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The Western Cape has the largest police shortage in the country, with 85% of police stations in the province understaffed. The Standing Committee on Community Safety of the Western Cape Legislature asked the Public Service Commission (PSC) to investigate last year, after holding a series of public hearings on the question
. . News24 Jenna Etheridge unpacks the report and other events that affect policing practices and shortages.
The PSC made key recommendations to the South African Police Service (SAPS) to address its staffing practices and shortages. a report published in June. Importantly, he advised the Commissioner of Police Western Cape to draft a plan for the equitable allocation of resources in the province within six months and submit it to the national police commissioner, who should then monitor the implementation of the plan. implementation of the plan. Commissioner Bruno Luthuli, who compiled the report, said the plan should focus specifically on stations that have serious constraints, which were highlighted at the Khayelitsha Commission on Police Services
. six months
The badignment of police personnel and resources in the Western Cape has been in the spotlight for several years. It was discussed in the Legislative Assembly and was reviewed by the judiciary.
READ: The crippling police shortage of the Western Cape by numbers
In 2013, it appeared in a written response from the National Assembly that the province had a shortage of 1,012 police officers, the highest in the country. He also revealed that 85% of police stations across the province (128 stations) were understaffed.
In 2014, the Standing Committee on Community Safety led by Mireille Wenger conducted surveillance visits to police stations across the province. staff faced with the performance of their duties.
In 2015, the committee decided to hold public hearings to better understand the challenges and address the impact that shortages may have on communities. It also gathered feedback from key stakeholders. The hearings took place in October 2016.
With these comments and a considerable number of shortages, the committee tabled a report and Wenger wrote to the PSC in August 2017 to request an investigation into -financing
. At the same time, in March 2016, the Coalition for Social Justice, Equal Education and the Nyanga Community Policing Forum filed documents in the Cape Town Equality Court on the allocation of human resources from the police. The Minister of National Police, the National and Provincial Police Commissioners and the Provincial Security MEC were listed as respondents.
Appeal to Review the System
The plaintiffs argue that the distribution of police officers among the nine provinces discriminated against poor black communities and that the system should be revised.
The case was heard in November 2017 and in February of this year. The judgment has not been rendered yet.
While making recommendations, the PSC stated that the results of the case should be expected "as this would have a major impact on the allocation of resources within the SAPS". – whose motto is "Guardian of Good Governance" – is an independent constitutional entity empowered to lead the civil service.
Luthuli examined various reports and correspondence from different parties, the regulatory framework governing the police and medium-term police expenditures.
According to his report, a central question for all investigations and research on the allocation of resources in the province was the dissatisfaction with the theoretical needs in human resources (THRR), which determines the ideal resources that should be placed in a police station to enable him to perform his duties.
The THRR calculates the ideal resources that should be allocated by police station. "
Police-Population Ratio
The PSC stated that it had become aware of the concern surrounding the relationship between the police and population, particularly in high-crime areas of the province
Under the SAPS Act, the report states that the provincial commissioner has the command and control of the service under his jurisdiction.
"In addition, a provincial commissioner has the power to determine the strength of the service under his jurisdiction, which includes the allocation of resources."
According to the SAPS Estimates, the number of positions would be reduced funded in the medium term to stay within the ceiling of government expenditure for employee compensation.
"It is clear that the allocation of human resources will be affected negatively "Luthuli noted in his findings, referring to a decrease of 193,431 positions in 2017/18 to 191,431 positions by 2020/21.
The PSC did not have access to information on methodology in terms of resource allocation, but it appears from research conducted by the Ministry of Community Safety that it there is a gap between the number of positions funded at the fixed establishment [posts created for normal or regular requirements] and the number of positions determined in SAPS has not yet responded to a request on Wednesday to comment on the PSC's recommendations
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