimbabwe continues to deteriorate;

(2) recognises that the only lasting solution to the crisis in Zimbabwe is the full restoration of democracy through the holding of elections which are regarded locally and internationally, as free and fair;

(3) believes that South Africa cannot apply double standards with regard to Zimbabwe by insisting on proper democratic, constitutional and legal standards for all parties in our own country while condoning the opposite in Zimbabwe; and

(4) resolves that the parliamentary observer delegation to Zimbabwe -

   (a)  should be trebled in size so that it is large enough to provide
       for effective oversight of the election;

   (b)  has full and free access to all parts of Zimbabwe; and

   (c)  has a clear mandate which ensures that it is not there simply to
       lend legitimacy and recognition to an electoral charade.

Mr E T FERREIRA: Madam Speaker, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the IFP:

That the House -

(1) notes the killings that have taken place in the Eastern Cape by a member of the Public Order Police Unit of the SA Police Service;

(2) expresses its condolences to the families, relatives and friends of all people who were killed;

(3) requests the Department of Safety and Security to investigate the killings; and

(4) calls on the senior management of the department -

   (a)  to beef up the psychological counselling of members of the SAPS;
       and

   (b)  to work on promoting the morale of each member of the SAPS.

Ms X C MAKASI: Madam Speaker, I give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the ANC:

That the House -

(1) notes that -

   (a)  the Black Sash yesterday described the living conditions of poor
       black South Africans as worse than it used to be under
       apartheid; and

   (b)  the Black Sash's national director, Hillary Morris, said that
       poor pensioners lived under sickening conditions and that
       nothing had changed;

(2) recognises that the Government has embarked on an integrated rural development strategy and other poverty alleviation programmes;

(3) acknowledges that these programmes have contributed to alleviating poverty amongst our people; and

(4) commends the Government for pursuing several anti-poverty programmes focused on the poorest of the poor and designed to restore their human dignity and pride.

[Applause.]

Mnr F J VAN DEVENTER: Mevrou die Speaker, ek gee hiermee kennis dat ek op die volgende sittingsdag sal voorstel:

Dat die Huis -

(1) ‘n ernstige beroep op die Regering doen om kennis te neem van die onrustigheid onder Suid-Afrikaanse eiendomsbesitters as gevolg van die Regering se ondeursigtige hantering van die voorgestelde Wet op Eiendomsbelasting;

(2) versoek dat die Regering hom verbind tot die beskerming van eiendomsreg as die hoeksteen van ‘n vryemarkekonomie;

(3) ook versoek dat die jongste konsepwet vryelik beskikbaar gestel word aan lede van hierdie Huis, ander demokraties verkose verteenwoordigers asook ander tersaaklike belangegroepe; en

 4) hoop dat verdere bespreking van die wet op 'n deursigtige wyse sal
    geskied waar insette vir oorweging deur die Regering in die openbaar
    deur belanghebbendes gelewer kan word. (Translation of Afrikaans notice of motion follows.)

[Mr F J VAN DEVENTER: Madam Speaker, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day I shall move:

That the House - (1) makes an earnest appeal to the Government to take note of the anxiety among South African property owners due to the Government’s intransparent management of the proposed legislation on property taxation;

(2) requests the Government to commit itself to the protection of property rights as the cornerstone of a free-market economy;

(3) also requests that the latest draft legislation be made freely available to members of this House, other democratically elected representatives as well as other relevant interest groups; and

(4) hopes that further discussion of the legislation will take place in a transparent manner, in that inputs for consideration by Government can be made in public by interested parties.]

Mr S ABRAM: Madam Speaker, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move:

That the House - (1) acknowledges that democratic societies are based on the recognition of a diversity of interests, values and cultures;

(2) emphasises that our young, fragile, yet vibrant democracy must be nurtured and utilised for real nation-building;

(3) recognises that the advent of globalisation presents our country with opportunities and threats; and

(4) calls upon the Government to put in place the necessary initiatives to promote dialogue and understanding amongst all the diverse cultures and interest groups in our country so as to contribute towards an understanding of and appreciation for a diversity of interests, values and cultures which will -

   (a)  contribute to nation-building and the development of national
       pride and mutual respect;

   (b)  improve understanding and appreciation across international
       cultural lines; and
   (c)  result in preparedness to face global challenges and to identify
       opportunities globally.

[Time expired.]

Mr N B FIHLA: Madam Speaker, I give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the ANC:

That the House -

(1) noting the murder of four people in Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage last night;

(2) further noting that this crime was committed by a policeman, who later killed himself; and

(3) recognising that women and children are often innocent victims in gun- related crimes, extends its heartfelt condolences to the families and relatives of the deceased.

[Applause.]

Ms C DUDLEY: Madam Speaker, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the ACDP:

That the House -

(1) supports the Government in its decision to stop all arms and ammunition supplies to Zimbabwe, including riot-control-related equipment until such time as a full and fair election has been held; and

(2) calls on the Government to assist only with medical and humanitarian aid where requested.

Mr M A MANGENA: Madam Speaker, I give notice that at the next sitting of the House I shall move on behalf of the Azapo:

That the House -

(1) notes that -

   (a)  the land problem in Zimbabwe exists independently of
       personalities or which party is in power;

   (b)  the war veterans and commercial farmers are co-operating in the
       management of the land crisis in Zimbabwe;

   (c)  as a result of this co-operation some commercial farmers are now
       offering some of the land they hold for redistribution; and

   (d)  a date has now been set for parliamentary elections in Zimbabwe;

(2) hopes that the newly elected government will take the process of land reform forward;

(3) resolves to wish the people of Zimbabwe well in their endeavour to solve their own problems; and

(4) urges all the peoples of Southern Africa to learn the lessons of Zimbabwe well.

[Applause.]

Mr A MLANGENI: Madam Speaker, I give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the ANC:

That the House -

(1) notes that -

   (a)  the departing South African ambassador to the Netherlands, Carl
       Niehaus, was yesterday awarded the highest honour that can be
       bestowed on representatives of foreign countries by Queen
       Beatrix of the Netherlands; and

   (b)  Niehaus was honoured for his contribution in improving bilateral
       relations between South Africa and the Netherlands;

(2) congratulates him on representing our country with distinction; and

(3) calls on him to continue his excellent service to our country back on home soil.

[Applause.]

Mr M J ELLIS: Madam Speaker, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the DP:

That the House -

(1) notes that long-serving Durban metro councillor Peter Corbett has resigned from the ANC and joined the DP;

(2) further notes that Councillor Corbett, on resigning from the ANC, said that he could not remain with the ANC, charging that the party had abandoned nonracialism and claiming that ``many amongst the ANC leadership have become, increasingly, stridently anti-white and, less publicly, anti-Indian and anti-coloured’’;

(3) notes that Councillor Corbett today also said, ``I joined the ANC fully believing in the promised, nonracial and progressive future for the party of Luthuli, Tambo and Mandela. Regrettably, I have now reached the conclusion that the ANC has become tainted by unacceptable practices’’; and

(4) congratulates Councillor Corbett on his move and invites all ANC councillors disillusioned by the ANC’s lack of delivery and tendency towards racism to join the DP.

[Interjections.] [Applause.]

Mr V B NDLOVU: Madam Speaker, I give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I will move on behalf of the IFP:

That the House -

(1) notes with concern that SAPS members were used by a farm owner in the Cramond area near Pietermaritzburg to stop the burial of Mrs Lembede by her family;

(2) requests the Department of Safety and Security to instruct the Midlands senior police management to stop assisting and abetting the wrong action of this farmer in respect of the innocent family of Lembede; and

(3) believes that the police must be taught how to handle sensitive matters such as the proper handling of the family members of deceased people.

Ms M VERWOERD: Madam Speaker, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the ANC:

That the House -

(1) notes the manner in which people of Wallacedene in the Western Cape were evicted;

(2) further notes the Western Cape government’s challenge of the Cape High Court ruling that the state has a duty to provide shelter for the children of evicted squatters;

(3) recognises that this kind of eviction is detrimental to the children’s health, safety and wellbeing; and

(4) calls on the Western Cape government to follow the proper procedures as laid down by law when embarking on evictions.

[Applause.]

Mr A Z A VAN JAARSVELD: Madam Speaker, I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I will move on behalf of the New NP:

That the House -

(1) notes that -

   (a)  over and above the inability of the Department of Welfare and
       Population Development to manage its budget, theft and fraud are
       rife in the department;

   (b)  the New NP has uncovered the fact that during the past year a
       total amount of R12 425 000 of pension money was stolen in 782
       instances by 71 officials in five provinces; and

   (c)  the New NP calls on the Minister to report to the House what
       disciplinary steps are being taken against the guilty officials
       and what steps are being taken to recover this money;   (2) calls on the Minister to set up a task team to investigate stricter
   measures of control within the department; and

(3) believes that the Department of Welfare and Population Development should treat the poor, the pensioners and the disabled with more dignity and in a way that will improve the quality of life of these people.

[Interjections.]

Mr M N RAMODIKE: Madam Speaker, I give notice that at the next sitting of the House I shall move on behalf of the UDM:

That the House -

(1) acknowledges, recognises and reflects on public participation as a crucial element of the new system of democracy in this country;

(2) notes, however, that South Africa has an electoral system which tends to create a gap between MPs and the electorate;

(3) further notes that most public representatives are often not known by the people who elected them; and

(4) calls on the Government to improve and facilitate public participation in governance and the parliamentary system of representation by, inter alia, introducing a constituency system of representation or combining both proportional and constituency systems of representation in order to make public representatives more accountable to their constituencies.

Ms S C VAN DER MERWE: Madam Speaker, I give notice that on the next sitting day of the House I shall move on behalf of the ANC:

That the House -

(1) notes reports that medical waste incinerators are being operated illegally or do not adhere to safety standards, presenting a major health hazard;

(2) believes that the responsibility for eliminating this hazard lies with the Government, industry and the medical profession; and

(3) calls on these role-players to work together to come up with effective, speedy solutions to this problem.

[Applause.]

Mr E SALOOJEE: Madam Speaker, I give notice that at the next sitting of the House I shall move on behalf of the ANC:

That the House -

(1) notes -

   (a)  the meeting of the Conference of African Towns in Windhoek,
       attended by 1 500 delegates representing 43 African states; and

   (b)  the challenges posed to African urban communities by
       globalisation; and

(2) declares its support for the sentiments expressed by Mr Badneddine Senoussi, the secretary-general of the Union of African Towns, that globalisation should be made to work for African cities and towns.

                         APPROPRIATION BILL

Debate on Vote No 17 - Independent Complaints Directorate, and Vote No 28 - SA Police Service:

The MINISTER OF SAFETY AND SECURITY: Madam Speaker and hon members, today I would like to acknowledge the presence of some of the MECs who are responsible for Safety and Security in the provinces and, of course, the acting Executive Director of the Independent Complaints Directorate. [Applause.]

The Independent Complaints Directorate has completed its third year of operation with an ever-increasing number of cases being brought to its attention by members of the public. The increase in the number of cases reported to the ICD during the 1999-2000 financial year, compared to the same period the previous year, bears testimony to the fact that the ICD is being recognised more widely than before. During the 1999-2000 financial year, 4 380 cases were reported to the ICD, as against the figure of 2 874 cases in the 1998-99 financial year. This represents an increase of 52%. The increase in the number of reported cases does not necessarily signal an increase in lawlessness on the part of some members of the SA Police Service, but may be attributed to the increase in the general awareness of the existence of the ICD and the services which it is able to provide throughout the country.

At the same time, the number of deaths in police custody or as a result of police action, decreased from 756 in 1998-99 to 681 in 1999-2000, representing a decrease of 75 deaths or about 10% per annum. I must point out that deaths in police custody are not necessarily just due to negligence on the part of the police, but have been occasioned by such factors as natural causes, suicide, injuries in custody and injuries prior to custody, inflicted by vigilante action.

Deaths as a result of police action may be the result of shootings during the course of arrest, during a crime, during the course of an investigation or other causes. The number of police-related deaths is still unacceptably high. In order to assist the SA Police Service, the ICD has embarked on proactive initiatives to seek intervention strategies.

Recently, the ICD, together with the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation, hosted a workshop to debate the development of a strategy to reduce the risk of police-related deaths. Key role-players, such as the SA Police Service and nongovernmental organisations, were present at this workshop. A task team has been nominated to develop a final strategy which will be presented to the Ministry in September this year.

It is crucial that the SA Police Service should not see the role of the ICD in an adversarial light, but should see it in a complementary capacity to their own, so that, together, they can co-operate in ridding the service of corrupt elements. The ICD, therefore, must be regarded as a partner of the SA Police Service in Government’s efforts to fight crime within the Police Service, so that the public is presented with a police service which deserves and receives their respect.

I now wish to highlight some of the successes of the ICD, relative to the acceptance of their recommendations by the Directors of Public Prosecution. In the so-called ``BBC case’’, two police members were convicted of common assault and assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm, respectively. The sentencing hearing has been postponed until 31 May 2000.

Another incident occurred in Garsfontein, in which two police officers shot and killed the complainant who had called them out to a housebreaking in progress. Both officers have been charged with murder and the trial is due to commence in the Pretoria High Court on 4 September 2000.

In the Ferreira case, three police officers were implicated in the unlawful shooting of an unarmed robbery suspect in Cape Town. These officers have been charged with murder and, alternatively, defeating the ends of justice, and the trial is due to commence in the Cape High Court on 14 August 2000.

In another incident in which a Cape Argus reporter, Thabo Mabaso, was assaulted so brutally that he lost the sight in his left eye, the nine police officers implicated in the incident have been charged with assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and defeating the ends of justice. The trial has not been finalised yet.

The ICD has committed itself to the pursuit of proactive strategies and interventions which will assist the SA Police Service in its transformation task and in identifying and remedying the underlying causes of certain problems. To this end, the ICD is currently involved in various research projects, amongst others, the development of a profiling strategy in order to identify police members who are prone to violence, femicide committed by police members with their service firearms and police complicity in the taxi violence.

In conclusion, I would like to emphasise that the ICD is not out on a witch- hunt to try to discredit members of the SA Police Service, but it is assisting in the Government’s effort to achieve the noble objective of transforming the SA Police Service into a service which the nation will be proud of. The fact that only about 30% of all cases that were investigated, supervised or monitored by the ICD were found to be substantiated, is an indication that the ICD is committed only to the promotion of proper police conduct. The ICD therefore needs the support of the House and, indeed, the whole nation. [Applause.] The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Hon Gibson, according to the speakers’ list, you are due to address the House. [Interjections.]

Mr D H M GIBSON: Madam Speaker, I will take as many speaking turns as you give me, but I think the hon the Minister is going to make both speeches now, and I defer to him for the moment.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Oh, pardon me! Thank you very much, hon Gibson.

The MINISTER OF SAFETY AND SECURITY: Madam Speaker and hon members, the run- up to the year 2000 instilled fear and despair in the minds of many people and many South Africans. The prophets of doom predicted that the world would come to an end, that the planets would collide with the earth and that the millennium bug would chew away every important piece of computer technology, resulting in major power failures and disruption of the water supply. Even bank accounts would have been destroyed. But 1 January 2000 did arrive. We are now already in May and we are still here. Nothing has happened and the prophets of doom have been proved wrong. When it comes to crime in this country, we have our own prophets of doom, our own millennium bugs. They only see doom and gloom. However, as with the millennium bug, we are going to prove them wrong. The year 2000 will see South Africa’s own renaissance in our fight against crime and we will succeed. Peace, stability and freedom from fear will prevail in our country. Let all criminals of every shade and colour know that we shall give them no quarter. There will be no place to hide.

Ons gaan hulle gas gee! [Gelag.] [We will give them blazes! [Laughter.]]

I want to dispel, once and for all, the perception that South Africa is the crime capital of the world. I recently returned from a UN conference on crime in Vienna, where the global crime situation was discussed. The United Nations statistics clearly indicate that various countries in the world have higher crime rates than South Africa. In fact, according to the conference, some European cities have a higher incidence of crime than does Johannesburg, and this is a fact.

According to the national intelligence estimate: … security concerns resulting in localised pockets of violence and crime, as well as threats to human security in the form of poverty, unemployment and an inadequate provision of social services, must receive our undivided attention.

And this they will get.

The police strategic and operational plan for the next three years has been developed to focus on crime tendencies, flash-point areas, threats and challenges identified in the intelligence estimate. These include: to secure the local government elections and major events in our country; to address extremist right-wing activities, urban terrorism and vigilantism; to eradicate corruption; and to make major inroads into organised crime relating to vehicle theft and hijacking, drug trafficking, bank robberies, cash-in-transit robberies, illegal plundering of our marine resources, money laundering, hi-tech transnational crime, cyber crime, commercial crime, illegal firearms, and precious metals and stones. Special attention is also being paid to violent crimes, including gang violence, and social- fabric crimes with a specific focus on violence against women and children. In his speech during the opening of Parliament on 23 June 1999, President Mbeki touched on various policy issues which should be taken into account in developing our capacity to deal with crime and security. One of the most important aspects referred to by the President is that multidisciplinary interventions be introduced in areas of crime concentration, including all crimes of violence.

President Mbeki also emphasised the correlation between poverty, crime and race. In order to address crime and security in its broader sense, a national security policy has been developed and is being implemented on the basis of integrating crime prevention and combating with socioeconomic upliftment. The strategic and operational approach of the SA Police Service forms part of this broader national security framework. The multidisciplinary interventions in affected areas that we are currently implementing constitute one of the main vehicles of operationalising the security and socioeconomic objectives of the Government.

