Public finances Social Covid-19 3 are dangerously development 16 Budget cuts overstretched 8 department A Blow To will focus on Agricultural those who Sector are most vulnerable Vol. 02 Official newspaper of the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa Issue 05 2020 2019/2020 crime stats show decrease in violent crimes, says Minister All crimes in this category decreased, including burglary at residential premises, which declined by 6.7%. Robbery at residential properties also recorded a decrease. The Minster of Police, Mr are not where we want to Another important category deployed to address the together with government Bheki Cele, briefed the be. However, we are pleased recording a significant growing increase, Minister to defeat the scourge and Portfolio Committee on Police with the improvements in decrease, is property- Cele said. expose perpetrators. on the 2019/20 national the most subborn crime related crimes. All crimes On sexual offences, Mr Cele crime statistics, saying that categories,” he added. The in this category decreased, pointed out that this sort of “It is of concern the statistics provide a clear number of contact crimes, including burglary at crime often happens behind indication of how well the particularly murder, have residential premises, which closed doors and are only that educational South African Police Service halved over the past three declined by 6.7%. Robbery publicised after the offence institutions are (SAPS) is delivering on its years. In 2017/18, the case at residential properties has been committed and mandate to ensure that difference was 1 320, in also recorded a decrease. the victims have passed on. becoming hotbeds South Africans feel safe. 2018/19 the cases difference However, carjacking and Campaigns against gender- for sexual violence. was 686 and in 2019/20 truck hijacking recorded an based violence and femicide The statistics reveal a the SAPS recorded a case increase of 13.3% and 1.7% must be intensified. Private 380 cases of rape were slowing of the increase in difference of 303. respectively. Operational sector and gender activists’ reported at schools, violent crimes. “Indeed, we interventions have been organisations must work PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA www.parliament.gov.za parliamentofrsa 2 INSESSION NEWS universities, colleges and an arrest or a deployment officers, whilst 12 138 have 2019 firearms amnesty, number of illegal firearms in day-care facilities,” he to a Community Service contracted the virus, with which began on 1 December circulation. In the previous reiterated. Centre suddenly demands a 254 hospitalised and 4 904 2019 and was meant to run amnesty period, 44 033 different standard operating recoveries,” he said. until the end of May 2020, firearms and 246 060 As for the Covid-19, the procedure. was severely affected by rounds of ammunition pandemic has drastically On the proliferation of illegal the outbreak of Covid-19. were surrendered and over redefined traditional policing. “In the call of duty during firearms, this remains a This contributed to the 19 000 applications to renew Social distancing is the this pandemic, the SAPS major contributor to crime SAPS’s inability to fully licenses were received. new normal and making has lost a 113 police levels in the country. The and effectively reduce the Police have become the first and last line of defence in the fight against the coronavirus “The rate of GBV in South Africa is five times higher than the global average. There’s one death too many that is related to GBV in our country.” odds. He added: “When the world closes, policing to address the safety of “women, children and continues. When businesses close, policing members of the LGBT community”. continues. When there is lockdown, policing She decried the economic conditions of women continues.” in the country. “The introduction of a sustainable social security system would assist our country to Even when more than 95 police lost their lives, eradicate all forms of GBV. The question to ask is: policing continues. He said despite all these do people have confidence in our police service, if challenges, police management worked hard to yes, to what extent?” she asked. ensure that the well-being and morale of the police remain at an all-time high. “In this regard, we need a strong Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) to investigate Minister Bheki Cele Well over R3.7 billion has any kind of criminality. And it should have full jurisdiction in all sectors of policing, including The police have become the first and last line been prioritised to respond to metro and traffic officers.” of defence in the fight against the spread of Covid-19. the coronavirus, hence the National Treasury Rev Kenneth Meshoe said that since October last has adjusted the police budget upward by R3.7 Some of the adjusted budget will cater for a year, 103 000 cases have been withdrawn because billion to enable them to enforce the lockdown Covid-19 