‘Graduates, gurus’ to help bring down crime

2009/09/16
Natasha Marrian HERALD CORRESPONDENT

SOUTH Africans will soon be making statements to paralegals and legal professionals when they enter one of the country’s 1116 police stations to report crimes, police chief Bheki Cele said yesterday.

“The next recruitment lot will be legals and paralegals to take statements ... so that police can be in the field, and to ensure these statements stand in court,” Cele told the National Press Club in Pretoria.

A process of “professionalising” the police service was being phased in. The men in blue would be recruiting science graduates into their ranks to run forensic labs and machines.

“We need key aids (accountants), we need IT gurus ... we are phasing in that kind of quality,” the commissioner said.

This was not a restructuring of the police service but rather an attempt to bring in more professional and better trained personnel, he said.

Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said this formed part of efforts to improve the police service’s performance.

He said certain units previously disbanded might be reintroduced.

“The closure of these units has led to significant debate regarding the need for certain types of crime to be addressed by people with specialised knowledge and experience.”

This could only be acquired through “direct engagement” in these areas.

“The ministry is considering the reintroduction of some of these specialised units, in particular the child protection unit and sexual offences unit. We must strengthen measures aimed at fighting the spectre of violence against women and children.”

A new head had been appointed to lead police watchdog the Independent Complaints Directorate. Mthethwa said the ministry was finalising legislation to improve the directorate’s performance.

A new secretary of police had also been appointed. The secretariat of police had been enhanced and restructured to provide better civilian and ministerial oversight of the police, Mthethwa said.

He said legislation empowering police to respond more forcefully to dangerous criminals was close to finalisation.

Consultation between Mthethwa and Justice Minister Jeff Radebe on the amendment to Section 49 of the Criminal Procedure Act had been completed. “We have gone through the processes. It now has to be presented to Parliament.

“We must hasten to say that trigger- happy members of the police must not think that this is a licence to kill.

“It is a measure aimed specifically at serious violent crimes and dangerous criminals,” the minister said.

Cele said there was “no confusion” among policemen that the new legislation was a call to be trigger- happy, but he added: “The only language R5s (SANDF-issue automatic rifles) understand is an R5.”

Mthethwa said the amendment to Section 49 was meant “to zoom in” and take specific measures against a specific crime.

“We know the gangs roaming our streets and know the kind of misery and pain they cause in society. These criminals sit and plan with military precision. These are our targets.”

Mthethwa said Monday’s killing of six men at a foiled cash-in-transit heist at Kameeldrift west of Pretoria was not a “random and indiscriminate police shooting”.

The police had received a warning that a cash van would be attacked and responded accordingly. The perpetrators were armed with automatic weapons, he said.

“The police intervened after the suspects opened fire ... and their actions not only secured their lives but also the lives of the security personnel accompanying the vehicle.”

Mthethwa also sought to allay fears that next year’s Fifa World Cup would be marred by crime.

“South Africa has hosted over 100 international events since democracy ... each time there has been anxiety. The Confederations Cup was a success, even then there were sceptics, but we were ready to welcome visitors,” Mthethwa told a Britsh High Commission representative.

The British press has raised concerns over safety and security during the World Cup, which should draw about 30000 England fans.

Since the day South Africa won the bid to host the event, it had been preparing, he said. All required security measures were put in place to ensure effective safety during the hosting of the Confed Cup.

“The tournament assisted in highlighting areas of our security plans that need further refinement ahead of 2010,” Mthethwa said.