The SA Police Service strategic plan for the period 2000 to 2003 comprises four operational and two organisational priorities. The operational priorities are organised crime, serious and violent crimes, crimes against women and children and good service delivery. The organisational priorities consist of improved budget and physical resources, as well as human resource management. The main focus of our operational priorities is to reduce crime to such an extent that the operational management of crime can move from a reactive to a proactive approach, so that socioeconomic development and other programmes to address the cause of crime can be fast- tracked and so that communities can live in an environment free from fear of criminal activities.

Our new operational plan, appropriately named Operation Crackdown, was implemented as of the end of March this year. It consists of two main strategies, namely the serious and violent crimes, or geographical strategy, and the organised crime strategy. In order to make an immediate impact on crime, 124 police station areas have been identified to be targeted by means of intervention operations. Fifty per cent or more of all serious crimes in our country occur in these areas. An additional 18 station areas have been identified where specific crimes and violent tendencies are prevalent, including the hijacking of motor vehicles, bank and cash-in-transit robberies, illegal possession of firearms, violent crimes on farms and smallholdings, taxi violence, intergroup conflict, gang violence, vigilantism, security threats such as urban terrorism, and crime against women and children.

In order to ensure a concentrated and co-ordinated approach in the affected areas, stations have been grouped together to form 68 crime combating zones. The boundaries of these zones do not necessarily correspond with the boundaries of police stations. Khondiphe amanzi apho, kwedini! [Give me water there, my boy!] [Laughter.] In some instances, a crime-combating zone falls within two or more police areas or even provinces. Crime-combating zones also include station areas adjacent to the identified hot-spot areas to prevent crime from spilling over to neighbouring stations.

A crime-combating task group has been established in each crime-combating zone. The task groups comprise various role-players from the law- enforcement and security environments such as the SAPS, the SANDF, Home Affairs, the traffic police and intelligence agencies. Commanders have been appointed for each crime-combating task group. In most instances, deputy area commissioners will eventually serve as task group commanders after their appointment to these posts. Operational officers have also been appointed for each component of the task groups, including intelligence investigations, stability and crime prevention.

The different task group components are performing operational functions such as, firstly, compiling crime intelligence profiles of the areas, including the who, what, when and how of crime, and secondly, co-ordinating the investigative activities of all detectives dealing with serious crime in the zones. Regarding stability, they conduct high-density operations based on crime patterns and tactical intelligence, for example roadblocks, air support, and cordon and search operations. Concerning reaction, they act as a rapid response capability in the zones and trace wanted suspects. In crime prevention, they introduce sector policing and communication, conduct awareness programmes and mobilise communities. As part of this plan, a major service delivery improvement programme is being implemented to ensure that successes achieved in the short term are sustained in the medium to long term. This programme entails the development of our human resources and the channelling of additional resources, both human and physical, to priority areas and units. Self-sufficiency is critical. Our operations are already bearing fruit. From the implementation of the geographical strategy on 28 March until 11 May, a total of 82 563 suspects were arrested while 3 473 stolen vehicles, 2 509 illegal firearms, 38 206 kg of dagga and 68 019 Mandrax and Ecstasy tablets, inter alia, were seized. While it is still too early to determine the overall impact of our interventions, there have been some notable successes. In a number of priority stations a reduction of between 12% and 20% in reported crime has been recorded. Although the new strategy only officially commenced at the end of March, a number of high-density operations already took place during earlier parts of the year.

The first indications are that this approach is also starting to impact on our crime tendencies in general. I would like to mention a few positive developments. In the first three months of this year murder decreased by 22,1%, attempted murder by 9,9% and arson by 17%. Four of the eight property crimes, namely housebreaking, business-stock theft, shoplifting and the theft of motor vehicles, showed decreases between 1999 and 2000. Drug-related crime cases increased between 1999 and 2000 by 18,3%. This is a strong indication that the war against drugs, which is a big generator of crime, is starting to pay off. This crime category is reflective of the work being done by the SA Police to tackle this problem. These crimes must be detected, because very few people report these crimes to the police.

Although robbery with aggravating circumstances is still on the increase, there are some positive developments. For example, the four high-profile types of robbery with aggravating circumstances - the hijacking of trucks and cars, bank robbery and robbery of cash in transit - have all stabilised. The fact that there was a significant increase in assault, especially since the latter part of 1999, indicates that compulsory reporting under the Domestic Violence Act is standing to pay off. This is actually a positive development and will hopefully reveal, in time, the full extent of this terrible domestic crime and social rot in our society. Most assaults occur within our domestic environment.

Much is often made by certain opposition parties of attacks on farms and smallholdings in an effort to score political points. The Government is serious about bringing these deplorable crimes under control. The combating of crimes against the farming community forms part of a geographical strategy and we will continue to launch concentrated operations to abrogate these heinous deeds. In the first three months of this year the violent attacks on the farming community decreased dramatically by nearly 34%, compared to the same period in 1999.

We should build on the lessons that we have learned to achieve these positive results. I intend to improve the rural protection plan when meeting with organised agriculture. The major focus of our efforts should be to improve home and hearth protection and to establish rural cells on every farm and smallholding. I will put a number of proposals to organised agriculture to ensure success in this regard.

It is, however, not only the farming communities which are being affected by violent robberies and attacks in their homes. This phenomenon is also prevalent in urban areas and special focus is being placed on these crimes. In addition to the geographical strategy, a process has been implemented to identify syndicates most deeply involved in organised crime. The neutralisation of these syndicates will lead to a major reduction in the organised crime trade. This forms the basis of the organised crime strategy. Since various organised crime syndicates operate in large geographical areas, including areas across the borders of South Africa, we are concentrating on the syndicate leaders, the runners of syndicates, the areas where syndicates are committing crimes, the areas where they market their stolen and other goods and the routes that they use to transport these goods.

Regarding the corruption by crime syndicates of Government officials, as in the case of the geographical strategy, organised crime-combating task groups have been established under the command of skilled detectives. These task groups bring the might of the state’s organised crime-fighting capacity together - the police intelligence agencies, Justice, the Revenue Service, Home Affairs and others - to direct their resources against a single threat. This will lead to success. Since organised crime syndicates also operate over the borders of our country, partnerships have been established between South Africa and our regional counterparts, as well as with the whole Interpol community.

Joint operations are being launched on a regular basis. In this regard I would like to mention a few. A special investigation team was assembled during January to conduct an investigation into the alleged distribution of counterfeit and stolen medicines on the South African market. Members of this team were assembled from various police units in several provinces. The investigation thus far has been conducted in close co-operation with members of the Department of Health and the Department of Justice. Various suspects have already been arrested. Counterfeit, expired and stolen medicine to the approximate retail value of R100 million has been seized. Indications are that the counterfeit medicine was imported from Asia. Machines used for the repackaging of medicine and repacking material, as well as 50 100 counterfeit medicine boxes, 13 100 counterfeit labels and 12 500 counterfeit packaging inserts, were also seized.

On 11 February, after two years of investigation, a joint operation between the SA Police Service and SA Secret Service led to the dismantling of a Mandrax plant in the Mozambican capital, Maputo. Methaqualone powder and chemicals for the production of 13 million Mandrax tablets with an approximate street value of R1 billion were also seized. Various suspects have been arrested.

Since the middle of last week a SAPS team has been interacting with Mozambican colleagues to destroy arms caches in our neighbouring country. Major successes have already been achieved. For example, large numbers of firearms, including AK-47s, PPSHs and other armaments, including landmines, hand grenades, plastic explosives, TNT, RPG-7s, mortar tubes and projectiles, and even an anti-aircraft gun, have been destroyed. We will continue with these operations for the next few days. In all these operations we have had excellent co-operation from our counterparts in Africa and the rest of the world. As such it is also a central pillar of our long-term investment in social crime prevention, in terms of which we address the underlying causes of crime and the factors that exacerbate violent crime. These factors include alcohol abuse, drugs, gangsterism and easy access to firearms.

We are not only concentrating on high crime areas and syndicates. We have introduced a specific operation dubbed ``1 001 Dalmatians’’ in order to arrest wanted persons for whom warrants have been issued. Tracing teams have been established to track them down and remove them to where they belong, behind bars, so that they can face trial. In the first phase of the operation about 1 500 wanted persons are being targeted. Nearly 1 000 of them have already been arrested and operations are being intensified. The second phase comprises a continuation of the strategy to arrest about 30 000 wanted persons identified by the criminal records centre.

Many questions may have been raised about the arrest and deportation of undocumented persons during operation. While we are not specifically targeting undocumented persons as such, we are focusing on those involved in organised crime and other criminal activities. However, failing to be in possession of the required documentation is a criminal offence in terms of our country’s and every other country’s immigration laws. To be selective in the application of any law amounts to anarchy, and this will never happen in South Africa. Therefore I will not apologise to anybody for enforcing the laws of this land. The director-general’s committee for justice, crime prevention and security and the interministerial security committee have decided to base our joint crime-combating initiative on the geographical and organised crime strategies.

However, crime cannot be the responsibility of the law enforcement environment alone. The causes of crime and crime generators must also be addressed. Therefore crime is also being tackled in co-operation with the social cluster departments. An amount of R54 million has been reserved to technologically link all relevant departments in the integrated justice system.

Much of our social crime prevention investment is focused on partnership interventions, in support of the President’s call for an integrated approach to crime prevention and poverty alleviation in identified pilot areas. First-phase implementation is in four provinces and focuses on eight areas targeted for urban renewal. In four, Mdantsane, Motherwell, Khayelitsha and Mitchell’s Plain, local teams are already driving the process.

The implementation of an urban strategy in the greater Johannesburg metro will provide us with excellent lessons for local crime prevention that can be used elsewhere. I would like to thank the national commissioner, Commissioner Selebi, for the sterling work he has done in this regard.

Regarding personnel, apart from a number of new entrants appointed at senior level, this financial year will see the training of 1 200 new constables. [Applause.] Mr D H M GIBSON: Madam Speaker, it is a great pleasure for me to welcome the commissioner and all his senior officers, to say how glad we are to have them with us and how proud we are of the work they do.

Having said that, I want to say that the important people in the SAPS are not the top brass, but the ordinary policemen and policewomen at our police stations throughout South Africa. [Applause.] They are the people who are at the interface between society on the one hand and the criminals on the other. They are the people we have to remember. They are the people we have to empower. They are the people we have to strengthen.

When the hon the Minister of Safety and Security was appointed, there was an improvement in the morale of members of the SAPS. There was an improvement in public confidence in the capacity of the SAPS to succeed in the fight against crime. In fact, last year some research showed that 60% of people in South Africa thought that the Government had some control over crime, whereas previously a majority thought they had no control over crime.

However, I regret to say that some of this is changing, and it is the hon the Minister’s fault, because he has made the fatal mistake of overpromising and underdelivering on safety and security in South Africa. Today the hon the Minister made many promises - many good promises and many new promises. He also said about the criminals: ``Ons gaan hulle gas gee!’’ I fear that the gas he had in mind was just hot air. [Laughter.] However, I pray that he going to do more than gas the criminals with hot air; that he is actually going to catch them and make them pay for it, and make them realise that crime does not pay in South Africa.

Unlike the ANC, the DP takes an active interest in the state of policing in our country. [Interjections.] Indeed, the DP launched a campaign to visit more than 100 police stations throughout the country with a view to finding out what progress has been made in the six years since the ANC began to manage, or fail to manage, the SAPS. There can be no substitute for sustained and effective policing at police station level, because it is there that the police must succeed against the high level of ordinary murders, assaults, rapes, housebreaking and theft of motor vehicles which are committed every day in our country.

What the DP found was an eye-opener. How can we expect the SAPS to succeed in the fight against crime when the conditions that we found at our police stations, and at grass-roots level, are those which seem to be common everywhere in the country? We expect our police to work in slumlike conditions, in many cases with police stations that are entirely inadequate and should not be the places where our police have to work.

The state of repair of some buildings is shocking. One example: One goes to the Edenvale police station and there one has rising damp from an underground fountain which floods the corridors of the police station. This has been going on for years. It is not something that happened a minute ago. [Interjections.] He pointed this out to us. He reported this to me, but the Minister has done nothing about it. [Interjections.]

The number of vehicles is often insufficient. For example, one can take a place like Brakpan, where the police have four vehicles for visible policing, and the newest of those vehicles has 120 000 km on the clock. Then what about the number of visible police engaged per shift at various places all over the country? Another example is at Rustenburg, where 15 uniformed police are available for visible policing for a population of 370 000 people. Morale suffers because of the unbearable workload which we impose on our policemen and policewomen.

The number of cases being investigated by each detective in most cases is staggering, and they cannot possibly do justice to that number. One need only go to my own police station, the Sandton police station, where there is a case-load of between 90 and 120 cases for each detective. Do we expect them to solve the problem with that sort of case-load? If one takes the shortage of uniformed police detectives and civilian staff, at virtually every police station one goes to they will tell one that their problem is that they are seriously short of policemen and policewomen, and that if we only would give them the staff which the police’s own figures say they should have, they would be able to do the job.

For another example, one can go to a place like Viljoenskroon. There is a police station there which is 46% understaffed and has 51 vacancies. [Interjections.] I could go on and tell hon members about every one, and I invite hon members to deny that this is the situation. Hon members know that it is true. That member comes from the Free State and should be ashamed about the fact that he has done nothing to pressurise the Minister to do something about it.

The ratio of police to population is shocking. The worst that I came across is at the Katlehong police station, where the ratio is one policeman for the 5 494 people living there. Can hon members believe a ratio like that? Can hon members expect that there could be anything other than an unparalleled crime wave? No one can deny that South Africa is underpoliced or in anything other than a situation which deserves immediate attention, and should have received that attention during this budget.

The previous Minister was fond of saying South Africa was not underpoliced. He compared it with the rest of the world. I say that if one goes to the police stations, one can see that we are seriously underpoliced, and we will never get ourselves out of this kind of situation until that is fixed. What is true for these stations that we visited - I have mentioned a couple of them - is true all over South Africa. Any ANC members who know anything about policing and who pay visits to police stations will agree with every word that I have said. [Interjections.] The Minister’s failure to deal with the crisis at police station level has meant that the victims of crime have been short-changed, because he has not done what he promised to do. He tours around the country, bragging and blustering and beating his chest and telling us all sorts of things, such as this, about the crime-combating strategy:

… a successful campaign of the kind one is talking about must give South Africans a sigh of relief by early next year.

That was on 14 October 1999. How early this year is he talking about? Or does he really mean early next year or the year after? [Interjections.] Does he remember the bombers who were going to be in jail by Christmas? Which Christmas?

Well, where is the sigh of relief? I want to hear about it. And where are the bombers? While the victims of crime suffer, and their families weep, the criminals go free. By now the Minister must surely have realised that it takes more than a pair of dark glasses, a mean marine hairstyle and tough talk to succeed in the fight against crime in South Africa. [Interjections.] Sometimes the hon the Minister reminds me of one of his predecessors, Mr Adriaan Vlok. Vlokkie liked to climb into a camouflage uniform and go out and stand at the blockades and roadblocks with his boys. I want to remind him what happened to Mr Vlok. Be warned!

No matter how nostalgic the Minister may be about his days in the trenches, the new-style military operation of the sort that has a sharp concentration on an area is not going to work in the long term. I must say that, where it does bring immediate relief and a pause, and where a whole lot of people are arrested, then, of course, to that extent, it is welcome.

But I must say to the hon the Minister that those operations and shock tactics do not work in the longer term, because once the operation is over, the same police station is still - one just needs to go to Hillbrow - filthy dirty; that same police station is still undermanned; that same police station is still underequipped; and that same police station has not got enough men to do the job to deal with the enormous population in that area.

So the Minister’s shock tactics were great for that night and that week, but did not solve the problem. And while the operation was going on, a number of police officers from all the surrounding areas were taken away. They denuded all the other areas in order to concentrate their forces in one place for a day, or night, or a week, and that is not a long-term solution. We will not succeed in the fight against crime with a fire brigade style of crime combating, designed simply to put out fires. That strategy is flawed because it is like taking antibiotics for a raging fever, but stopping the course just as the fever begins to subside and long before the fever has been cured.

What we need are long-term solutions. What we need is to tackle this matter where it has to be tackled, and that means we have to look at our budget and ask: Does it provide the answers that we can identify to fix crime and manage crime in South Africa? I regret to say that this budget does not provide the answers because we know that, according to the police’s own figures, they are short of 7 000 people at police station level. It has probably gone up and is closer to 8 000. Yet provision is only made to employ 1 200 policemen to fill vacancies this year. With the number of people who die, commit suicide, are killed, retire and resign, the number of police officers is going down all the time instead of going up.

I regret to say that, for these reasons, the DP cannot support a budget of R15,45 billion for this year. [Interjections.] If the hon the Minister pulls up his socks, we hope that we will be able to support his budget next year. I truly hope to be able to do that. But I want to say that, despite this, the DP is fully supportive of the dedicated members of the SAPS who put their lives on the line every day, and we extend our condolences to the partners, to the families and to the friends of policemen and policewomen who have died in the cause of fighting crime in this country.

We want to see a larger but more decentralised police force. We want to see a redistribution of personnel by bringing them down to station level. We want to see more civilians carrying out routine duties. We want to see outsourcing of functions such as maintenance of vehicles. We want to recruit the brightest and the best into the police force because we want to be proud of it. We want to see the metro forces established now, not just be promised for election purposes. I believe that crime can be beaten in South Africa. I really believe that, and I hope that the Minister really believes it. If we carry on a dialogue

• I will shout at him a bit and he will shout at me a bit - then perhaps we will get some solutions so that we really do start beating crime in South Africa. We really have nothing that is more important than that. [Applause.]

