Cops to take softly, softly line
IN AN attempt to transform the SAPS and avoid the “skop, skiet en donner” approach that has led to fierce criticism of the service, a panel of experts would be assembled before year-end to start changing the way the police dealt with violent protests, Police Minister Nathi Nhleko told MPs yesterday.
Briefing Parliament’s portfolio committee on police on the recommendations of the Farlam Commission of Inquiry into the 2012 Marikana killings, Nhleko would not be drawn on the future of national police commissioner Riah Phiyega who faces a board of inquiry into her fitness to hold office.
However, Nhleko outlined the steps he had taken to ensure other recommendations of the commission were implemented, including the appointment of the panel of experts and a task team to drive transformation in the police service.
“This is a very urgent matter because it has engaged the psyche of the South African society.”
The panel would be drawn from experts in policing and related areas, locally and internationally.
Nhleko said he was speaking to experts in academia, NGOs and in policing to contribute to the panel.
Once established, it would be given 12 months to complete its work, and a further three months to write a report for the minister.
A task team, which would work parallel to the panel, would drive the implementation of its recommendations.
“What will take a little longer is the transformation task team which will work for a period of three to five years. That’s where your programme design will take place.”
The panel would have to give input to police on various issues, including the culture of the police service and its members, the structure of SAPS financing, ICT infrastructure, legislation, policy, and regulation.
Phiyega survived another day in office over the Marikana fallout after Nhleko told Parliament he did not have the power to suspend her over the findings of the commission of inquiry against her.
Nhleko told the portfolio committee on police that the fate of Phiyega lay with President Jacob Zuma.
The minister also told MPs that he did not want to discuss whether he would consider the issue of compensation for the victims of Marikana as there was currently a lawsuit against him and the president.
Thirty-four people were killed and scores were injured when police opened fire on striking miners at the Lonmin mine in Marikana on August 16, 2012.
A few days earlier, two policemen and security guards had been killed as violence had escalated during battles between rival unions.
Nhleko said he was meeting his lawyers yesterday to discuss the issue of compensation and other issues arising from legal cases affecting the police.
“It’s a legal matter, it’s not about what I would like to see or not,” said Nhleko.
Families of the victims of the Marikana tragedy sued the state for R1.8 billion last week, and Nhleko said he did not want to prejudge the matter.
Zuma announced a few weeks ago that a commission of inquiry would be established to probe Phiyega’s fitness to hold office.
This is in line with the recommendations of the Farlam Commission.
Nhleko said one of the shortcomings in the police was the skewed allocation of resources. The police have a budget of R73 billion, yet the bulk of that budget (74% ) goes to personnel and not service delivery.
Nhleko said this needed to change, and he said the panel of experts to be appointed would identify areas that needed urgent attention.
“It’s a significant step we are taking, that we are driving the change management programme in the police,” he said.
“I am running one-on-one engagements at a local level with people who would potentially be part of this panel.”
International experts would also be approached to serve on the panel.