Critical SAPS systems shut down
WHILE the shutdown of key forensic services, over a lack of payment, is expected to have a detrimental impact on law enforcement in the Northern Cape, the SAPS has put contingency measures in place while it seeks legal advice to see the matter resolved.
The SAPS and the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) confirmed last week that certain critical systems had been shut down following a threat from Forensic Data Analysts (FDA) to suspend its services over lack of payment.
Earlier, former police officer turned businessman, Keith Keating, of the FDA, said that key elements of the criminal justice system, including the Property Control and Exhibit Management (PCEM) and Firearm Permit System (FPS), for which FDA supplies services to the SAPS, could collapse if the SAPS does not pay for services rendered.
FDA, in a statement, said that it had been providing maintenance and support services for the PCEM and FPS to SAPS but had not been paid in the past few months.
“On Wednesday, April 4 2018, at midnight, use of and access to proprietary licensed software and ancillary support services in respect of PCEM and FPS will unfortunately be suspended by FDA, unless an appropriate agreement could be reached with the SAPS before system shutdown,” the statement said.
FDA also claimed that police officers may not be able to log on or off for duty, may unlawfully be able to check out and use firearms, and may not be able to access and manage evidence in the Forensic Science Laboratory.
Meanwhile, enquires to the police in the Northern Cape were referred to a statement from the head office of the SAPS, with national spokesperson, Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo, confirming the shutdown of “certain critical infrastructure systems within the SAPS” but emphasising that police were exploring their legal options
“We can confirm that certain systems have indeed been shut down and while the shutting down of the said systems is likely to affect the efficiency of certain operations within the SAPS, they, however, do not completely bring operations to a halt,” said Naidoo.
“To ensure that operations can continue unhindered and that service delivery is not compromised, contingency plans have been put in place.
“We will not be giving out specifics, given that there are serious security implications and that we may potentially need to act on the legal advice if necessary,” he said.