Mr M E GEORGE: Madam Speaker, Comrade Minister, hon members, it is a pity that Mr Douglas Gibson does not attend any committee meetings. [Interjections.]

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Order!

Mr M E GEORGE: In the first place, when Mr McIntosh, who was doing well in the safety and security committee co-operated and realised the importance of fighting crime in this country, he was removed immediately by Mr Gibson. [Interjections.] But the heavens protested. Immediately after he was taken off the safety and security committee, he broke his leg. [Laughter.] I think the heavens were really protesting. [Interjections.]

All parties in our committee agree, with the exception of Mr Douglas Gibson, that crime is one of the biggest challenges facing our hard-fought- for democracy. [Interjections.] It is not only South Africans who commit crime in our country, but also people from neighbouring countries and many other parts of the continent. It is logical that partnerships must be formed with other African countries, or even beyond the continent, to complement partnerships among national, provincial and local government, churches, business, youth and other civil society groups. This huge task cannot be relegated to party-political point-scoring or cheap propaganda, of which Mr Gibson seems to be a champion.

It grieves me to observe that some prominent church leaders have now joined Mr Gibson in using crime for cheap propaganda. The ANC, in supporting this budget, wishes to make an appeal to all political parties to join hands in this war against crime. It is not going to be a mere pointing of fingers, it is going to be commitment to working and attending committee meetings.

Mr Gibson is already planning another protest, so he is not listening. [Laughter.] [Interjections.] While there might be inadequacies in our fight against crime, I want to say to Mr Gibson that it is equally irresponsible to create the impression that nothing is being done. [Interjections.]

At this stage I want to commend the Minister for his tireless endeavours and his commitment to taking the fight to the criminals. I want to congratulate the new national commissioner, Mr Jackie Selebi, and the newly appointed deputy commissioners and divisional commissioners. Their vision and their plan will definitely knock down the levels of crime in this country, if they are implemented.

I say if they are implemented'', because in the past few years there have been good strategies and plans which ended up on paper only. In these few months the national commissioner has demonstrated that he wants to tackle crime head on. I want to say to the commissioner:Go for it’’, and that the Portfolio Committee on Safety and Security will give him all the support he needs.

Although statistics are not everything, it is important to know that some battles have been won. The murder rate for the second half of 1999 and for the first few months of this year continues to show a decline. The latest monthly report of the SAPS shows that rape continues to show a stabilising trend, but remains unacceptably high.

There is some concern that the incidence of farm attacks is again increasing, following a period of calm after the rural summit held in October 1998. We are all concerned about the situation, and no party can claim to represent farmers. We must seriously consider another summit as a follow-up for the one in 1998. I had an opportunity to talk to representatives of Agri SA. They also expressed the view that no party here in this Chamber can claim to be representing farmers. [Interjections.]

Statistics show that more than 200 members of the Police Service are killed each year in the course of their duties. I want to say to the Minister that the situation cannot be tolerated. Tough measures must be taken against elements in our society who kill members of the Police Service.

It is good, proper and convenient to talk in this Chamber about statistics, increases, decreases and stabilising, but what are the feelings and perceptions of the people on the ground? There is a feeling among some people that Government has lost control over crime. They believe that Government is soft on crime and that criminals are treated with kid gloves. The issue is not whether their perception is right or wrong. The question is: What are we doing to bring down the levels of crime?

The Minister has announced a clear plan that goes beyond our borders for the efficient and effective delivery of service. The SA Police Service will have to do a few things. Discipline within the Police Service remains a matter of concern. Absenteeism and sick leave through misuse of Polmed is still a problem, though it is being addressed. Corruption within the Police Service has not been dealt with effectively. Dockets still get lost and police vehicles are still misused. There is enough evidence to suggest that some members are involved in car theft syndicates, drugs, hijackings; and there is even talk that the police is involved in taxi violence. I would like to say to the Minister and the national commissioner that these rotten apples must be taken out of the system as a matter of urgency.

While we deal mercilessly with the corrupt elements within the Police Service, some incentives must be created for police members who are prepared to go the extra mile. I would like to inform Mr Gibson that there are many policemen and policewomen who are prepared to work and to lay down their lives to protect the citizens of this country. [Applause.] [Interjections.]

Everything must be done to boost the morale of the police, as the Minister has already done. The Independent Complaints Directorate and the anticorruption units are doing a good job, and they must be supported. A meeting with Public Works must be arranged soon to look at means of fast- tracking the building and renovating of police stations. Regarding some of the police stations - Mr Gibson used this again for point-scoring - much needs to be done. There is a need to renovate and build police stations.

Lastly, all the efforts of the Minister and the national commissioner, the police and this Parliament will be a dismal failure if there is no community involvement. It is the community that buys stolen goods. The criminals do not stay in heaven, or in hell yet. They stay among our people. [Interjections.] Some parents benefit from crime committed by their children. The community police forums must be established and strengthened in all parts of the country. Even in terms of transforming the police, success depends on the participation of the communities. We must acknowledge the successes of the police under trying circumstances in having to deal with dangerous criminals whose morale is very high, who even break into houses of members of the police. These successes were led by the Minister, who demonstrated beyond reasonable doubt that the ANC Government does care. Operational Crackdown has led to 8 200 arrests because of the commitment and the high morale of the police. I would like to say to Mr Gibson that this has also proved that to deal effectively with crime, one does not need a lot of money and a huge number of policemen and policewomen. If we are properly organised, as the police are now and as has been demonstrated by the new national commissioner, and we have a well- trained intelligence service and detectives, we will be able to deal with crime effectively.

To our people in the rural areas, townships and suburbs, I want to say that the situation is under control. Do not believe what Mr Gibson says, as he has been referred to as a prophet of doom and gloom. He is an alarmist. [Interjections.]

With the Minister and commissioner Selebi, there is no way that crime could get out of control. To the police I say that the war against crime was declared by the President in his address to the nation. Crime may only have been referred to in four lines of his speech, something which sceptics like Gibson make an issue of, but it was a clear message to the criminals. If mistakes are made in this war - I am talking about genuine mistakes - the ANC Government will never abandon them. Our track record speaks for itself.

It must be understood that the police are dealing with desperate, senseless criminals who have no respect for life or property. All of us stand to benefit if we support the police. [Applause.]

Mnr E T FERREIRA: Mevrou die Speaker, as inwoner van Port Elizabeth wil ek graag namens die IVP ons party se innige meegevoel betuig teenoor alle familielede en vriende van die mense wat gesterf het in gister se tragedie, waarby ‘n polisie-inspekteur betrokke was.

Die IVP sal altyd die beginsel steun dat ‘n onafhanklike liggaam heeltemal los van die Polisiediens polisie-optrede moet ondersoek. Daar kan nie van ‘n mens verwag word om jou eie familie ordentlik te ondersoek nie. Net so is daar nie werklik sprake dat die Polisiediens hulself deeglik sal ondersoek nie.

Na aanleiding van bogenoemde sal die IVP die begroting steun van die Onafhanklike Klagtesdirektoraat. Ons is egter nie oortuig dat hulle in hul huidige vorm en optrede óf onafhanklik óf neutraal is nie. Aan die positiewe kant moet ons die direktoraat daarmee gelukwens dat hulle feitlik nie meer gebruik maak van polisiegeboue om hul kantore te huisves nie.

Hulle moet ook gelukgewens word met sekere spesifieke polisie-optrede wat hulle oopgevlek het. Daar is sekere polisie-optrede wat doodeenvoudig net nie goedgepraat kan word nie, maak nie saak hóé simpatiekgesind ‘n mens die Polisiediens is nie.

Wat die onafhanklikheid van die direktoraat betref, is daar met reg ‘n groot vraagteken. Daar is blykbaar nog heelwat gewese polisiebeamptes in hul personeel, en dit wek ernstige kommer dat tot 85% van hul sake deur dienende SAPD-personeel ondersoek word.

Wat die grootste kommer wek omtrent die direktoraat, is dat hulle nie as neutraal gesien word deur mense binne of buite die Polisiemag nie. Die gevoel is dat hulle politiek gedrewe is, en dat hulle uit hul pad sal gaan om polisiemanne en -vroue in die moeilikheid te bring wat hulle en hulle politieke base voel nie politiek aanvaarbaar is nie. Wanneer ‘n transitorower of ander uiters gevaarlike misdadiger gearresteer word, is hulle darem alte gretig om op die toneel te kom om te sien of die gearresteerde persoon nie ‘n geswelde wang of ‘n skrapie opgedoen het tydens die arrestasie nie.

Persepsies en realiteite is somtyds moeilik om te onderskei, maar persepsies doen ewe veel skade aan ‘n mens se beeld as realiteite. Daar is ‘n persepsie hier in die Wes-Kaap onder sekere baie senior speurders dat daar op baie senior vlak in die Wes-Kaap se direktoraat noue bande met Pagad is. Hulle sê as ‘n mens lede van Pagad gaan arresteer, dan wag die direktoraat al amper daar vir jou. Hierdie persepsie, waar of vals, is glad nie goed vir die beeld van die direktoraat nie.

‘n Paar jaar gelede - ek dink dit was ongeveer in 1996 - het daar by die Mandeni-polisiestasie in KwaZulu-Natal meer as 30 vuurwapens vermis geraak. Die saak is aan die direktoraat in KwaZulu-Natal gerapporteer. Dit wil voorkom of die direktoraat tot vandag toe nie vreeslik gretig is om met die ondersoek te vorder nie. Is dit dalk om politieke redes dat daar nog nie veel van die saak gekom het nie? Is dit dalk ‘n geval dat mense wat hulle wil beskerm dalk aan die kaak gestel kan word?

Dit is ook heeltemal duidelik dat die direktoraat hulself probeer inwurm waar hulle nie werklik hoort nie. Tydens ‘n werksessie met die polisiebestuur in die Noordelike Provinsie wou die direktoraat selfs betrokke wees by die bevorderings van polisiemanne en -vroue in die betrokke provinsie. Dat hulle ‘n aanbeveling kan maak aan die Kommissaris van Polisie oor die bevorderbaarheid al dan nie van spesifieke persone in spesifieke gevalle, is heeltemal aanvaarbaar. Direkte betrokkenheid by algemene bevorderings oorskry ongetwyfeld die perke. Kan dit om politieke redes wees dat hulle met bevorderings wil inmeng?

Daar is talle voorbeelde waarvan ‘n mens gebruik kan maak om aan te dui dat die Onafhanklike Klagte-direktoraat ‘n baie lang pad het om te loop om Suid- Afrikaners binne en buite die Polisiediens te oortuig van sowel hul onafhanklikheid as hul politieke neutraliteit. (Translation of Afrikaans speech follows.)

[Mr E T FERREIRA: Madam Speaker, as a resident of Port Elizabeth, on behalf of the IFP, I would like to express our party’s sincere condolences to all family members and friends of the people who died in yesterday’s tragedy, in which a police inspector was involved.

The IFP will always support the principle that an independent body entirely separate from the Police Service should investigate police activity. One cannot be expected to investigate one’s own family properly. In the same way there is no real suggestion that the Police Service will investigate itself thoroughly.

Arising from the aforementioned the IFP will support the budget of the Independent Complaints Directorate. However, we are not convinced that in their current form and activities they are either independent or neutral. On the positive side we must congratulate the directorate on the fact that they virtually no longer make use of police buildings to house their offices.

They must also be congratulated on certain specific police activities which they have exposed. There are certain police activities which simply cannot be condoned, no matter how sympathetic one feels towards the Police Service.

As far as the independence of the directorate is concerned, a large question mark justifiably exists. There are apparently quite a number of former police officials on their staff, and it is cause for serious concern that up to 85% of their cases are investigated by serving SAPS staff.

The greatest cause for concern regarding the directorate is that they are not viewed as neutral by people inside or outside the Police Force. The feeling is that they are politically driven, and that they will go out of their way to get policemen and women into trouble who they and their political bosses do not feel are politically acceptable. When an in-transit robber or other extremely dangerous criminal is arrested, they are all too eager to appear on the scene to see whether the arrested person has not sustained a swollen cheek or a scratch during the arrest.

Perceptions and reality are sometimes difficult to distinguish, but perceptions do as much damage to one’s image as realities. There is a perception here in the Western Cape among certain very senior detectives that there are close ties with Pagad at a very senior level in the Western Cape’s directorate. They say that when one goes to arrest a member of Pagad, the directorate is virtually waiting there for one. This perception, true or false, is not at all good for the image of the directorate.

A few years ago - I think it was approximately in 1996 - more than 30 firearms went missing at the Mandeni Police Station in KwaZulu-Natal. The matter was reported to the directorate in KwaZulu-Natal. It would appear that to date the directorate is not very eager to progress with the investigation. Is it perhaps for political reasons that not much has so far come of the case? Is it perhaps a case that people whom they want to protect may be shown up?

It is also quite clear that the directorate is trying to worm its way in where it does not really belong. During a workshop with the police management in the Northern Province the directorate even wanted to be involved in the promotions of policemen and policewomen in the relevant province. It is entirely acceptable that they can make a recommendation to the Commissioner of Police on the promotability or otherwise of specific persons in specific cases. Direct involvement in general promotions undoubtedly exceeds the limits. Could it be for political reasons that they want to interfere with promotions?

There are numerous examples one could cite to indicate that the Independent Complaints Directorate has a very long way to go to convince South Africans within and outside the Police Service of both their independence and their political neutrality.]

Mr R P ZONDO: Madam Speaker, I have a few words of caution for the hon Mr Gibson. Today he has really exposed himself by saying that he was only relying on research. Failing to reason is in effect a punishment to innocent people who come running to join his party. As a result, they are hypnotised, not knowing where to go now. [Laughter.] I must indicate to him that, if he keeps on with this type of approach, he is going to fall very hard with his face level to the ground, as his political mentor Binyamin Netanyahu did. [Interjections.]

I rise in support of this Vote. In the little time allocated to me, I want to focus on a few issues which I think are very critical in our endeavour to fight crime. These are crime intelligence and recruitment and training for SA Police Service members in general and detectives in particular.

The SA Police Service has identified the major crime syndicates in this country. According to the police, there are about 100 major syndicates currently operating within South Africa’s borders. It is these major syndicates that are being targeted by the police and most of them are highly infiltrated.

Since 1994, organised crime groups in South Africa have become increasingly sophisticated. They are often well financed, heavily armed and dangerous, which are issues that the Minister alluded to. Although drug peddling is the dominant activity of these syndicates, they are also involved in all sorts of other crimes including vehicle theft, hijacking, prostitution, gambling and forgery.

The structures of these syndicates are often quite complex. In most cases they appear to be legitimate business enterprises. Different syndicates may operate together in networks to further one another’s interests. No one is more aware of these threats than the ANC. The ANC-led Government remains firm and unequivocal when it comes to dealing with these syndicates.

In 1999, we introduced and passed the Prevention of Organised Crime Act. Although there were loopholes in the beginning, this law has so far yielded the desired results. It has proved to be a major deterrent to organised crime because we want to hit criminals where it hurts most - in their assets. We have adopted a zero-tolerance approach that says that no one is going to benefit from crime.

The Government established the Assets Forfeiture Unit. The unit was set up after the passing of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act in February 1999 to seize the proceeds of crime via the civil courts. Today, criminals recognise very well that there is no breathing space for them. We are moving swiftly to close down on them.

Recently, Commissioner Pruis and his dedicated team were here in Parliament to address the portfolio committee. Amongst other things, they confirmed that bomb attacks in the Western Cape, car hijackings and cash-in-transit heists in Gauteng, and political violence in KwaZulu-Natal have decreased dramatically.

The SA Police Service should ensure that multilateral agreements in respect of co-operation and mutual assistance in the field of crime combating, which was signed in 1997 by countries of the Southern African region, is effected and is producing the expected results. We believe that these agreements can help us deal with cross-border crimes, with specific attention to syndicated crime.

Interpol has recorded impressive results in as far as the extradition of suspects that are implicated in crimes such as fraud, drug trafficking, child molestation and murder are concerned. They have extradited suspects from countries as far afield as Australia, Portugal, England and Zimbabwe, to name a few. There is no doubt that the problems are immense and solutions are not easy to come by. But, at least, we have a plan and we are committed to making it work.

We appreciate the fact that the SA Police Service is dealing with organised crime in a holistic manner. In the past, organised crime was dealt with in a disjointed manner, with each specialised unit investigating different categories of crime, such as the smuggling of illegal firearms, car theft or drug smuggling. A new strategy has been developed to deal with this organised crime in a more organised and integrated manner.

Rather than focusing on individual categories of organised crime, the SAPS has undertaken to unite all units into one unit that will focus on all kinds of crime. What this means in practice is that detectives from all the different specialised units will fall under the command of a single person. This applies to internal units, such as the vehicle and firearms unit, and individuals from outside structures such as Interpol. These people will work together in identifying hot spots to ensure a co-ordinated and holistic approach. Intelligence officers are now being appointed at all police stations.

The SA Police Service has also made an important policy change in relation to combating corruption within the police. In the past, the anticorruption unit was a separate unit within the SA Police Service. The SAPS has now decided that, because corrupt police generally co-operate with syndicates, anticorruption units should now fall under the detective services. This will facilitate co-ordination in terms of investigations.

We are aware of the fact that one of the serious problems facing South Africa is an insufficient criminal intelligence capacity. We cannot overemphasise its importance. We want to encourage the SAPS to take drastic measures to address this. The first step towards addressing this problem should be intensive detective training and intelligence gathering. In addition, we recommend that a large number of the 2 400 new recruits who will be recruited during this budget year should not only be trained to become ordinary detectives, but should receive advanced detective training.

