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Political parties expect crime levels to remain high when the annual statistics are released today, but they do admit some positive changes in policing under General Riah Phiyega’s temporary replacement.
Lieutenant-General Khomotso Phahlane, who is acting in Phiyega’s position as national police commissioner, received praise yesterday across political divides for his efforts, despite little hope for some good news about crime.
The Democratic Alliance said that, in the event of crime levels having decreased, “we will be pleasantly surprised but at least we will be creating safer communities”.
DA MP Zak Mbhele said at a press conference that there was an improvement after Phahlane took over from Phiyega – he had instilled more confidence and seemed to be making the right moves.
“But the proof is in the pudding,” he said.
“The fundamentals of police service has only been addressed in a meaningful way since early this year after the acting commissioner implemented changes in management but we have a legacy of a decade of chronic neglect. So I don’t see how they can erase that cumulative picture in a couple of months.”
Mbhele said the police and police stations were not properly equipped. There were staff shortages, and a lack of proper training.
“If only detective services and crime intelligence divisions were properly equipped, crime would plummet with just those two factors.”
Francois Beukman, chairperson of Parliament’s portfolio committee on police, said he expected to see the first signs that the police’s turnaround strategy was working.
“Any change in policy can take between 18 months and three years to have an impact. For now more experienced personnel is being appointed and detective services, which is very important, is being beefed up. A lot still needs to be done, but we can see important strategic shifts already.”
Freedom Front Plus MP Dr Pieter Groenewald said he wasn’t optimistic that the statistics were going to be good, especially since violent crime was still increasing. He said he hoped to see more regular – perhaps quarterly – crime statistics.
“The acting police commissioner took over in October last year and started his Back-to-Basics programme. We are already seeing certain improvements, especially in detective services. This intervention programme is not going to change things overnight, so we have to be fair and give it a chance.”
National Freedom Party MP Ahmed Shaik-Emam was also not optimistic, saying he wasn’t expecting good news.
But, he said, if the turnaround strategy was implemented properly, there would be a difference in communities.
“We need a more holistic approach to fighting crime in which the socioeconomic context in which crime occur, must also be addressed. A more coordinated approach among government departments is needed.
“We need to realise that this is not only a problem for the department of police.”
