Ipid Bill a priority says head of the directorate

KEY priorities for this year for the organisation include the finalisation of the Ipid Bill, the acting executive director of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate ( Ipid), Patrick Setshedi, said.

Addressing the Portfolio Committee on Police yesterday, Setshedi said the bill would result in the directorate playing an oversight role on other law enforcement agencies that are currently not included in the Ipid Act.

Additional focus, he said, would be given to the strengthening of investigative capacity and refining processes to improve the quality of investigations as well as prioritising cases which will include Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBV&F) among others.

Before Ipid’s presentation, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) also addressed the committee and revealed that the compensation of DPCI employees is and will remain the largest cost-driver – constituting 83.9% at R1.7 billion.

The DPCI’s acting national head, Lt General Tebello Mosikili, said the budget for the 2021/2022 financial year stands at R2.079 billion which is paid by the National Head Office (SAPS).

A 16.1% allocation goes to the DPCI Provincial and Components amounting to R329 million for operational use.

“Therefore, DPCI National is responsible for the payment of an overtime amount estimated to R13 million allocation, which forms part of compensation of employees. The importance of cost containment measures has been emphasised, to reduce spending levels. During the 2021/2022 financial year, DPCI will focus on the capacitation of some of the units. Other major cost-drivers are fuel, communications services and subsistence and travelling expenses,” Mosikili said.