The most important measure of success of the police in dealing with crime is the clearance rate of cases. It is disturbing to note that the clearance rate of dockets declined between 1995 and 1998. We appreciate the fact that the SAPS has developed strategies to deal with this problem. This includes the implementation of an effective detective plan. Central to this plan is a need to ensure that detective and intelligence officers are better equipped.

I just want to mention another area which I think we really need to look into. I want to tell the hon the Minister that there is a lot of concern among our people on the question of crime. The critical issue is that there is a general perception that our legal system favours criminals and not the victims of crime. Section 35 of the Constitution entrenches a suspect’s right to silence. Suspects often exercise this right, resulting in investigations being impeded and delayed. We would appreciate it if the hon the Minister would open a public debate on this because, at present, the public and the police feel disadvantaged by this whole issue. [Applause.]

Dr B L GELDENHUYS: Mevrou die Speaker …

Mnr J H MOMBERG: Wat het jy met die sewentiende te maak, Boy?

Dr B L GELDENHUYS: Ek wil vir die ANC die waarheid vertel! [Tussenwerpsels.] (Translation of Afrikaans sentences follows.)

[Dr B L GELDENHUYS: Madam Speaker …

Mr J H MOMBERG: What do you have to do with the seventeenth, Boy?

Dr B L GELDENHUYS: I want to tell the ANC the truth! [Interjections.]]

Madam Speaker, the previous speaker referred to the fact that the SAPS is actually committed to a policy of zero tolerance, but the problem is that there is not enough manpower to do justice to applying a policy of zero tolerance. Petty crimes are being ignored and, at the end of the day, this actually leads to disrespect for the law.

‘n Spesiale woord van dank aan duisende toegewyde geregsdienaars wat elke dag in die spervuur staan om misdaad te bestry. Namens die Nuwe NP betuig ek ook my diepe meegevoel met families van polisiebeamptes wat in die uitvoering van hul pligte dood is.

Moord op polisiebeamptes in Suid-Afrika is onaanvaarbaar algemeen. Oor ‘n tydperk van 18 maande is 354 beamptes vermoor, dit wil sê een elke 37 uur. ‘n Polisiebeampte in Suid-Afrika se kans om vermoor te word, is vier keer groter as in die Verenigde State van Amerika. Dié toestand kan nie voortduur nie, en die doodstraf vir polisiemoordenaars behoort nou oorweeg te word. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)

[A special word of thanks to thousands of dedicated policemen who brave the firing-line every day to fight crime. On behalf of the New NP I also wish to express my deepest sympathy with families of police officers who have died in the execution of their duties.

The murder of police officers in South Africa is unacceptably prevalent. Over a period of 18 months 354 officers were murdered, ie one every 37 hours. A police officer in South Africa has a four times greater chance of being murdered than a police officer in the United States of America. This situation cannot be allowed to continue, and consideration should now be given to the death penalty for murderers of policemen.]

Despite having a new Minister who has declared war on criminals, which he did again today, and we appreciate that; despite having a devoted Deputy Minister; despite having a national commissioner who makes a difference wherever he goes; and despite having a chairman in the portfolio committee who is very enthusiastic about combating crime, the New NP cannot support the Vote, because crime has spun-out of control in South Africa. [Interjections.]

People are hesitant to invest in South Africa because of crime. Skilled people are leaving South Africa as a result of crime. In the mid 1960s, an American journalist Allan Drury, wrote a book on South Africa called A Very Strange Society. Nowadays, a more appropriate title would be A Very Sick Society. South Africa must the only country in the world where a baby is born with a bullet in its hip bone; South Africa must be the only country in the world where two medics are shot dead whilst trying to save the lives of others; South Africa must be the only country in the world where a young girl of 14 is gang-raped, mutilated and then urinated on. We must find a cure for this disease.

In the United States of America, there is an undisputable link between crime and age. Young men between the ages of 15 and 24 commit, by far, the largest number of crimes. An increase in the number of this age group leads to an increase in the crime rate. A decrease in their numbers, of course, has the opposite effect. If this is also true about South Africa, and I think it is true, then we must steel ourselves for an increase in crime levels for the foreseeable future, because this male age group already constitutes nearly 10% of the total population.

The only solution is to change the hearts and the minds of the people, and especially those of young people. They will have to be taught respect for life and for property. Schools, churches and parents have a vital role to play in this regard. Conflict resolution should be introduced as a compulsory subject at school level. Only then will we be able to turn the tide.

Approximately 600 police officers are leaving the service on a monthly basis owing to low salaries. This has a negative impact on the morale of the police. It will be appreciated if the Minister could tell the House, in his reply, whether a commission appointed to do research on the salary structures of the SA Police Service has completed its study and, if so, what its findings were.

There are also other factors regarding the morale of the police, and these other factors also necessitate urgent attention. The fact that 10 000 members of Polmed are addicted to antidepressants is symptomatic of the high stress levels under which they have to operate. The tragic event which occurred last night in Port Elizabeth, where an inspector shot four people and himself, further illustrates this point. An immediate improvement of the working conditions of the SA Police Service is essential.

Daar moet ook besin word oor die polisieverslag wat sê plaasmoorde is gewone misdadigheid. In teenstelling met ander moorde, wat ‘n dalende tendens toon, is daar ‘n skerp styging in die getal plaasmoorde. Van 1995 tot 1998 het plaasmoorde met 51% toegeneem, en die uiterste gewelddadigheid wat plaasmoorde kenmerk, laat ook die vraag ontstaan of daar nie motiewe ter sprake is anders as blote misdadigheid nie. Plaasmoorde behoort as ‘n prioriteitsmisdaad ondersoek te word. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)

[Consideration should also be given to the police report stating that farm murders are ordinary criminality. In contrast to other murders, which show a decreasing tendency, there has been a sharp increase in the number of farm murders. Farm murders increased by 51% from 1995 to 1998, and the extreme violence characterising farm murders also causes the question to arise as to whether there are not other motives involved than mere criminality. Farm murders should be investigated as a priority crime.]

Despite the Minister’s remark that those who oppose the Firearms Control Bill belong in an asylum, I want to raise the basic objections of the New NP to the Bill with the urgent request that the Minister consider redrafting the Bill with, of course, the risk of ending up in an asylum himself. [Laughter.]

What is desperately needed in South Africa is a culture of responsible gun ownership. I want to repeat that. What is desperately needed in South Africa is a culture of responsible gun ownership. Unfortunately, the contents of the Firearms Control Bill are not conducive to responsible gun ownership. Quite the opposite is true. Once implemented, the Bill will turn thousands of law-abiding gun owners into criminals, because excessive administrative red tape will make compliance impossible.

It must also be pointed out that the underlying philosophy of the Bill is totally flawed. Based on the presumption that the proliferation of illegal weapons goes hand in hand with the proliferation of legal weapons, the Bill then primarily targets legal gun owners. What should be targeted is the illegal possession of firearms. It is estimated that 4 million illegal firearms were smuggled into the country during the struggle. The illegal trafficking in firearms plagues this region on a daily basis, and the proposed Bill does little or nothing to address this problem. The Firearms Control Bill will be discussed in depth when tabled in Parliament. It will, however, be in everybody’s interest if the Bill could be redrafted after consultation with all role-players. A Firearms Control Bill that carries the support of all stakeholders will be to South Africa’s benefit.

Allow me a brief remark on shortages of trained personnel and equipment. The New NP welcomes the fact that the Government has now, for the first time, given details on the shortages being experienced by the SA Police Service in a reply to a question by Mr Piet Matthee of the New NP in the NCOP. In the light of the totally unacceptably high levels of crime in South Africa, the New NP cannot accept the shortages in trained personnel and equipment that can only be addressed over periods of four to five and three to four years respectively. Government should regard the safety and security of its citizens as its most fundamental duty and it should, therefore, immediately find the money to address the said shortages within the current financial year.

I have been told that institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund could also be approached for the financing of security issues, because these bodies now fully realise what a negative impact crime can have on economic growth in a country.

Ek het `n laaste vraag aan die Minister. Van die 128 000 lede van die Polisiediens is 30 000 ongeletterd. Die vraag is of van hulle opleibaar is. Indien van hulle opleibaar is, wat doen die Regering om hulle op te lei? [Tussenwerpsels.] Indien hulle nie opleibaar is nie, gaan die Minister van hulle ontslae raak, gesien in die lig daarvan dat hulle nie produktief aangewend kan word nie? [Tussenwerpsels.]

Ek wil ook verder weet watter uitwerking het die 30 000 lede wat volgens persberigte HIV-positief is op die doeltreffendheid van die SA Polisiediens. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.) [I have a last question to put to the Minister. Of the 128 000 members of the Police Service, 30 000 are illiterate. The question is whether some of them can be trained. If some of them could be trained, what is the Government doing about training them? [Interjections.] If they are untrainable, is the Minister going to get rid of them in the light of the fact that they cannot be employed productively? [Interjections.]

I would also like to know what effect the 30 000 members who, according to press reports, are HIV-positive, are having on the efficiency of the SA Police Service.]

Also, allow me a few comments on the Independent …

An HON MEMBER: Complaints Directorate.

Dr B L GELDENHUYS: … Complaints Directorate. Thank you! [Laughter.]

If the Independent Complaints Directorate is forced to do more and more with less and less, as is currently the case, then the directorate will eventually grind to a complete standstill. The fact that the operational budget of the Independent Complaints Directorate has gone down in real terms necessitates serious reconsideration regarding next year’s budget allocation. Despite the financial constraints and, yes, despite the criticism raised here today, I think, at the end of the day, the ICD must be congratulated on a job well done, and the New NP will support the Vote.

Deaths in police custody or as a result of police action are, and should be, a priority for ICD investigations. Since the directorate started operating three years ago, more than 2 100 people have died as a result of police action or in police custody. Understandably, this alarming state of affairs gives cause for strong appeals to the Minister of Safety and Security to immediately implement the amended section 49 of the Criminal Procedure Act, which prevents the police from using firearms unless their lives are in danger. Needless to say, the implementation of the aforesaid provision will place police officers at the mercy of criminals, and I urgently ask the Minister not to implement the amended section, but, instead, to promote the importance of protecting human life as a basic value of the SA Police Service’s culture.

In a report to the portfolio committee it was mentioned that the ICD, owing to an increased workload, was compelled to reprioritise complaints. Over and above police-related deaths, corruption within the SA Police Service seems to top the list. In order to lighten the burden of the ICD … [Interjections.] But I am not disappearing. I am still here. Bear with me for a few more seconds.

I have said that they were forced to reprioritise and I have said that their main concern was police-related deaths, but corruption within the Police Service is also high on their task list. But, to my mind, the anticorruption units of the SA Police Service could be entrusted with this specific function of corruption instead. In order to enhance the efficiency of the anticorruption units, and given the fact that their core function is detection, they have already been placed, by the national commissioner, under the detective service and crime intelligence division, and they are therefore well equipped to fight corruption.

The SA Police Service is, in any case, still investigating 71% of the cases against them. In order to facilitate accessibility, a toll-free telephone number is envisaged for the ICD, and the Minister should note that it is really unthinkable that the current budgetary provision does not cater for this need.

Ms A VAN WYK: Madam Speaker, we know that the crime rate in South Africa is unacceptably high. We are all aware of the violent nature of these crimes. We all know the statistics. It has been referred to during this debate on a number of occasions. None of it is new. Dwelling on it or repeating it without offering solutions serves little purpose to assist in addressing what we all acknowledge is a major challenge facing all South Africans. Crime is our common enemy. It does not discriminate against any one person. It does not know class, race or gender. Sufficient common agreement exists amongst all of us that we urgently need to turn around the crime wave.

In the time that is available to me, I would like to focus on three issues that the UDM believes must be addressed in order to make a difference in the fight against crime. These are the staff component of the SAPS, the co- operation and integration of all role-players in the criminal justice system, and the responsibility of citizens in the fight against crime.

The budget under discussion shows an increase of R1,3 billion. This increase, although we believe that it is not enough, is welcomed. We also realise that solving the crime problem is not going to be achieved by simply throwing money at it. The prioritisation and effective application of the available financial resources, together with a meticulously developed strategic crime-fighting programme that is both practical and implementable, are what South Africa desperately needs.

We therefore welcome the multidisciplinary approach currently implemented within the SAPS. This is a move that makes sense. In the past, one had the idea that the 360% approach, where the police were facing one another with shot-guns, was adopted. Now, at least, it seems that they are backing one another, that one section knows what the other section of the police is doing, and that they are supporting one another. This approach will receive our support.

The size of the SAPS staff component has been a point of debate for many years. Role-players, as we have also heard in this House today continue to differ on what the ideal number of staff for the SAPS should be. The UDM would like to urge the Minister of Safety and Security to do an audit that would give clarity to this question. Let us stop the speculation. Let us determine the ideal number of police staff that should be out on the streets combating crime, and then let us work towards achieving that goal.

The SAPS’s function is to fight crime. SAPS members must be trained and deployed, first and foremost, to do exactly that. Simply talking about releasing SAPS members involved in administration back into the operational side must stop. Action in this regard is needed. Redeployment of these members, to strengthen the actual crime-combating ability, must begin in all earnest. It might not be necessary to increase the number of police staff.

The Minister should announce how he will redeploy, what that number of redeployments will be and by when he aims to do so. Serious consideration should also be given to differentiating between the salaries of members of the SAPS and the rest of the Public Service. The UDM would urge that those members of the SAPS directly involved in crime fighting receive higher salaries than those not directly involved, or their counterparts in the Public Service.

A new promotional structure for the SAPS should also be considered. This should enable a member of the SAPS to develop his or her career within the environment of crime fighting and not necessitate that after a number of promotions, the individual, with all the acquired experience, ends up behind a desk doing administrative work.

This brings me to the integration of the criminal justice system. A colleague of mine, the hon Frolick, asked the Minister of Safety and Security a question regarding the rape figures in the Port Elizabeth- Uitenhage district. Shocking statistics were revealed. Of the 867 rape cases reported in 1998, committed against children under the age of 17, only 67 resulted in a guilty verdict. Eight hundred rapists are walking the streets and enjoying the benefits of law-abiding citizens. This example illustrates the lack of adequate policing and proper co-operation between the Departments of Safety and Security, and of Justice. The combating of crime can only be considered to be successful once the criminal is removed from the street and justice is served. Though there is greater co-operation between the departments involved in the security cluster, there still is a lot of room for improvement. The Department of Justice needs to get its house in order. It is not providing the quality of service that the public and the members of the SAPS deserve. The morale of the SAPS must be negatively influenced every time they see a criminal walking free after they have spent months to apprehend that criminal. This revolving-door-like criminal justice system forces many SAPS members to question why they should fight crime in the first place. The corruption within the Department of Justice must be eradicated. This department should set the example in the fight against corruption, and not lead the corruption race. The other side of the coin is that members of the SAPS should continually work closely with officials of the Department of Justice in preparing evidence for the court cases. In that way, a better prepared case will be the result, with an improved opportunity for a guilty verdict.

If the majority of South African citizens are law-abiding, then we need to mobilise those citizens to become part of the fight against crime. As long as markets exist for stolen goods, criminals will continue with what is obviously an easy profit-making opportunity. As long as the community tolerates criminals and their activities, criminals will have a place to operate from. If we can instil, within South Africans, a sense of responsibility that comes with the privilege of being a citizen, then we can make a real difference in the fight against crime.

In a report to hon Minister Asmal, it was suggested that learners at school should pledge their allegiance to South Africa on a daily basis. We would support that and would like to take it one step further. The UDM believes that citizenship, and the responsibilities, rights and privileges associated with it, should become part of the curriculum of learners. Let us empower the next generation with the opportunity to contribute to the wellbeing of our country and their fellow countrymen. The UDM will support the Vote. [Applause.]

Mr Q J KGAUWE: Madam Speaker, hon Minister and members, this is the first budget allocated under the leadership of an able black national commissioner, Mr Selebi. Hopefully, it was thoughtfully done, taking into consideration the skewed representation of the previously disadvantaged. We are mindful of, and ought to address, the huge shortage of cars and investigators so that the police are able to perform their work.

But it is surprising to learn that the Minister has given an undertaking that farmers will be protected. It is surprising that the white opposition parties are not able to come out strongly and say …

Mr M J ELLIS: Where is the white opposition party?

Mr Q J KGAUWE: You are the white opposition party. [Interjections.]

They are not able to come out strongly and support the idea that black farmworkers are being killed on a daily basis. [Interjections.] Recently, a black person was painted, and the DP was the only party that stood up here, and said … [Interjections.] You are camouflaging whenever you say you are democratic. It is a camouflage on your side. [Interjections.]

Mr M J ELLIS: Rubbish!

Mr Q J KGAUWE: Even if I might be talking rubbish, the DP never stood up when people were staying with pigs under one roof. They were quiet enough. [Interjections.] When a person was buried at the side of the road they were quiet enough. [Interjections.]

Mr M J ELLIS: The DP is not one of the other parties. This is the DP. We have always stood up for individual rights. [Interjections.]

Mr Q J KGAUWE: No! [Interjections.] When blacks were tortured they were quiet enough. When De Kock was given resources they were quiet enough. [Interjections.]

Mr M J ELLIS: Now you are busy talking rubbish. [Interjections.]

Mr Q J KGAUWE: When Basson was here, you were there. [Interjections.] When there are 5 700 police workers at headquarters who are resisting, or who are reluctant to be moved out, or be redeployed, they are quiet enough. We do not want to talk about all those things. [Interjections.]

We have the ANC, which has appointed a national commissioner. He is surrounded by how many with unbearable attitudes, and racist police officers who are his junior? [Interjections.] They have commissioners in all these areas. We have got one black commissioner who is surrounded by how many white deputies? [Interjections.] They should be happy that we are able to train black police officers. Through this Government, we have been able to train people who have managed … [Interjections.] Now listen first.

