• Some personal background – your interests and what set you on your present path? Are you sufficiently capacitated in your present job – do you and your committee need teeth?

I have long been an advocate for a crime-free society because I believe that for the country to prosper and reach its full potential it requires an environment free of crime. For example, women and children of Jukulyn in Soshanguve and Nyanga in the Western Cape are not free to walk outside at night due to the tangible fear of being raped, robbed or killed. This is not the kind of society that is conducive for greater socio-economic development. I have had strong ties with ordinary South Africans, like Aunty Guffy Dinginto, who have dedicated their lives to ensure a safe and secure environment for their communities.

There are enough “teeth” for the committee to do effective oversight, but what is needed is clear focus on critical areas of policing. If this is resolved, we will make headway in the fight against crime. For example, we must hold the Minister accountable for the commitment to ensure adequate resourcing of the Detective Services within the SAPS, the fixing of the morass within the Crime Intelligence Services to ensure that we prevent crime before it happens, and to strengthen wellness services within the SAPS. If we focus on these, including the adequate funding of police stations with necessary tools and we move away from investing money in unnecessary areas, the committee will have done its job adequately.

• Where is the South African Police Service strategically at present? Is this a political problem or a technical policing problem

It is not doom and gloom, but there are concerns that must be fixed with urgency to ensure a lean and effective SAPS. For example, the SAPS is currently top-heavy with many generals that are not doing the actual policing work. Also, SAPS management must realign essential priorities, like budgeting for the current environment; spending more money on Detective and Intelligence services to ensure that they achieve first the objective to prevent crime; and effective prosecution of criminals. There are within the SAPS dedicated police officers who take their call to service seriously, but similarly there are rotten apples that destroy the credibility of police through corruption and other criminal activities. If these elements are identified and removed from the service, then the SAPS will be a better organisation.

• Does the SAPS deserve the trust of South Africans?

Trust is earned and in some cases the SAPS have left much to be desired. Hence the argument that strategies must be put in place to remove the rotten and corrupt elements within the SAPS to ensure that the organisation regains the trust of citizens. It is only through deeds, such as acting on information given by society, follow-up with victims on the progress of cases and effective prosecution of criminals, that the SAPS will regain credibility in the eyes of the public. But I must reiterate the point that there are many committed and dedicated SAPS officers who are working to change the status quo on crime in the country.

• What is missing from the policing strategic mix in SA? Scorpions? Reputation? Is there any policing doctrine being applied?

The National Policing Strategy is an excellent policy foundation in South Africa, the challenge which is endemic across government departments is effective implementation coupled with inadequate resourcing to implement the strategy. For example, the NPS calls for the utilisation of an appropriate operational approach informed by the analysis of identified crime threat, yet you find police stations like Harare Police Station in the City of Cape Town with limited human resources despite the fact that there is a clear trend of high crime rate in that area. Also, rural policing has in the main been left as an afterthought with limited or no vehicles to respond to criminal disturbance. If these impediments are resolved, then the police will be in a much better place to do their work.

• How does the principle of human rights fit into the priorities of the SAPS?

Human rights remain a guiding principle of the work of the SAPS. Hence the Portfolio Committee on Police has called for the adequate capacitation of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate to ensure that when the SAPS stray from their mandate, they are kept accountable. The Minister, the Portfolio Committee on Police and provincial legislatures’ community safety committees must ensure effective oversight to ensure that the SAPS are held accountable at all times.

• SAPS seems to have been unable to develop a can-do security force ethos, does SAPS have a top-heavy structure that needs adjustment?

Firstly, the commitment made by the Minister that he will not interfere in the work of the National Commissioner is the first step to ensuring operational effectiveness. Secondly, the committee was clear and unanimous in its inaugural meeting that the structure of the SAPS is top heavy and the restructuring process that has been underway since the 6th administration will hopefully resolve this challenge. We have seen with the last two appointed national commissioners that there is a move to appoint capable career police officers who have a strong history of fighting crime and hopefully this will ensure efficiency in the medium to long term.

• Will the GNU be able to deal with these issues? Considering many believe they stem from political considerations?

The signed statement of intent and the priorities set out in President Ramaphosa’s opening of Parliament address send positive signals of the GNU’s plans to resolve the crime challenge in the country. With laser sharp focus the GNU will ensure successful implementation of those stubborn areas.

• What is the resource horizon needed to turn things round?

What is needed first is to have a comprehensive understanding of areas of weaknesses, such as the disproportionate spending on the SAPS VIP Unit while spending less money on the FCS (Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Units) is unfathomable. We need to spend what we have currently and efficiently because if we don’t get that right even 5% of the GPD allocation will not ensure achievement of objectives.

• Crime Intelligence and VIP Protection units, what are your thoughts on the reputations of these units?

The committee was also clear on this, that an era of impunity, corruption and lack of accountability within the CI environment is unacceptable. The committee has committed to intensive oversight over these critical components of the SAPS. The high allocation to the VIP Protection Unit remains a concern because it transmits a message that the SAPS cares most about the VIP than it does about the people.

• Do we need a truth commission for SAPS? Or a standing denunciation committee?

This is no time for another talk shop dedicate to revising strategies, but this is a moment of effective and agile implementation of crime-fighting strategies that will deliver effective results. To keep up to date with the work of Parliament, please go to the daily Parliamentary Papers: Parliamentary Programme, Order Papers, Minutes of Proceedings, ATCs, Question Papers, Internal Question Papers.

• Should police be held legally liable for their actions in their personal capacity? Is this part of the answer to clean up high levels of crime and incompetence by police?

The training from police academy level and continuous training within the SAPS is critical if the SAPS is to overcome some incompetence within its ranks. For example, the committee called on the SAPS to invest in capacitating SAPS on how to handle GBV cases to prevent secondary victimisation. Also, technology can assist in crime fighting initiatives but requires adequate and continuous training to be interwoven into the fabric of the SAPS organisational culture.

This interview was edited for clarity.