public education and awareness campaign of poor police investigative capabilities, nine time regulations. That was what the Minister of Police, to facilitate the involvement of community safety more than last year. Of the sexual violence-related Mr Bheki Cele, told Members of the National forums. cases, Rev Meshoe stated that over 65% of them Assembly (NA) in a virtual mini-plenary sitting Regarding GBV, he pointed out that “we should all were withdrawn before they were heard in court. when he presented the Budget Vote for the concur that those who abuse women and children, “It is hardly surprising that according to Afro- Department of Police, writes Abel Mputing. abuse our nation”. Barometer, the South African Police Service (SAPS) is the least trusted institution in South Africa.” Presenting the adjusted budget of the department, The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Mr Cele urged South Africans to hold hands in Police, Ms Tina Joemat-Pettersson, said the largest He further proclaimed that according to Corruption the fight against the pandemic and not betray threat to future economic growth is crime. She Watch, the SAPS is the most corrupt institution this cause. He dedicated the adjusted budget commended the Minister for ensuring that during in SA. He said: “It is alleged that the police erect to gender-based violence (GBV) and to the Covid-19, the police are in a position to support random stops for extortion than upholding the police’s selfless commitment in the fight against the state “in enforcing the national disaster law.” the spread of the virus. “We find ourselves in regulations with the necessary care and empathy a quagmire of an invisible enemy that attacks that South Africans deserve”. Ms Zukisa Faku decried the increase in the number everyone, including police officers,” declared the of GBV cases. “The rate of GBV in South Africa is Minister. She admitted though that Covid-19 has put an five times higher than the global average. There’s extra burden on the limited resources of the one death too many that is related to GBV in our “Covid-19 has redefined conventional policing,” he Department of Police. As such, she welcomed the country.” claimed, “the current regulations demand different suspension of the sale of alcohol. In her view, operating procedures. The police had to adjust this “will go a long way in reducing violent crime She called upon Minister Cele to see to it that GBV to the 360% turn while not losing their focus on against women and children and lessen the burden cases are prioritised and given the resources they serving and protecting the nation.” of care in the country’s hospitals”. demand so that the state can treat victims with respect and the police be in a better position to He commended the relentless efforts of the She said the committee welcomed the additional arrest the perpetrators of this crime. police who died from contacting the virus and R3.7 billion to the police budget. In her view, this the sacrifices they continue to make against all will place the police to be in a better position PUBLIC FINANCES 3 Public finances are dangerously overstretched There is an agreement that economic growth is urgent. One of the key projects that the National Treasury will be driving is to work closely with the rest of government to drive a package of Editor reforms to improve productivity, lower costs and reduce demands of state-owned companies on Brent Simons the public purse. Production editor Mava Lukani regional and international “More significantly, the Design and layout Mind Trix Media cooperation, and continue shortfall reflects the the roll-out of our expectation that the tax base Copy editors improvements to the system will temporarily shrink as Jane Henshall, Vusumzi Nobadula of financial regulation.” businesses close and people Writers lose their jobs.” Abel Mputing, Sakhile Mokoena, Rajaa Azzakani, Brent Simons, There is an agreement that As set out in the Mava Lukani economic growth is urgent. supplementary budget, the Photography One of the key projects that gross borrowing requirement Mlandeli Puzi, the National Treasury will has increased to R776.9 Zwelethemba Kostile be driving is to work closely billion. Gross national Distribution & subscriptions Minister Tito Mboweni a strong National Treasury, with the rest of government government debt is projected Jacqueline Zils staffed with the best the to drive a package of reforms to increase to R3.97 trillion Publisher country and the world to improve productivity, (or 81.8% of GDP) in in the In presenting the National Parliament of the Republic of have to offer. The National lower costs and reduce current year. “This increase South Africa Treasury Budget Vote during Treasury has set itself a demands of state-owned in debt means that we now a virtual National Assembly Printer three-pronged strategy, and companies on the public budget for a direct charge of mini-plenary sitting, the Vision Enterprises one of those strategies is to purse.