Admittedly, it is reported that South Africa has the highest crime rate, and I am going to dispute this somehow. We have capital crimes and priority crimes. We have murder and domestic violence. We need specialised people, detectives with skills in order to investigate properly. There is a sense of despair amongst the population. We are aware that we are faced with a number of unemployed youth. We have many police officers who are poorly trained, and there is much illiteracy in the ranks of the police. We have a discredited Police Service. We should not forget that there was a complete breakdown of trust between the community and the police.

In order to restore confidence and a good working relationship, a new concept was evolved. What concept is that? The community policing forums. The community and the police were married together, the purpose being to establish a friendly relationship and a service, and to maintain a partnership. The principles thereof were to promote co-operation between the police and the community in fulfilling the needs of the community with regard to policing, and to improve the rendering of police services to the community they serve, and to improve equality, transparency and trust within the communities.

We are tempted to believe that community policing requires different practices and approaches. We do not have to observe a crime being committed and we do not have to watch people committing crime. Do we commit crime because the rewards of crime outweigh the rewards of leading a good life? The way to change this is to punish the criminals.

We have shortfalls within the community policing forums, which I want to highlight. We have MECs who have to give a directive to their provincial commissioners for the formation and establishment of community policing forums. Some MECs might not deem it necessary, and they might not give these directives. If this happens, then community policing forums cannot be established.

We have to look at the membership of community policing forums as well. Any member of the broad community may belong to or can join a community policing forum. There is a strong allegation that discredited members, thugs and drug lords join these structures with a certain objective. In Cape Town, we have the gang leader Staggie, who was a full-time member of the community policing forum. When something is discussed relating to the prevention of crime, such a person can take advantage of this information, since he is privileged to receive that information.

We have community policing forums where members have to volunteer their services. Often, the community policing forum lacks resources, since its members are under no obligation to contribute. Admittedly, if the forum does not have money, the members cannot carry out any activity a community policing forum should be engaging in. This leads to the collapse of these forums.

In rural areas, there are no community policing forums. If one goes to KwaZulu-Natal, one finds that there are no such forums. Farmworkers are not invited to join these community policing forums. In larger towns, we find that white communities have functional community policing forums. The membership is predominantly white and they refuse to join hands with their black neighbourhoods. Whites are privileged, and if they so wish, they could also join the community policing forums. Whites often belong to army commandos, which receive resources from this Government. We are all quiet about it.

Regarding transformation, one finds that in an area such as Setlagole, there is no existing community policing forum. A small white minority with an unbearable racist attitude refused to convene community policing forum meetings with blacks, and blacks are being refused policing services in that area. Blacks are forced to walk a long distance to Madibogo police station in order to get service from the police. If one goes to Delareyville, one sees that the area only serves people who live in Delareyville, who are predominantly white. The surrounding areas are predominantly black, and those people are referred to Atamelang police station, in order to get service. The DP is saying to me that there is transformation. [Time expired.] [Applause.]

Rev K R J MESHOE: Madam Speaker, on behalf of the ACDP, I want to commend the Independent Complaints Directorate for the sterling work it is doing to rid the SA Police Service of corruption, and to ensure that the police treat members of the public with dignity and respect. Although we support both Vote No 17 and Vote No 28, there are some concerns about Vote No 28 that I want to raise.

Firstly, the performance of many of our police officers is not satisfactory. The public is told that one of the reasons for this is low morale among the police. This budget does not address the causes of low morale and how to bring about an improvement in performance and delivery by the police.

Secondly, we have been told for years that the police are understaffed. One would have expected the budget to include an allocation for overtime pay for hard-working police officers and for recruiting new officers. That, regrettably, has not been done. How can loyal and disciplined police officers be expected to be motivated when they are not paid for overtime? How can 14 detectives with only three cars investigate more than 3 000 cases, as in the case of the Nyanga police station? Police officers who are doing clerical work must be replaced by ordinary clerks and civilians so that they can concentrate on maintaining law and order and fighting crime.

It is unacceptable that corrupt police officers who have been suspended are still receiving their salaries. The ACDP suggests that all suspended officials should have their salaries suspended with immediate effect. The Government is losing millions of rands every month on corrupt people when more money should be given to those who are doing a good job for our people. [Interjections.]

The state of many police stations in this country is also appalling. How can the police be expected to be motivated to do their best when they are crammed into offices that are in a state of disrepair. We are always told that the Department of Public Works is dealing with the problem. Many requests have been made for renovations at existing police stations, but that has not happened. For the sake of progress and the improvement of the conditions at our police stations, the ACDP recommends strongly that a specific allocation for the maintenance and repair of police stations be included in the SAPS budget. Let them be allowed to do their own repairs and maintenance, because the Public Works has failed them.

Lastly, this budget has not made any provision for promotions. All workers, including the police, need incentives and rewards. Those who study and work hard to get better qualifications must know that their efforts will be rewarded. Let those hard-working policemen and policewomen who deserve to be promoted get their promotions.

We salute all the committed and disciplined police officers who have the will to make a difference, but we also say that all those undisciplined, lazy and corrupt officials must be dealt with severely. If they know that they will lose their pay during their period of suspension, they will ensure that they are not found on the wrong side of the law. We support the Vote.

The DEPUTY MINISTER OF SAFETY AND SECURITY: Madam Speaker, I almost regret that the previous speaker did not have more time. To allocate only two minutes to the poor man to speak is, I think, unfair. [Interjections.]

It is not enough to speak the truth: it has to be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I believe that some of the statements we have heard this afternoon are true, but they are not the whole truth. The hon Gibson is perfectly correct when he says that he visited 100 police stations and they were in a terrible state. There are actually 350 police stations that are absolutely, unacceptably and disgracefully - in our view

• dilapidated, lacking in space, and so on.

However, about a year ago I opened 53 police stations in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape, which were new, renovated and very beautiful. I invite the DP also to visit those police stations, the beautiful ones which were built - by the way, they were built in a record time of six months - with the help of Public Works and following a fast-tracked tender system. We should encourage that kind of thing. I believe that where the department is creative and positive, we should support them.

I think it it hypocritical to say that we support the man on the beat, that we support the ordinary police in their efforts, and then cut off the means by which they can do that by saying that we will not support the Vote. How are they going to operate? We have very important programmes relating to training which have been successful. We have a detective academy to increase our investigative capacity which, with the support of the FBI and other organisations, is doing very well. How can we then cut off the money if we want to enable that detective academy to operate? Eighty-four per cent of our budget up to now has been devoted to personnel costs, and only 16% to operational costs. We have been desperately trying to get that balance right, ie to increase the amount of money that is available for operational costs and to reduce the amount of money used for personnel costs. What do we find? People say ``increase the number of police, increase the personnel costs’’, and they do not say a word about the operational costs. So, we have to do a bit of thinking there. [Interjections.]

Not so long ago, Mr Zbigniew Brzezinski - I hope members of the House have heard of Mr Zbigniew Brzezinski; he used to be the national security advisor to President Carter - wrote a book called The Technocratic Age, in which he says that recent technological advances have placed Africa maybe 300 or 400 years behind the developed world. That is what he says. I do not agree with him; I think that recent technological advances can enable us to catch up with the developed world, but this is a very clever intellectual, and I do not lightly dismiss what he says. He now believes that we are 1 000 years behind as a result of technological advances.

However, when I hear some of the statements we make in the House, we still seem to be living in the age in which the number of hands, the amount of labour, is the emphasis, and not technology. Modern technology, maybe, is what is going to enable us to administer such things as the new registration proposals in the Firearms Control Bill. We do not need 90 more hands to come and deal with this. We need more computers. We need to improve our database in the Police Service to make sure that things such as fingerprints can be accessed, not in 40 days, but in three seconds. However, that can only be done through modernisation.

I am appealing to the House: Please assist us to do that. [Interjections.] Hon members must please help us to do that, and not turn round and say: ``Well, there are certain things which you cannot do, therefore we must deny you a Vote.’’ That is completely wrong. It would be correct if there was a principled political position which people were taking, but one cannot, merely on the basis of efficiencies, refuse a department the means to improve itself, and to carry out its work.

I would like to pay tribute to the communities, and in particular to Business Against Crime which has recognised the need for technology, and has been helping to install the new surveillance systems by paying the costs involved. I think Business Against Crime is taking an extremely active and constructive approach.

I believe that the response of the public in our country to the new Minister and to the new national commissioner has improved morale. We are getting a far greater response from the public and from communities in support of the fight against crime, and we must encourage that. This is the approach we should adopt, and not a cleverly hostile approach, which on the one hand claims to be supporting the fight against crime, and then on the other makes it impossible for us to achieve our objectives. [Interjections.] [Applause.]

Adv P S SWART: Madam Speaker, I just want to tell the Minister and the Deputy Minister we do support the fight against crime wholeheartedly.

Our Constitution places an obligation on Government to ensure the safety and security of our people. I cannot stand here and speak for the future, like the Minister does, but I must measure and rate the past and the situation as it is today. Thus, today I stand here with a message from the majority of the people of this country, who, in one way or another, have all been victims of crime during the past few years. It is a message to the Minister of Safety and Security and our President: We are not on course. I repeat: We are not on course.

Dit is net reg dat ons vandag weer let op die vlak van gewelddadige misdade in plattelandse gebiede. Ironies genoeg is dit die krisis in Zimbabwe, waar boere en plaaswerkers vermoor word, aangerand word, van eiendom afgesit en geïntimideer word wat weer die probleem van plattelandse veiligheid uitgelig het. Tussen Januarie 1991 en Desember 1998 was daar 142 moorde en 769 aanvalle op boere in Suid-Afrika. Hierdie is ‘n baie hoër per-capita- syfer as dié vir die hele land en gaan ongelukkig dikwels gepaard met onmenslike marteling van die slagoffers.

Mense wat op plattelandse dorpe en plase woon, word oor die algemeen deur misdadigers as sagte teikens gesien, en is dit inderdaad. Die taak van polisiëring in plattelandse gebiede is baie kompleks, met die polisie wat nie in staat is om plase behoorlik te patrolleer nie; dikwels nie noodgevalle vinnig genoeg kan hanteer nie, as gevolg van die afstande ter sprake; en selfs gereeld nie in staat is om sekere gebiede te bereik nie, as gevolg van die verkeerde beskikbare voertuie, byvoorbeeld Citigolfs in plaas van bakkies op plaaspaaie, en, ek aanvaar, seker bakkies in Sandton en ander stede! (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)

[It is only right that we again pay attention to the level of violent crimes in rural areas today. Ironically, it is the crisis in Zimbabwe, where farmers and farmworkers are being murdered, attacked, evicted from property and intimidated, which highlighted the problem of rural safety again. Between January 1991 and December 1998 there were 142 murders and 769 attacks on farmers in South Africa. This is a much higher per capita figure than that of the whole country and, unfortunately, this is often coupled with inhumane torture of victims.

People who live in rural towns and on farms, are generally regarded by criminals as soft targets, which in fact, they are. The task of policing in rural areas is very complex, with police not being able to patrol farms properly; often, not being able to deal with emergencies quickly enough, because of the distances involved; and also often not being able to reach certain areas, because the vehicles available to them are inadequate, for instance, Citigolfs instead of pick-up trucks on farm roads, and, I assume, probably pick-up trucks in Sandton and other cities!]

These problems were recognised at the summit on rural safety and security in October 1998 and with the adoption of the rural protection plan. In particular, the summit envisaged that adequate funding for the operation and functioning of the criminal justice system in rural areas would be made available. Yet this has not happened. Information about the incidence of crime in rural areas is not collected, analysed and reported upon timeously. The limited resources are therefore not used optimally. June 1999 is still the latest date for available information on crime in the rural areas.

Tussen 1 Januarie 1999 en 30 Junie 1999, met ander woorde, binne agt maande ná die beraad, was daar 69 moorde en 443 aanvalle op boere. Dit is binne ‘n tydperk van ses maande. In vergelyking met die agt jaar voor die beraad is dit duidelik dat die situasie vererger in plaas van verbeter. Al die planne het net wense gebly en ons boere op plase bly lammers ter slagting.

Hierdie beperkte hulpmiddele, mannekrag en lae moreel veroorsaak ook probleme binne die polisie self. Dit bring my by die begrotingspos van die Onafhanklike Klagte-direktoraat, die liggaam wat klagtes van wangedrag en oortredings deur polisie ondersoek.

Dit is so, die polisie funksioneer in ‘n ``rowwe buurt’’, en moet dit doen binne die veeleisende nuwe reëls van die spel. Ons kan verstaan dat sommige lede voel asof hul hande afgekap is, aangesien kriminele wat nie gebonde is aan dieselfde reëls nie bykans daagliks polisiebeamptes vermoor.

Meer as 200 polisiebeamptes word elke jaar in Suid-Afrika vermoor. Soos hierdie frustrasies toeneem, sal al hoe meer lede verkies om die handskoene uit te trek in die geveg teen misdaad. Ongelukkig is dit hier waar die agb Minister self ‘n aanhitser was, met die nuwe nasionale kommissaris kort op sy hakke. Sonder om verantwoordelike leierskap te toon, het hy deur die land gereis, en polisielede vertel hulle moet ``deal with criminals as a bulldog deals with a bone,’’ volgens die Finance Week van 22 Oktober 1999. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)

[Between 1 January 1999 and 30 June 1999, in other words, in the space of eight months after the conference, there were 69 murders and 443 attacks on farmers. This was in the space of six months. Compared to the eight years prior to the conference it is clear that the situation is deteriorating, instead of improving. All the plans have remained nothing but wishes and our farmers on farms still remain like lambs waiting to be slaughtered.

These limited resources and manpower and low morale are also causing problems within the police itself. This brings me to the Vote of the Independent Complaints Directorate, the body that investigates complaints of misconduct and offences committed by police.

The fact is, the police function in a rough neighbourhood, and must do so within the demanding new rules of the game. We can understand that some members feel that their hands are tied, because criminals who are not bound by the same rules, are murdering police officers virtually every day.

More than 200 police officers are murdered in South Africa every year. As these frustrations increase, an increasing number of members will choose to adopt a no-holds-barred approach in the fight against crime. Unfortunately, it is here that the hon the Minister was himself an instigator, with the new national commissioner coming a close second. Without displaying responsible leadership, he travelled around the country and told members of the police that they must ``deal with criminals as a bulldog deals with a bone’’, according to Finance Week of 22 October 1999.]

Maybe the hon Minister was motivated by the shoot-now-and-ask-questions- later'',make-my-day’’ approach made popular by Clint Eastwood in the movie Dirty Harry.

Kom ons géé hulle gas, maar binne die raamwerk van die wet. Wat juis die polisie van kriminele onderskei, is dat dit hulle taak is om mense te beskerm, binne die reg op te tree, minimum geweld te gebruik en verantwoordbaar te wees vir hul dade.

Dit is die rede vir die bestaan van die Onafhanklike Klagtedirektoraat. Hierdie direktoraat is egter nie in staat om sy funksies na behore uit te oefen nie, as gevolg van ‘n 70%-tekort aan mannekrag, en 70% van die sake moet terugverwys word na die polisie self vir ondersoek. Daardie einste klagtes teen polisielede, byvoorbeeld dood in aanhouding word deur polisielede self ondersoek. Verder is daar geen kantore in die Vrystaat en Mpumalanga nie, waar huidig 80 gevalle van beweerde dood in polisie- aanhouding of as gevolg van polisie-optrede ondersoek moet word.

Die direktoraat is totaal ondergefinansier. Die Mediumtermyn- uitgaweraamwerk sal hersien moet word om behoorlike befondsing te verseker. Slegs dan sal die verantwoordbaarheid van lede van die polisie verseker word en die vertroue van die publiek in die Polisiediens herstel word.

Dit is nie net tyd om die moorde op boere en plaaswerkers stop te sit nie, maar ook die moorde op polisiebeamptes, juis diegene wat ons moet beskerm. Dit kan net gedoen word as ons behoorlik begroot om in die behoeftes te voorsien. Dan, en slegs dan, wanneer ons die veiligheid en sekerheid van almal in ons land kan verseker, kan ons beweer - nou so ongegrond - dat ons inderdaad op koers is. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)

[Let us give them blazes, but within the framework of the Act. What in fact distinguishes the police from criminals, is that it is their task to protect people, to act within the law, to use minimum force and to be accountable for their actions.

This is the reason for the existence of the Independent Complaints Directorate. However, this directorate is not able to perform its functions properly, because of a 70% shortage of human resources, and 70% of the investigations must be referred back to the police for investigation, These same complaints against members of the police, for instance death in detention, are investigated by members of the police. Furthermore, there are no offices in the Free State and Mpumalanga, where at present 80 cases of alleged death in police custody or as a result of police action have to be investigated.

The directorate is totally underfinanced. The Medium-Term Expenditure Framework will have to be revised to ensure proper financing. Only then will the accountability of members of the police be ensured and will the faith of the public in the Police Service be restored.

It is not only time to put a stop to the murder of farmers and farmworkers, but also the murder of police officers - the very people who must protect us. This can only be done if we budget properly to meet these needs. Then, and only then, when we can ensure the safety and security of everyone in our country, can we allege - now so unfounded - that we are indeed on course.]

I repeat to the hon the Minister that it is time to stop the killing of our people and our police officers, the very people who give their lives to protect us. Then, and only then, can we try to say that we are on course. Doing so before that is nothing more than a naive illusion, a senseless and cruel remark at the expense of the lives of our people, the very lives that we ought to protect and secure. [Applause.]

