MEDIA STATEMENT

SAPS IN KZN CAN EXPECT MORE UNANNOUNCED VISITS FROM MEC BHEKI CELE

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Mr Bheki Cele has vowed to ensure that the South African Police Services (SAPS) in the province delivers an acceptable level of service to the citizens of KZN.

Cele's comments come after his unannounced visit to Bulwer police station in the KZN Midlands on Friday (10/12/2004), together with officials from his Ministry and the Department of Community Safety and Liaison.

Cele was not pleased with what he observed, including that:

1. The Station Commissioner was not present and there was no official record to that effect,
    
2. Police vehicles were not adequately allocated to effectively police the area, 3. One police vehicle has been in for repairs since July 2004,
    
3. The police cells were in an unhygienic condition,
   There were no entries reflecting that the Station Commissioner perused the occurrence book (O.B.) for an entire week, and
    
4. Private vehicles were allowed to park on official premises.

Cele will now prepare a comprehensive report which will be forwarded to the National Minister of Safety and Security, Mr Charles Nqakula.

"This state of affairs is totally unacceptable and I will work tirelessly to ensure that the citizens of KwaZulu-Natal are provided with an acceptable level of service by the SAPS. There will be many more of these visits to police stations in the province, both announced and unannounced. I want to assure the citizens of KZN that they have a right to proper service by the SAPS and I will make sure that this happens," Cele said.

Cele's unannounced visit to Bulwer SAPS follows complaints by members of the public at the Presidential Imbizo by Deputy President Jacob Zuma that was held at Highflats a few weeks ago.
Just last month, Cele ensured that the name of the Department of Safety and Security was changed to Community Safety and Liaison.

"The name "Department of Safety and Security" was changed to "Department of Community Safety and Liaison", which is in line with the mission, mandates and role of this department in the province. In changing the name, we are putting more emphasis on our interaction with the general community, in line with our theme of "defending the weak". This name change signifies a move closer to the people. This is in line with our vision to fight, particularly for the weak and vulnerable, in respect of their rights to safety, law and order," said Cele.

"Our core function revolves around monitoring police service delivery to the communities. Through Community Police Forums, the department is stimulating dialogue and debate on matters of policing, community safety and crime prevention. We have already begun hosting regular workshops, izimbizo and community meetings, in order to assess the specific needs of the various communities, and to develop programmatic responses to meeting these needs. It is only through such regular interaction with the people, and ongoing liaison with communities that our work will have a meaningful impact in the province.

The government's emphasis on democratic civilian oversight and transformation of the police is a strategy, which must be given full impetus and must be driven hard by my department. Experience has shown us that if communities co-operate with the police, and provide information about criminals or criminal activity, we will achieve much success in arresting them and bringing them to book," Cele said.

"Hence, our new name which will contribute towards ensuring that the Department now plays a critical role, in ensuring democratic civilian oversight over the police in KwaZulu-Natal, through:

• Monitoring the police and conducting efficiency and effectiveness checks;
   
• Facilitating an improvement in relations between the police and the community;
   
• Investigating complaints against the police;
   
• Evaluating police stations; and
   
• Promoting participation of the community in reducing crime and exposing criminal activity," said Cele.

Bheki Cele
Cell: 082 900 3569

back