Department of Police
The police minister, Nathi Mthethwa, has confirmed that his department is in the process of reviewing the white paper on safety and security.
He revealed this during an address to an Institute for Security Studies conference on “Understanding the Perspective of Crime” in Johannesburg.
The minister also added that the South African Police Act of 1995 and the Private Security Industry Regulation Act of 2001were under review.
According to the minister, government wants to bring these pieces of legislation “in line with the policing challenges we face today”.
He indicated that the revised white paper would serve as the yard stick against which government will measure its fight against crime in South Africa.
The minister stressed that no wholesale changes to the legislation will be introduced.
Rather, certain areas will be tightened up where necessary.
He vowed that government will continue to wage a war against crime.
“We will fight it toughly, smartly and within the confines of the law under a community-policing philosophy”.
Reference was also made to the recent introduction of new laws designed to boost the effectiveness of the independent complaints directorate and the civilian secretariat of police.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate Act and the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service Act were both signed into law in 2011.
Both pieces of legislation seek to curb any potential abuse of power by police members.
The police department is also looking at ways to enhance training within the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Other initiatives under way to improve service delivery include:
• Turnaround strategy within forensics
• Skills development and capacity-enhancement within the detective services
• Entrenching principle of command and control within SAPS-accountable management
• Addressing criminality within the SAPS
Sabinet Cape Town Office
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