Mr V B NDLOVU: Somlomo neNdlu yakho ehloniphekile, mhlonishwa uNgqongqoshe [Madam Speaker and your august House, hon Minister], let me say, firstly, that all of us owe a deep debt of gratitude to our police personnel, who daily put themselves in the line of fire in order to protect the community. Hundreds of policemen and policewomen lay down their lives each year in the fight against increasingly ruthless criminals. I take this opportunity to pay tribute to all those officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of others. The whole House, I am sure, extends its condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives. [Applause.]

I want to take this opportunity to raise a number of concerns about the money currently being wasted and put forward some possible solutions which I hope the Minister and his deputy will consider. Now I address the issue of police equipment. Owing to the budget constraints on the SAPS, our police officers are often sent out to confront dangerous criminals with far too few resources at their disposal. There is a huge backlog in equipment required, such as police radios, vehicles, bullet-proof vests, and the like. The department has taken some steps to address these problems, but there is still a long, long way to go. We all understand that resources are limited and that is why we would like to spend far more on policing. We have to live within the existing constraints. That requires us to be far more imaginative than we have hitherto been in maximising the benefit of the scarce resources that we do have.

I want to draw the Minister’s attention to the very difficult situation we face with regard to police vehicles. Much of the vehicle fleet is old and badly in need of repair, meaning that many vehicles are off the road, causing great difficulties for the Police Service. The allocation of vehicles is also a problem. One will find some police stations without any operating vehicles at their disposal, while other police stations will have many vehicles surplus to their requirements, for example the police station at Umlazi versus the police station at KwaMashu.

The police vehicle repair service is perhaps not the most efficient service in South Africa. We hear of regular complaints about long delays in fixing vehicles, with the spare parts not being available and maintenance being poor. It is perhaps time we looked again at how we organise our vehicle repairs. We understand that in the past the department did consider outsourcing repair and maintenance of the police vehicle fleet, but could not find anyone in the private sector who could take on the job at the right price. But perhaps we need to come back to this issue again now and look at how we can use private sector expertise to improve the repair and maintenance of our vehicles.

I would be grateful if the Minister would be prepared to consider outsourcing maintenance and repairs on a provincial basis. It may be that the national approach to outsourcing has put off some organisations that could not offer a national service, but would be able to operate on a provincial basis. The IFP requests the Minister to look at testing the market on this idea to see if provincial outsourcing could provide a better service and prove more cost-effective that the current system.

The construction, maintenance and repair of police stations is another big area of concern. Every member of this House probably has a horror story that he or she could tell about a police station in his or her area. There is a huge amount of work to be done in upgrading and repairing existing police stations and building new ones, but the work does not seem to be done as urgently as we would like it to be.

The department signed contracts for new building projects with the Department of Public Works back in 1998, but these still have not been carried out. I do not simply want to blame the Department of Public Works. I know the department is under huge pressure with thousands upon thousands of buildings on its books. There is no benefit in trying to apportion blame. I want to see a solution, because the programme for building and repairing police stations is absolutely vital and cannot continue to be delayed in this manner. It is damaging to operational efficiency and it is undermining the morale of police officers who have to work under such terrible conditions.

We need a new way forward which will reduce the burden of the Department of Public Works and kick-start the building programme. My party proposes that, in future, the Department of Public Works should continue to be responsible for maintenance, but that a new building project should be led by the relevant department, in this case, obviously, the Department of Safety and Security.

This would have twin benefits. Firstly, it would relieve Public Works of a burden which they do not have the capacity to carry and would allow them to concentrate only on the important job of maintaining buildings. Secondly, it would allow individual departments to meet their requirements without the burden of going through the Department of Public Works. I hope that the Government will consider this proposal seriously, because it is clear that we cannot allow the current situation to continue for a moment longer than is necessary.

I want to come to the issue of representivity within the department. This is a very tricky matter and it is important that we get it right. There is a clear need for action to redress the injustices of the past, but we must do it in such a way that we do not undermine the morale of the force.

We must accept that a given number of police personnel who are protected by the sunset clauses negotiated at Kempton Park are functionally illiterate. There are many thousands of such officers who may not be retrenched, but who are unable to fulfil the requirements of taking a statement or of doing other paperwork. We must look at how best we can utilise these officers through deployment, for example, in a guarding capacity or other similar roles. Nevertheless, the presence of these officers does impact on our ability to build a truly representative force and we must recognise that.

We also need to accept that we now have one Police Service and that the past must be put aside. There are reports that police officers from the former SA Police are now being ditched and discriminated against in affirmative action posts. This is unacceptable. Membership of the old SAP is not a ground for discrimination.

We also note, on the grounds of reports, that Popcru members are being unfairly advantaged over members of the other police union. If that is taking place, it is not acceptable either. We also know that far too often, when posts in the Police Service are advertised, members of the previously disadvantaged groups fail to apply. As leaders, we must do all that we can to encourage those qualified members of our community to apply for these posts. Members of the Police Service must know that when a post is vacant, they can apply and that no posts are reserved for a particular person. Every member has the right to apply and receive a response.

The protection of our rural people remains a matter of grave concern to my party. People in rural areas have traditionally had poor access to police stations and have suffered as a result. Farmers also face a serious security threat, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, the Northern Province, the Free State and elsewhere. At the moment, farmers and rural people are feeling very vulnerable to crime and we must do all that we can to reassure them that Government takes their security extremely seriously.

This is a very serious matter and we must ensure that the police, rural communities and farmers work closely together to tackle this problem once and for all. Every province therefore should be charged with drawing up detailed rural protection plans, with the involvement of all stakeholders, in order to develop an integrated approach to tackle this threat. KwaZulu- Natal has already had one signed by Inspector Maseko and the officer in charge of the Defence Force there.

There are also other concerns that I must raise regarding security in KwaZulu-Natal. The killing of IFP members in the province continues and there has been little progress in arresting the culprits. [Interjections.] You know who! In addition, we have recently witnessed the murder of two businessmen in Ulundi. Again, it appears that there has been no proper arrest. How dare the police arrest a culprit and in five minutes’ time they release him saying that there is no evidence for him to be charged? How dare the police do that? I hope that the SAPS will do everything in its power to speed up the process to arrest the perpetrators so that they will make people’s lives, in a sense, safe.

I wish to turn to morale. The morale is low. We have insufficient time, the productivity is low and everything is done slowly. However, the police are doing everything in their power and we have to pay them more for what they are doing. We have to increase the budget of the police so that they are able to get good benefits. They are now paying for medical aid which they did not pay for before. All that will improve their morale. We therefore want to make sure that they get benefits which are due to them so that they will be able to fight crime the way they are supposed to. We support the budget. [Applause.]

Ms M M SOTYU: Madam Speaker, the South African Government has committed itself to the eradication of any form of violence against women and children. The Government has stated its intention to comply with the provisions of the Beijing Platform of Action and to improve the protection of children. Violence against women and children is a gross violation of human rights. The Bill of Rights contained in Chapter 2 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act, Act 108 of 1996, entrenches the right of every person to equality, freedom and security of person.

Many women stay in violent relationships for the sake of their children despite the fact that children are often better off in single-parent households than in so-called nuclear families that are nonetheless violent.

Yiloo nto uninzi lwabantwana lushiya amakhaya lubhenele ezitalatweni, lufike lukhuthuze, lufunxe neglu lwenze nazo zonke izinto ezingavumelekanga phakathi koluntu. Oko kwenziwa yile mpatho igadalala badibana nayo emakhaya. (Translation of Xhosa paragraph follows.)

[That is why many children leave their homes and take to the streets where they embrace negative experiences such as mugging, sniffing glue and other socially unacceptable behaviour patterns. All this is a consequence of the bad treatment they experience at their homes.]

Many women are financially dependent on the abusers and therefore find it very difficult to leave the abusive relationships for the sake of the survival of their children.

Amakhosikazi nabantwana kufuneka bewazile amalungelo abo. [Women and children should know their rights.]

The high level of physical abuse, economic abuse and witch-burning is unacceptable. The level of sexual violence and abuse of women makes women vulnerable to HIV/Aids infection. The HIV epidemic spreads mostly amongst young women. Women with abusive partners are unable to refuse sex with their partners. It is a woman’s right to refuse unsafe sex. Mostly, victims of rape and sexual abuse do not report these incidents to the police.

A national survey conducted in South Africa during 1998 found that violent crimes, mostly assault, stood at 54% and sexual offences at 68%, but in most cases the victim knows the attacker. The Domestic Violence Act, Act 116 of 1998, came into operation on 15 December 1999. It was designed as an instrument to assist members of the Police Service to deal with the social ills of domestic violence.

URhulumente uzama ngazo zonke iindlela ukulwa olu hlobo lobundlobongela nolukwinqanaba eliphezulu. [The Government is doing its best to root out this form of violence which is threatening to escalate out of control.] The Commission for Gender Equality was put in place in all the provinces. The Joint Monitoring Committee on Improvement of Quality of Life and Status of Women was also established to monitor and promote respect for gender equality and the protection, development and attainment of gender equality. We therefore say that the SA Police Service members should be sensitive when dealing with female victims of offences such as rape and domestic violence.

Late last year, and earlier this year, members of the portfolio committee visited different police stations in various provinces on a fact-finding mission in those areas. We are pleased to see that all police stations are doing their best as far as these kinds of crimes are concerned. There are comfort rooms for victims at some police stations, although these do not meet our expectations. We believe that the budget allocated for this purpose will be of great help. Members of the SA Police Service are faced with an extremely difficult task in that they are exposed to a high incidence of crime and violence on a daily basis.

Another factor that needs to be addressed is that of the high incidence of police suicide. Research shows that the suicide rate within the SAPS was 6 per 10 000 police officers in 1991. In 1994 to 1995, it increased to 20 members per 10 000 police officers. Research within the SAPS has shown that factors within and outside the work environment which were frequently mentioned as possible contributory factors include depression, criminal offences against members, interpersonal problems, financial problems, marital problems, relationship problems, extramarital relationships and divorce.

It is of the utmost importance to realise that the state of the mental health of police officers is our responsibility in order to create a caring and humane society whose law enforcement agents are in a position to safeguard this nation’s democracy with their lives. The need for drastic intervention in the occurrence of police suicide was identified and listed as a priority in the 1999-2000 list of police priorities and objectives. In September 1998, the national suicide prevention project was launched to develop and expand support services to every police officer. Let us all join hands and assist the police in combating crime in South Africa.

To Commissioner Jackie Selebi and his staff members, I would like to say that he should let nothing and no one stand in the way of implementing his three-year plan. [Applause.]

Genl C L VILJOEN: Mnr die Voorsitter, agb Minister, wanneer dit kom by begrotings van veiligheidsdienste in ‘n land wat so onveilig soos ons land is, wil ‘n mens dit altyd graag steun. As ‘n opposisieparty sy stem teen die begroting uitbring, beteken dit nie dat hy die departement die geld wil ontsê nie. Dit beteken dat hy daardeur demonstreer dat hy ontevrede is met sekere fasette van die Regering se beleid. [Tussenwerpsels.] Ons wil baie graag sê dat daardie geld ten beste bestee moet word en dat genoeg geld met die regte prioriteite toegeken moet word. Dit is ons taak om daaroor te waak.

Teenoor die veiligheidsmagte, die SAPD, die Kommissaris en sy hele polisiemag, wil ek die VF se groot waardering uitspreek. Ek wil ook sê dat ons kennis neem van die groot getal moorde, van die spanning wat SAPD-lede in hul werksomstandighede ervaar en ook van die spanning wat hul families ervaar. Ons het groot waardering en begrip daarvoor. Die polisie tree vandag eintlik op in ‘n polisie-onvriendelike land, en daarom is hulle die dank van ons almal waardig.

Ek wil in die paar minute tot my beskikking net twee belangrike sake uitlig. Eerstens wil ek sê die plattelandse beveiligingsplan is besig om te misluk as gevolg daarvan dat daar nie genoeg geld en prioriteit hieraan gegee word nie. Tweedens wil ek sê, hierdie toestand van onveiligheid wat op die platteland heers, maak van hierdie konsepwetsontwerp op wapenbeheer eintlik ‘n grap. Dit is onmoontlik om te verwag dat só ‘n wetsontwerp deurgevoer moet word.

Eerstens dan die kwessie van die plattelandse beskermingsplan. Normale moorde in Suid-Afrika staan op 14:100 000. Moorde op boere staan op 93:100 000. Dit wil sê boere se risiko om vermoor te word, is sewe maal groter as dié van ander mense.

Die spitsberaad van 10 Oktober 1999, waarna reeds vanmiddag verwys is, het ‘n belangrike beraad geword, want daar is 10 baie belangrike sake by daardie spitsberaad uitgelig. Dit was 10 weldeurdagte bevindings, en ek gaan ‘n paar daarvan vir agb lede noem.

Eerstens is daar by die beraad erken dat die oorsake van misdaad baie kompleks is, veral dié van plaasmoorde. Dit het aangetoon dat die kultuur van wetteloosheid en geweld in Suid-Afrika ‘n oorsaak is en dat ons nie net veiligheidsdepartemente by ons oplossingsbenadering kan betrek nie.

My vraag is of daar sedert daardie beraad al ‘n behoorlike studie deur kriminoloë onderneem is onder die duisende mense wat hulle skuldig gemaak het aan hierdie soort oortreding. Het ons probeer bepaal wat die werklike aard van hierdie saak is? Tweedens beklemtoon die verslag haatspraak, en sê dit ons moet opsweping ook vermy. Is dit nie wat plaasvind hier in ons eie Parlement nie?

Daar is die plattelandse beveiligingsplan wat sê strategiese voorsiening moet gemaak word vir plaasbeskerming. Daar is die kommando’s en die reserviste. So kan ek voortgaan. Ons wil nie politieke punte aanteken nie, maar ons gaan die ANC gas gee oor hierdie saak! [Tyd verstreke.] [Tussenwerpsels.] (Translation of Afrikaans speech follows.)

[Gen C L VILJOEN: Mr Chairperson, hon Minister, when one is discussing budgets of security services in a country that is as unsafe as ours is, one always wants to support them. If an opposition party votes against the budget, it does not mean that it wants to deny the department that money. It means that the party is demonstrating that it is dissatisfied with certain aspects of Government policy. [Interjections.] We would very much like to say that that money must be spent the best way possible and that enough money must be allocated together with the correct priorities. It is our task to see to that.

I would like to express the FF’s great appreciation to the security forces, the SAPS, the Commissioner and his entire police force. I also want to say that we take cognisance of the large number of murders, the stress which SAPD members have to cope with in their working environment and also the stress which their families have to cope with. We have great appreciation and understanding for that. At present the police actually have to operate in a police-unfriendly country, and therefore they are deserving of all our thanks.

In the few minutes at my disposal I just want to single out two important issues. Firstly, I want to say that the rural security plan is starting to fail, due to a lack of money and prioritisation. Secondly, I want to say that this situation of insecurity in our rural areas actually makes a mockery of this draft Bill on gun control. It is impossible to expect that such a Bill must be approved.

Firstly then, the question of the rural protection plan. Normal murders in South Africa stand at 14:100 000. The murder of farmers stands at 93:100

1. That means that farmers are seven times more at risk of being murdered than other people.

The summit of 10 October 1999, which has already been referred to this afternoon, has become important because 10 very important issues were highlighted there. They were 10 carefully considered findings, and I am going to mention a few of them to hon members.

Firstly, it was acknowledged at the summit that the causes of crime are very complex, and especially farm murders. It demonstrated that the culture of lawlessness and violence in South Africa is a cause and that we cannot only involve security departments in our approach to solutions.

My question is whether, since that summit, a comprehensive study has been done by criminologists among the thousands of people guilty of this kind of offence. Have we tried to establish the real nature of this matter? Secondly, the report emphasises hate speech, and also tells us to avoid incitement. Is that not what is happening here in our own Parliament?

There is the rural security plan, which states that strategic provision must be made for the protection of farms. There are the commandos and the reservists. And so I can continue. We do not want to score political points, but we are going to give the ANC blazes with regard to this matter! [Interjections.] [Time expired.]]

Dr A I VAN NIEKERK: Chairperson, hon Minister, I would like to say from the start that the SA Police Service is doing a sterling job against crime and hardened criminals for whom life has become terribly cheap, and it pays a heavy price for that. The FA commends their efforts, and those of the Minister and the commissioner regarding the Police Service in South Africa.

The SA Police Service is, however, facing a serious dilemma which can only be addressed at a managerial and political level. It is clear that a massive manpower shortage is facing the service. The previous Minister claimed that there were 140 000 policemen and policewomen in the service. In January this year, Police Service sources estimated the police force numbers to be be between 125 000 and 126 000, including the administrative personnel. Perhaps the Minister could tell us what the position is today.

A larger effective police force personnel must receive the highest priority from the Government and the Minister. In February this year, Minister Tshwete stated in the National Assembly that about 37 000 members of the SA Police Service were semi-literate. This situation is frightening and shocking. No war on crime can ever be successful with 35% of the police force having difficulty with reading or writing, thus making police documents unusable. He said a further 11 000 members of the SA Police Service could not react to emergency situations as they did not have driving licences. This is an unacceptable state of affairs. Those who can drive do not have vehicles, or petrol accounts have not been paid, thus rendering the service worthless. This is a difficult thing to handle, but it is a reality that the Minister is facing.

Now, if we look at the budget, although the budget for the Police Service this year is 7% higher than last year’s, according to the information at my disposal, it addresses only 25% of the Police Service’s personnel shortages, 22% of its vehicle shortages and 50% of its equipment shortages. The inability of the SA Police Service to operate fully discredits the force and undermines confidence within and outside the force. The status quo cannot prevail. We will have to do something.

