R350m to increase security, police visibility

Community Safety Security and Liaison MEC Vusi Shongwe made the announcement when tabling his 2013/14 budget vote in the provincial legislature on Thursday, 30 May 2013.

"The (Security Management) programme will be allocated the total amount of R357 721 000," said Shongwe.

He said tight security had ensured that the Orange Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) tournament games hosted at the Mbombela stadium remained safe.

"The successful hosting of the Afcon games would not have been possible without the involvement and co-operation among all members of Justice Crime, Prevention and Security Cluster (JCPS).

"The South African Police Service had deployed 1 418 officers, which brought about the total number of security forces deployed to 3 814," he said.

He said the department has developed eight Municipal Safety Plans, conducted 353 educational awareness campaigns, conducted community outreach programmes (Izimbizo) and implemented five integrated crime prevention initiatives.

He said the initiatives include campaigns on contact crime, vulnerable groups, school safety, victim friendly facilities and rural safety.

"The department also recruited 538 Tourism Safety Monitors to enhance tourist's safety in our province.

"In the last financial year, a Safety and Security Summit was also held to among others assist with evaluating crime prevention strategies and the killing of police members," he said.

Shongwe said his department had been able to monitor all 86 police stations in the province in line with the Constitution.

"We do this being mindful that with enhanced service delivery within our police, the community will feel safe and this will restore and cement the relationship between the community and the police," Shongwe said.

Meanwhile, the MEC added that R10.7 million has been set aside to improve crime reporting, investigations and attendance to complaints at all police stations in the province.

"The department was expected, through this programme, to monitor and evaluate 56 police stations on policy compliance in the previous year, and for that it can be safely said that the target has been met.

"We will enhance oversight functions during this year by continuing monitoring and evaluating the police to ensure that there is improvement in the delivery of services to our community," said Shongwe.