| |
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
OUR COPS DESERVE BETTER!
The Democratic Alliance believes that crime is a national crisis that needs to be treated as such. The scale of South Africa's crime problem should make the strengthening of the South African Police Service one of the government's most important priorities, yet under an ANC government the plight of the South African Police Service is one of unimaginable hardship and neglect.
The ANC has continuously ignored the operating requirements of the SAPS; as result it is under-staffed and under-resourced, ensuring that it is in no condition to tackle a crisis of the proportions that crime presents to South Africa.
The conditions of service of police officers are a national disgrace and the DA believes that it is time that their plight is acknowledged.
The ANC's neglect of the police service can be directly linked to its dismal record on fighting crime. Since the ANC came to power in 1994 over 200 000 South Africans have been murdered, almost 500 000 have been raped, almost 1 000 000 armed robberies have been committed and 2 and half million homes have been burgled. Most damning of all is that only 10% of the criminals who perpetrated these crimes have been convicted and gone to jail. That means there over 600 000 murderers and rapists who are wandering the streets of South Africa.
Urgent and focused action needs to be taken, so that the SAPS can be strengthened to bring about the drastic reductions in crime that are possible. But the government, and Minister Nqakula in particular seem content with a "stabilisation of crime rates". This lack of urgency is an insult to ordinary South Africans who have to face the onslaught of violent crime every day.
The DA would immediately:
- Address police officers' salaries at the lower end of the rank structure by increasing salaries by R1000 per month for constables and inspectors. The total cost of which will be R360 million per year. This will be financed by a marginal increase in the Safety and Security budget and through cost saving measures.
- Correct distortions in the rank structure by ensuring that material and other incentives are used to reward "good cops", thereby ensuring that these cops are not promoted away from the streets.
- Ensure that all police officers have the necessary crime fighting equipment, such as bullet proof vests.
- Address the problem of police killings by making sure the police are well equipped and trained, as well as directly accountable to the communities that they serve.
- Recruit 36 000 police officers by 2007, with the aim of ensuring broad rank representivity. The main objective of transformation must be better service to the public; this can only be achieved by ensuring that South Africans are served by the police in a language of their own choice.
EXTENSION OF THE DEATH GRANT SCHEME
The DA proposes that immediate action can be taken to alleviate the desperate plight of those affected by the death of a police officer in the family.
| In this regard the DA proposes that the compassionate grant of R200 000 made under the Death Grant Scheme be extended to off-duty police officers. As this is a discretionary payment there should be no delay in making this a reality. The cost of extending the grant will constitute only 0,01% of the total Safety & Security Budget and is thus an immediately affordable policy option. |
Police officers are South Africa's first line of defence in the fight against crime; as a result their conditions of service need to be made as good as possible. The nature of the work of the SAPS means they face risks far higher than any other sector of society; as a result the government has a special responsibility to ensure that police officers are well rewarded, trained and equipped. South Africa's police officers deserve better than their current inadequate treatment. South Africa deserves a police force that is capable of making South Africa the safe and prosperous country that it can be.
Download the Complete Document
|
ABOUT THE DA