The Minister’s colleagues must give him more money. As a suggestion to get more money, the FA would like to ask all Ministers and dignitaries who place a heavy burden on the SA Police Service to provide them with bodyguards, guarding their ministerial mansions and giving them chauffeurs, to voluntarily give up this privilege so that these people can be deployed where the need is greatest. Government dignitaries will then experience what is happening to ordinary citizens in the streets in neighbourhoods of South Africa. Once they have experienced the crime first hand, they will willingly and without delay provide the Minister with the budget that he needs to be effective. [Time expired.]

Dr S E M PHEKO: Mr Chairperson, given that time is limited, may I also pay tribute to the police who work under very difficult circumstances. It is the PAC in this House that has moved a motion condemning killing of police officers. I would also like to agree with the Deputy Minister about technology. We need to transfer a lot of technology to the Police Force because numbers alone are never going to be enough.

Having said that, the PAC’s position on crime is one of zero tolerance. Crime is a dangerous snake. It is destroying this country. Crime is delaying economic development and the upliftment of the poor. Crime subjects law-abiding citizens to fear for their lives and insecurity. It cannot be dealt with by handling it with kid gloves. That is why the work of the police, in particular, should be deeply appreciated by this nation.

When the PAC of Azania expressed the anger of the people of this country regarding crime, some members of the ruling party made a political football out of crime. [Interjections.] They vilified the PAC and seemed to be more concerned about pain being inflicted on criminals than with the pain criminals are inflicting on the law-abiding citizens of this country. [Interjections.]

At that time, the PAC warned that if the ANC Government did not take appropriate measures against crime, the people would resort to their own ways of punishing criminals. Some of our women, in particular, are already dealing with criminals in their own way. Two instances are enough to illustrate this point. A woman was reported to have cut the tongue of a rapist who forcibly kissed her. [Interjections.] Another woman was alleged to have cut off the private parts of a rapist and disappeared with them. [Laughter.] The hospital doctors appealed to her in vain to return the man’s thing''. [Laughter.] I will not tell members what that is, but members know what thisthing’’ is, which always violates the dignity of our women. [Laughter.]

The vilification of the PAC on crime, however, was a diversionary tactic. The absurd tactic has not worked. In this Parliament some members have gone further. They have spoken of chemical castration with regard to rape. Let me say that the Minister of Safety and Security himself has talked about amending the Constitution. This shows that the Minister of Safety and Security has realised that crime in this country is not a joke to be used as a political football. He has risen to the occasion.

I want to commend the hon the Minister for the commendable work he is doing, together, especially, with the police commissioner and the SAPS. Drastic steps are now being taken against crime. It is better to listen to the PAC and the people late than never. The PAC supports the Vote. [Time expired.] [Applause.]

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Order! Hon members, let us not prolong this. That is enough. The following member is going to deliver her maiden speech. [Applause.]

Ms D M MOROBI: Chairperson, our Government is committed to building a safe country. In order to create a safe society we have to reduce the number of firearms which so threaten the safety of our citizens, visitors and children. There have been a number of initiatives, undertaken by both the state and civil society, to address the problem of small arms proliferation.

We do not know what the number is of illegal firearms in our country. We do not know how many small arms are in circulation. But we do know that our country is awash with weapons. We know that law-abiding citizens are daily killed, maimed and threatened by firearms. And we regularly hear of licensed arms being stolen, of guns being lost, and of accidents with firearms causing loss of life. This easy availability of arms is a threat to our dream of the African renaissance. We all know the range of crimes which involve the use of guns.

In 1998, 85% of robberies were committed with firearms. Between 1994 and 1998 an average of 240 members of the SAPS were murdered, the majority by gunshot. When one owns a gun, the chances are high of one’s own gun being used against a family member or friend in the heat of an argument, or of causing an injury by accident.

Other crimes caused by reckless gun owners involve the killing of women by their husbands or lovers. Some men are threatened by women who hold high positions in their workplaces, for example being a doctor. These men know that they will be beneficiaries of their wives’ high insurance policies. Gender power relations are a legacy of society. Men in particular cannot accept the facts of gender balance. There was a march by one million women in America for gun control measures. The women who are ruthlessly killed by guns are breadwinners.

There are those who oppose gun control legislation, saying that licensed gun owners are responsible and do not contribute to crime. But I would like those who are against gun control just to listen to me for a few seconds. I am going to give members information pertaining to where I come from, that is Vanderbijlpark. Between January 2000 and April 2000 in Vanderbijlpark the following incidents pertaining to guns occurred: 115 robberies, 23 instances of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, 16 murders, one bank robbery, 13 thefts of firearms, 14 instances of negligent loss of firearms, one instance of illegal dealing in firearms and ammunition, and 40 instances of the pointing of firearms. So there is a tremendous need for gun control.

Let us separate fact from fiction. The facts are that guns which are used in crime are often licensed guns stolen from private citizens or from the state. Then there are crimes committed by legal gun owners, as well as those with guns smuggled into South Africa and sold at bargain-basement prices. The fact is that there are too many guns in South Africa. We cannot only focus on illegal firearms in reducing violent crime. We need to reduce the overall number of firearms in circulation, and we need to make ownership of a firearm an exception, rather than the norm, in our communities.

The audit states that lack of control over firearms and ammunition is a cause of grave concern. Between 1999 and February 2000 more than 227 firearms were reported stolen from the SANDF. This is totally unacceptable. The SANDF must put its house in order.

We anticipate that gun control legislation will be put in place, but we must do more. Our protection services - the police and the military - must ensure that weapons no longer in service and confiscated weapons are destroyed and that our border controls are effectively enforced.

The challenges in changing our trigger-happy culture are daunting, but some progress has been made. The National Commissioner of Police has created a special firearms control unit, which is situated in his Office and reports directly to him. The illegal-firearms units of the SA Police Service have seized 85 000 firearms between 1994 and 1998.

The SAPS budget for the year 2000-01 makes allowance for R57 million to assist in the implementation of the Firearms Control Bill. An additional amount of R82 million has been allocated for implementation, for the following two years. This amount will allow the central firearms registry to employ additional people and to upgrade the firearms register.

There is R57 million for the implementation of the Act, in addition to the R17,5 million which is budgeted for the Central Firearms Register. At present, there is no separate budget for the illegal-firearms units, owing to the restructuring which is taking place in the area of firearms control.

While both the management of the SAPS at station level and the specialised units are critical in tackling gun-related violence, the problem of crime cannot simply be left to the department. The importance of the social, political and economic context in which both petty and organised crime occur, are central to the problem.

Our focus must not only be on more effective law enforcement, crucial as that is, but also on building strong institutions of governance at all levels of Government, and building a strong civil society, united in its commitment to building a safe, caring nation.

Re re re a hlapanya hore, re le ANC, re ke ke ra hlola re tlohela naha ya rona ka hara matsoho a dinwamadi. [We swear that we, as the ANC, will never leave our land in the hands of vampires.] [Applause.]

Miss S RAJBALLY: Mr Chairperson, hon Minister, hon members and our police officials, firstly, I want to congratulate D M Morobe on her maiden speech. Congratulations. Malibongwe. [Let it be praised.] [Applause.]

In terms of section 205(3) of the 1996 Constitution, the objects of the police services are the prevention, combating and investigation of crime, the maintenance of public order, protecting and securing the inhabitants of the Republic and their property, and upholding the law. However, the question is: How is it possible to achieve the above when there still exists a lack of co-ordination between the police and civil society?

The main reasons for a disjointed criminal justice system are the lack of resources and qualified police officers. In order to beat crime, the national Budget must accommodate the following requirements: Better conditions between the police, the prisons and the courts; better environmental design and urban planning including cleaner CBDs that are equipped, for instance, with working and brighter lights.

Policing forces are in urgent need of a healthier lifestyle, more especially psychological counselling, to counteract the trauma they are confronted with during the execution of their duty. Education is the key to good policing. Bursaries and financial assistance must be made available for police officers to empower themselves with relevant knowledge and training on the tertiary level. This will groom the police officers to perform their duties in a well-informed and responsible manner.

Furthermore, education and training improves productivity, promotes discipline, motivation and the ability to work in teams, and multicultural sensitivity is developed. Although efforts have been made to reform the criminal justice system, we still need more projects to be initiated, to build modern and well-equipped police stations that will have the necessary capacity to deal effectively with serious and sophisticated levels of criminality.

Since 1994, South Africa has received significant donor assistance for the core departments of the criminal justice system from foreign countries such as Belgium, Sweden, the United States, Germany, Canada, France and the Netherlands to assist in crime prevention and to reform the criminal justice system. However, the availability of scarce resources was not used effectively owing to the lack of strategic management skills to assess the organisational needs critically. Therefore, it is important that the donor- assisted projects are integrated into the mainstream of the police bureaucracy to sustain transformation.

Victims of crime must be empowered through an effective, quality victim support system to enhance investigation and service delivery. The victims of crime most affected are women and children. South Africa is the rape capital of the world. Therefore, the introduction of a new sexual assault evidence kit must be speeded up, so that the implementation of better training techniques and equipment will increase rape conviction rates.

The major problem faced by the police forensics department is that we do not have an accredited academic course in forensics. A forensics academic course in South Africa is an indisputable necessity, which the Government must make unconditional efforts to make provision for. If accurate information is available, more can be done to transform the SAPS.

Corruption is a sad reality within the ranks of the SAPS. Therefore the Independent Complaints Directorate is tasked with the duty to investigate offences and misconduct in an impartial and effective manner. However, owing to the immense case load, the investigation of complaints is stifled. [Time expired.]

Mr J M NGUBENI: Chairperson, hon Ministers and colleagues, the Independent Complaints Directorate is a civilian oversight body with the express mission of promoting acceptable and proper police conduct, and it is tasked with proposing reforms and preventative methods to reduce the incidence of behaviour that gives rise to complaints against the police. The ICD is overwhelmed by the mammoth task of instilling public confidence, as well as ensuring accountability and promoting a culture of human rights in the SA Police Service.

Public confidence in the police has been eroded by the dark days of detentions, torture, and state-sponsored killings. If the persons who directly and indirectly governed during the time of the apartheid regime, and who today position themselves as champions, guardians and custodians of democracy, were truly committed to these democratic leanings, they should have established an institution like the ICD a long time ago. Today our ANC- led Government is a shining example of a vision that does not seek to protect the state from abusing its citizens, but to build a safe haven for all South Africans. Yes, to the cynics out there, that is our Machiavellian crime and vision. We are guilty of attempting to entrench democracy in South Africa.

The ICD has achieved remarkable results, given the scarcity of resources which comprehensively demonstrates their commitment to building a better South Africa. The reprioritisation of strategic objectives, planning and focus, has enabled the ICD to significantly reduce the cases referred to it. Moreover, it has successfully investigated the cases of death whilst in custody or cases of police-related deaths. This approach has also enabled the ICD to monitor or supervise investigations of cases taken back to the SAPS.

However, this does not suggest that other crimes are of lesser importance, like cases of corruption or misconduct. It must also be understood that the SAPS has, within its own structure, units such as the anticorruption unit, and disciplinary procedures which can complement the objectives of the ICD. This process unfolds within the framework of not compromising the independence of the ICD. Moreover, it would be counterproductive to project the ICD as the supercop of the SAPS since this would lead to unnecessary tension and conflict.

The ICD should be viewed as a vehicle which will carry transformation forward. This also demands ICD protection of SAPS members in cases of unfounded allegations. The focus of the strategy is to be proactive and not reactive in highlighting the root causes of problems affecting certain police members’ conduct and to develop a profile of police officers prone to violence. The latter task needs to be commended, because this definitely produces results that would assist us in many years to come.

The number of people who die whilst in police custody is still unacceptably high and is a serious cause for concern. These unfortunate incidents could be dramatically reduced and avoided if measures and methods to detect suicidal tendencies and illnesses were improved. Furthermore, we should avoid incarcerating people with injuries. Whilst the ICD needs to jealously maintain its independence and be so vigilant as to deal with issues of crime, corruption and misconduct without fear or favour, it is also equally important that the ICD recognises that to successfully achieve its objectives, there needs to be an appropriate measure of co-operation with the SAPS, as we all must realise that the overall objective is to fight and eradicate crime as economically and efficiently as possible.

The fundamental problem of violent crime and police brutality should be understood in the context of the violent exposure of the police in the past. Furthermore, the perpetrators of violent crime are also a generation that was exposed to an intolerable amount of violence in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. This is the generation who, as children, were exposed to corpses in the township and to consistent state-sponsored violence, hence the propensity to commit unnecessarily violent crime.

Regarding the masters, crafters and beneficiaries of apartheid, one is puzzled as to why they still ask about the lack of respect for life in our country. This is the legacy they created. It is also the reason why people look to soft solutions such as the death penalty - violent state tendencies

• or illogically look for scapegoats, such as making it seem as though crime started with our country’s liberation in 1994.

The ICD’s few years of existence have imprinted a clear message to criminals in uniform - that they should be exposed and punished. Further, the ICD also recognises that these criminals in uniform demoralise the honest, dedicated and brave policewomen and policemen of our country. Fighting crime requires the participation and co-operation of communities, because criminals do not live in mountains and thick forests, but in communities. The evidence and information required about them is found within these communities. The ICD should therefore promote itself to the public and be accessible to the public.

Another compelling question is racism among some members of the SAPS who do not want to accept change. According to ICD statistics, this area needs urgent attention because, without a doubt, racism of any nature is unacceptable. We cannot tolerate instances of reserved toilets, racial attacks and racial slurs within our society.

We are fortunate today that we are able to enjoy the democratic rights and traditions that we thought impossible a decade ago. For us to debate freely and forward proposals, and to discuss all these matters within the public domain, demonstrates the commitment and culture of transparency of the ANC- led Government. It is unfortunate that our opponents enjoy cheap point- scoring politicking rather than making a valuable contribution towards the building of a crime-free South Africa.

Fighting crime is not about increasing numbers, but about proper training, professionalism and strategic deployment of human and material resources. [Time expired.] [Applause.]

Mr C AUCAMP: Mr Chairperson, the hon the Minister has declared with great pride today that South Africa is not the crime capital of the world and that there is indeed the odd city in Europe with a higher crime rate. He reminds me of the Blue Bulls supporters boasting in the streets of Pretoria because at long last one team ended behind them on the Super 12 log.

Dit laat my dink aan Jannie wat met sy rapport by die huis gekom het en met groot trots gesê het: Pa, ek het die beste gedoen van dié wat gedop het!'' [That reminds me of Jannie who came home with his report and said with great pride:Dad, I fared best of those who failed!’’]

I appreciate the Minister’s optimism, and I also have a dislike for the prophets of doom to whom he referred. I am afraid, however, that the problem with crime in South Africa is not the prophets of doom but the statistics and realities of doom, and those one cannot get rid of with eloquence or a cowboy-like approach alone.

The most important matter to be addressed in the SAPS is the manpower situation. The greatest asset of any business is its manpower, its human resources. The approved staff complement of the SAPS is, according to Sapu, 161 000, and the number of members in the service is a mere 124 000, a shortage of 37 000. This should be addressed more aggressively. The Minister of Finance has allowed an extra R1,1 billion this year in the budget, but when the various hidden costs, like RDP projects and capital costs, are deducted, the actual increase is a mere 5,7%, which hardly meets the demands of inflation.

Bearing in mind the existing backlog of 37 000 members, the fact that some 40 000 employees who have qualified for promotion have not been promoted in the past two years and the fact that overtime payments to members are grossly inadequate, one may ask whether the Minister, with the current budget, has a snowball’s hope of reforming the SAPS into a body which can fulfil the duty of protecting the lives and properties of our citizens.

In this regard, the AEB requests the following: Increase the budget of the SAPS by a further 5%. Outsource all noncore functions and concentrate on the basics of combating crime. Address the vehicle situation. An extra 15 000 vehicles could be made available to the police with the R300 million intended for spending on a luxury aeroplane for the President. Give local communities greater responsibilities and resources to take responsibility for safety and security in their region. Get greater involvement, especially from big business, to become real partners in the fight against crime. There are lots of possibilities to be exploited in co-operation with especially the short-term insurance companies, which would benefit greatly from a lower crime rate.

‘n Saak wat kritieke afmetings aanneem, is die plaasmoorde. Só lyk die stygende grafiek van plaasaanvalle en -moorde sedert Maart 1997. Ek hou dit op sodat agb lede kan sien. Aanvalle op plase het van 327 in 1991 toegeneem tot 886 in 1999, ‘n totaal van 4 730 terreuraanvalle sedert 1992. Laat ons verder die feite onder oë neem: die wetgewing oor wapenbeheer sal ons landelike gemeenskap nog weerloser laat.

Hierdie moorde het ‘n spesifieke etniese gerigtheid, naamlik teen blanke boere. Roof alleen is nie die motief nie. In menige geval het die moordenaars niks geroof nie. Die ernstige graad van verminking is duidelike bewys dat hierdie moorde gepaard gaan met ‘n bepaalde afskrik- en viktimiseringstrategie. Dit is meer as misdaad, dit is blatante postrevolusionêre terrorisme. Is dit die manier hoe Suid-Afrika sy grondvraagstuk wil hanteer?

In hierdie verband rig ek ‘n aanklag teen die SABC. In die afgelope tyd word elke geïsoleerde geval van wanpraktyke deur enkele boere aan die groot klok gehang, en die geheelbeeld van duisende boere se goeie trou en welwillendheid word verswyg. Dan val die ANC nog elke keer oor sy voete om die geïsoleerde gevalle soos vandag by wyse van ‘n voorstel in die Parlement aan ‘n nog groter klok te hang.

