Concern over plan to arm and train CPF members
THERE was mixed reaction to the proposal from the portfolio committee on police that community police forums (CPF) be armed.
The portfolio committee had on Tuesday proposed that CPF members be given police training and enough resources to help fight crime.
The committee issued a statement on Tuesday in which it called on the civilian secretariat of police and the SAPS to speed up the amendment of the SAPS Act, as a means to clarify roles and responsibilities, and to strengthen policing.
Committee chairperson Tina Joemat-pettersson said she was concerned by the lack of uniformity in the policing system and this could be clarified through the amendment of the SAPS Act to bring it in line with the Constitution.
“It is on this basis that we have urged the SAPS management to expedite the amendment of the act to ensure that no gaps are visible in the fight against crime. From this amendment, a clear framework managing the relationship between the SAPS and community police forums must be set out,” Joemat-pettersson said.
She said the committee had called on the SAPS to standardise training and to ensure that CPFS were adequately equipped to play their role in the fight against crime.
Zandile Majozi, who represented the IFP in the committee, said yesterday the committee wanted CPFS to be given training similar to the police and be provided with resources including guns and patrol vehicles.
In addition, she said CPF members must be paid stipends as a token of appreciation.
Majozi said the support of CPFS by the government would assist police stations.
“We must give respect to the CPFS as we do to neighbourhood watches and private security companies. CPF members cannot be volunteers for ever without resources because this is also putting their lives in danger,” said Majozi.
South African Crime Watch leader Steven King said although it was a good idea on paper, he did not think it would be practically possible under the current circumstances.
He questioned where the money would come from because police stations were under-resourced.
“My biggest fear is that if they want to save by recruiting people because they will pay them less (than the police), the government will be creating a disaster as they will be doing the job of the police with less training and resources.
“We know police are overworked without pay so where would the money come from to fund this project?” asked King.
Institute for Security Studies head Johan Burger said he believed members of the committee were confusing the roles of the CPF and neighbourhood watches.
He said he had seen the bill but there was nothing suggesting what the committee was saying in the statement. He said the bill had not changed much from the SAPS Act of 1995 which created the CPFS.