Sedert die vroegste tye was die mees grondliggende funksie van die staat die veiligheid van sy burgers. Ons Grondwet, menseregte en die Afrika- renaissance sal ‘n illusie bly solank dié veiligheid nie verseker word nie. [Tyd verstreke.] [Tussenwerpsels.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)

[An issue that is assuming critical proportions is farm murders. This is what the ascending graph of farm attacks and murders since March 1997. I am holding it up so that hon members can see it. Attacks on farms have increased from 327 in 1991 to 886 in 1999, a total of 4 730 attacks of terrorism since 1992. Let us also take a good look at the facts: The legislation on firearm control will leave our rural communities even more vulnerable.

These murders have a specific ethnical focus, namely on white farmers. Robbery alone is not the motive. In many instances the murderers did not steal anything. The serious degree of maiming is clear proof that these murders are accompanied by a certain deterrent and victimisation strategy. It is more than crime, it is blatant post-revolutionary terrorism. Is this the way in which South Africa wants to deal with its land issue?

In this regard I am lodging a complaint against the SABC. In recent times every isolated case of malpractice by one or two farmers has been proclaimed from the rooftops, while the complete view of the good faith and goodwill of thousands of farmers has not been mentioned. And the ANC then also falls over its own feet to proclaim the isolated cases from the rooftops by way of a motion in Parliament, as happened today.

Since the earliest times the most basic function of the state has been to ensure the safety of its citizens. Our Constitution, human rights and the African renaissance will remain an illusion as long as that safety is not assured. [Interjections.] [Time expired.]]

Mr T M GONIWE: Chairperson, may I concur with Comrade Ndlovu in dipping my flag to the memory of all those policemen and policewomen who have laid down their lives in pursuit of a safe and secure environment for all South Africans. Today my speech is dedicated to one of the ANC stalwarts who is celebrating his 88th birthday, none other than Gatyeni Walter Sisulu. We wish him a happy birthday. [Applause.]

Contrary to the claims by the makhal’ ekuseni [whinging] brigade that the SA Police is failing in its task, the police has, in fact, taken major strides on the road to becoming a mean and effective law enforcement agency. The Police Service we have today has made significant progress in ridding itself of the shackles of its past. Policemen and policewomen are beginning to take democracy and its imperatives seriously. Human rights, transformation, equality, nonracism, nonsexism and gender sensitivity have become common words in the vocabulary of our Police Service. It is not surprising at all for the makhal’ ekuseni brigade to disown the Police Service.

Our Police Service is succeeding in changing its notorious image of the past to a more human one. The new creature our Police Service is becoming instils fear in the minds of its former masters. At a time when national consensus is needed to strengthen the Police Service, we are inundated with voices of dissent, whose main aim is to divide, weaken and demoralise our men and women in uniform. Central to the new image of our Police Service is the understanding of an integrated approach and strategy which takes into account social factors like poverty and unemployment.

A police force like this frightens the DP, because it is increasingly beginning to see crime and corruption for what they really are. It is a Police Service which will never again be used to beat up and tear-gas striking workers. [Interjections.] It is becoming a police force which will not be used to lock up farmworkers when they engage in struggles to free themselves from the farmers who oppress and exploit them. [Applause.] It is a police force that is beginning to attach and accord the same value to and respect for the poor women in kwaZakhele, Mdantsane, Lingelihle, Soweto and Alexandra as it does the rich businessmen in Sandton, Houghton and Bishopscourt. [Interjections.]

Mr D H M GIBSON: And in Bishop Lavis!

Mr T M GONIWE: It then should be understandable why the makhal’ ekuseni brigade wants to disassociate itself from a Police Service which seeks to protect all citizens without discrimination. [Interjections.] The hon Gibson has become a captive of his party’s mischievous intentions, which are to politicise crime and corruption through a cleverly crafted fault- finding campaign. All this is in the interests of catching a few votes in the upcoming local government elections. [Interjections.] Votes attained in this manner are nothing but blood votes. [Interjections.]

The DP’s lack of commitment to the safety and security of South Africans is clearly evident in the Western Cape, where the DP is governing. Communities on the Cape Flats and in black townships live and travel in constant fear of their lives. The provincial government, of which they are part, refuses to act decisively to end this. [Interjections.] Women, children and the elderly are terrorised daily by gangsters in the black townships on the Cape Flats. [Interjections.] I am sure that had this occurred in Bishopscourt or Sandton, they would not have been so tolerant of it. [Interjections.] They are demonstrating the kind of tolerance they demonstrated during the apartheid raids in our townships. [Interjections.]

Mr D H M GIBSON: We did do something about it!

Mr T M GONIWE: We, in the ANC, are committed to ensuring the safety and security of all citizens of South Africa. Our approach to combating crime and corruption is in line with our overall vision for our country. [Interjections.]

Mr D H M GIBSON: To do nothing!

Mr T M GONIWE: We are tough on the underlying causes of crime, such as poverty and inequality. [Interjections.] We are equally tough on crime and corruption. In order to effectively turn around the tide of crime, we insist on the following steps: A drastic reduction in the number of guns and ammunition in circulation and the introduction of tougher gun controls.

Maar ons weet tannie Meraai en oom Willempie het ‘n klomp gewere daar op die plaas. [But we know that Aunt Meraai and Uncle Willempie have a lot of guns on their farm.]

Unfortunately the criminals target those very old, frail people whose guns the opposition seeks to protect. [Interjections.] We want to introduce harsher sentences for serious crimes and alternative sentences for petty crimes, including electronic monitoring systems for some categories of those on parole and probation. Tougher sentences! [Interjections.] This week there was an example of a weeping rapist. He wept in the dock when he was given a life sentence, because of the good work of the SA Police Service. [Applause.]

We want to improve the conditions within the Police Service and review their working conditions but unlike some of our detractors, we are painfully aware that we do not have all the resources we would have liked to have at our command. [Interjections.] The most serious crime of our times is for the hon Douglas Gibson to come and be two-tongued here. He opposes this Government. What if his opposition party had won? He opposes the budget. Say, for some strange reason … [Interjections.] An HON MEMBER: He opposes everything!

Mr T M GONIWE: … his opposition party wins the day - that would paralyse the Police Service.

Mr D H M GIBSON: They would be so happy!

Mr T M GONIWE: I encourage Comrade Selebi to seriously consider doing something about the hon Gibson. [Interjections.]

In conclusion, to demonstrate our transformed Police Service, I want to share with hon members a recent occurrence where the police in Gauteng consulted with gay people, told them that there was a threat of increased violence against them and invited them to work together with the police to protect themselves. That is the same thing we are saying to our nation: Work together with us and work together with the police for the better security of everyone. [Time expired.] [Applause.]

The MINISTER OF SAFETY AND SECURITY: Chairperson, hon members, I would like to complete the rest of my speech, because it refers to a number of questions that have been raised by constructive debaters, not just howlers … [Laughter] … who see crime as a political issue. [Interjections.] I am referring in particular to Ms Van Wyk, the hon Pheko, the hon Ndlovo and of course …

An HON MEMBER: Gibson? Hon Gibson? [Laughter.]

The MINISTER: No, no. [Laughter.]

I wanted to indicate that the broad strategic approach that we are taking as a department is one which must have a lasting effect. We, as a department, are convinced that this is not a departmental issue. It is an issue for which responsibility should be shouldered by all the departments in Government, the private sector and our communities as a whole.

There is absolutely no way, even if one had 1 million members in the SA Police Service, that one could be on top of the crime situation if there were no active participation, no active involvement by our own communities in the provision of their own safety and security. [Interjections.] They cannot be spectators. Everybody must be involved. I concede the important point made by the Deputy Minister that in this day and age, one is not talking about numbers.

The hon Gibson is still trapped in the old days when people used oxwagons. [Laughter.] The computer provides the technology that counts. Along with the Department of Education and the National Youth Commission, we have undertaken - we are not planning to undertake, we have undertaken - projects to reduce youth violence. These aim to support learners to stay in school and to improve the resilience of our youth at risk, both of victimisation and of becoming offenders.

In a shared leadership role with the Minister of Health, I am consolidating a national multidepartmental strategy to deal with the hideous crime of rape, focusing on prevention, victim services, investigation, prosecution and court management, offender rehabilitation and partnership with civil society. We are being assisted in this by people from the United Kingdom, who are not just content to be talkers and fingerpointers, but who are saying: Where can we help you?

They are unlike these people here who are happy to point fingers. The hon Gibson and his ilk are waiting for that moment when they can celebrate the failure of the Government of this country to come to terms with the crime situation. [Interjections.] He prays day and night that we should fail. [Interjections.] That is why he is taking the kind of position that he has taken today.

The departmental programme, led by the police, supports the implementation of the Domestic Violence Act. Firearms control is, once again, one of the main focus areas receiving priority. Somebody talked about it here. I am pleased to inform the House that the Firearms Control Bill has been certified by the state law advisers, and will be introduced in Parliament tomorrow. For this purpose, an additional amount of R57 million has been allocated for its implementation during the current financial year. It is going to work. It is going to pass in this Parliament, and we are going to drag Gibson and his ilk along, kicking and screaming, to see it through. [Laughter.]

This include provisions for the upgrading of the Central Firearms Register, a new import-export system and the physical seizure of firearms from unfit persons, as well as the appointment of designated firearms officers and other relevant improvements. I have said this before, and I want to say it again: The new Firearms Control Bill is not aimed at disarming law-abiding citizens. Anybody who insists that we are disarming people is committing mischief par excellence. There is absolutely nothing about that in the Bill. Even the most illiterate person would tell one that there is nothing in it about disarming civilians who are ordinary law-abiding citizens of this country.

Again, they want to politicise the issue. At one point, they were saying that it was a ploy to disarm whites. That is what they were saying. That is the kind of mischief that one finds is created by certain members. [Interjections.] The hon member knows who they are. [Laughter.]

I would now like to address some organisational matters relating to the resources of our organisation. For the first time in the history of the police, a system has been introduced to direct all the activities of support divisions towards only one objective - to support our operational plan.

Hon Van Wyk should note that apart from the 1 200 new constables that we are going to be recruiting during the course of the year, an additional 600 civilians will be recruited to replace police officers doing administrative duties, so that they can be deployed to fight crime. This is not something that is being planned; it is something that has been approved. It has been budgeted for and is happening. Over and above these appointments, 600 individuals will be recruited to perform static guard duty, again releasing trained police members to fight crime. Approximately 300 new personnel will also be appointed to ensure the implementation of the strategy to deal with the proliferation of illegal firearms.

The majority of these members will be deployed to the priority areas that we indicated earlier on and within priority units, to enhance the implementation of our operational strategy. We have decided that the detective service and crime intelligence will benefit most from these endeavours, since they play a major role in both our geographical and organised crime strategies.

Gibson should note that opposition parties have, on various occasions, played a numbers game by drawing comparisons between the SAPS and the police services of other countries. [Laughter.] Policing is not about numbers … [Interjections.]

Mr K M ANDREW: Mr Chairman, on a point of order: We have allowed the hon the Minister to do this quite often, but I would very much like him to refer to the hon Gibson'', and not just toGibson’’. If he is going to use the word ilk'' again when referring to us, he must refer to us as the hon ilk.’’

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Order! You have made your point. We normally refer to one another as hon members''. I would request the hon the Minister to refer to him ashon member’’.

The MINISTER: Yes, hon Gibson! Policing is not about numbers. It is first and … [Interjections.]

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Order! Continue, hon Minister. They are disturbing you.

The MINISTER: Policing is not about numbers; it is first and foremost about strategy, and we believe that we have found the correct recipe. I want to mention a practical example. Gibson should not talk, because I will call him by his first name. [Laughter.] Hon Gibson! [Laughter.]

I want to mention a practical example. Although fewer members were deployed during the first five weeks of Operation Crackdown in comparison to Operation Monozite last year - 3 500 to 5 100 respectively - Crackdown produced significantly better results. In any event, international comparisons of the ratio of police members to population numbers, indicate that South Africa is well within accepted international norms. I hope the opposition parties will in future focus their energy on discussing solutions to problems. We can all count!

To ensure operational efficiency and maximum community support, the police must be representative of our country’s demographics. That is what we are addressing - this issue was raised here. The department’s targets for achieving a more representative management cadre will be reached as soon as the senior posts recently advertised have been filled, that is, 50% of all senior managers from director up, will be from the historically disadvantaged groups. At the level of provincial and divisional commissioner, these targets have already been attained.

In the management echelon of the SA Police Service, we now have 9% women at the level of director and above, as opposed to just 4% at the end of last year. We will continue to address gender representivity at all levels during subsequent appointments. Also, for the first time in the history of policing in South Africa, we have two women who have been appointed to the rank of divisional commissioner. [Applause.] They are both here today. We are proud of them.

I agree with bab’ uNdlovu that the killing of police members must stop. All of us - the Ministry, the police, Parliament, the whole nation - must do everything to protect our men and women in blue. Enough is enough!

On 25 June 1999, the President directed that steps be taken to review the conditions of service of our members with a view to their improvement. He said that this must help us to ensure that we raise the public status of our policemen and policewomen, so that they are seen, correctly, as the frontline guarantors of our fundamental right to life, safety and security.

Improving the conditions of service of members of the SA Police Service - members have raised this issue - will have a positive impact on the morale of members of the service and enable the SA Police Service to retain highly skilled personnel. We are in discussion with the relevant role-players with a view to putting in place strategies providing short-term, medium-term and long-term solutions to this issue.

The CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES: Order Hon Minister, your speaking time has expired.

The MINISTER: Even during the course of this week we are doing exactly that kind of thing.

I would like to thank everybody who stood up in support of both these Votes. Again, you are invited, Chairperson, to join us at a party after these deliberations. [Laughter.] [Applause.]

HON MEMBERS: Steve! Steve!

Debate concluded.

The House adjourned at 17:32. ____

            ANNOUNCEMENTS, TABLINGS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:

1. The Speaker and the Chairperson:

 (1)    The Subcommittee of the Joint Programme Committee on 17 May 2000
     took a decision, in accordance with Joint Rule 216, that the Local
     Government: Municipal Electoral Bill, 2000, be fast-tracked with a
     view to ensuring that the Bill can be passed by both Houses by 23
     June 2000.


     In terms of Joint Rule 216(4) this decision must be tabled in both
     Houses for ratification.


 (2)    Assent by the President of the Republic in respect of the
     following Bill:


     (i)     Fire Brigade Services Amendment Bill [B 63B - 99] - Act No
          14 of 2000 (assented to and signed by President on 12 May
          2000).


 (3)    The Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism on 18 May 2000
     submitted a draft of the South African Weather Bureau Bill, 2000,
     and the memorandum explaining the objects of the proposed
     legislation, to the Speaker and the Chairperson in terms of Joint
     Rule 159. The draft has been referred by the Speaker and the
     Chairperson to the Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs
     and Tourism and the Select Committee on Land and Environmental
     Affairs, respectively, in accordance with Joint Rule 159(2).

1. The Speaker and the Chairperson:

 The following papers have been tabled and are now referred to the
 relevant committees as mentioned below:


 (1)    The following papers are referred to the Standing Committee on
     Public Accounts for consideration and report. It is also referred
     to the Portfolio Committee on Communications and to the Select
     Committee on Labour and Public Enterprises for information:


     (a)     Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements
          of the South African Telecommunications Regulatory Authority
          for 1998-99 [RP 84-2000].

     (b)     Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements
          of the Ciskei Broadcasting Corporation for 1993-94 to 1996-97
          and the period ended 30 November 1997 [RP 79-2000].


 (2)    The following papers are referred to the Standing Committee on
     Public Accounts for consideration and report. It is also referred
     to the Portfolio Committee on Minerals and Energy and to the
     Select Committee on Economic Affairs for information:


     (a)     Report of the Auditor-General on the Group Annual
          Financial Statements of Soekor (Pty) Ltd for 1997-98 [RP 78-
          2000].

     (b)     Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements
          of Enerkom (Proprietary) Limited for 1998-99 [RP 57-2000].


 (3)    The following paper is referred to the Standing Committee on
     Public Accounts for consideration and report. It is also referred
     to the Joint Monitoring Committee on Improvement of Quality of
     Life and Status of Women for information:


     Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements of the
     Commission on Gender Equality for 1998-99 [RP 85-2000].


 (4)    The following paper is referred to the Standing Committee on
     Public Accounts for consideration and report. It is also referred
     to the Portfolio Committee on Labour and to the Select Committee
     on Labour and Public Enterprises for information:


     Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements of the
     Unemployment Insurance Fund for 1997 and 1998 [RP 77-2000].


 (5)    The following paper is referred to the Standing Committee on
     Public Accounts for consideration and report. It is also referred
     to the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture and Land Affairs and to
     the Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs for
     information:


     Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements of the
     Agricultural Research Council for 1998-99 [RP 40-2000].


 (6)    The following paper is referred to the Portfolio Committee on
     Health and to the Select Committee on Social Services:


     Report of the Department of Health for 1999-2000 [RP 75-2000].

National Assembly:

1. The Speaker:

 (1)    The following private member's legislative proposal was
     submitted to the Speaker on 12 May 2000, in accordance with Rule
     234:
     (i)     Transfer of Convicted Prisoners Bill (Adv H C Schmidt).


     The legislative proposal has been referred to the Standing
     Committee on Private Members' Legislative Proposals and Special
     Petitions by the Speaker, in accordance with Rule 235.

TABLINGS:

National Assembly and National Council of Provinces:

Papers:

1. The Minister of Finance:

 List of Shareholders of the South African Reserve Bank as at March
 2000.

1. The Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism:

 Report of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism for 1999-
 2000 [RP 68-2000].