Cele’s R100bn budget to focus on police, community partnerships
It's hoped partnerships between law enforcement and communities across the country could drive down the high crime rate.
This according to Police Minister Bheki Cele.
Cele tabled a R100 billion budget in Parliament on Tuesday where he placed heavy emphasis on the need for police to work in tandem with over 700 community policing forums nationwide.
This after the 2021 July unrest exposed the clear divide between the two groups.
“The more involved law enforcement is with the residents they are sworn to protect, the more residents can help police achieve their goals of reducing crime,” Cele told MPs.
Since the catastrophic week-long looting, 19 people were arrested for instigating violence while 36 suspects were arrested for the murder of 35 people.
Included in the 2021/22 financial budget is an allocation of R10 million to support community outreach programmes.
ALSO READ:
“In responding effectively to public unrests, capacitation of Public Order Policing through recruitment has been prioritised. POP will receive an additional 4000 members during this financial year,” Cele added.
“R150 million was allocated to the Operational Response environment as part of once off allocations over a three year period for capital modernisation, including procurement of armoured vehicles and aircraft; and a further R9 million allocation has been set aside for the procurement of protective gear for POP members.”
An additional R4.8 million from the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service will be set to improve effective community partnerships.
“As we roll out plans to rebuild and strengthen community relations in the fight against crime - key to this, is to channel adequate and functional resources and manpower to police stations to ensure that the fight against crime is effective and efficient in winning public confidence in policing.”
Cele added capacitating the police force remains top priority, especially in provinces with the highest incidence of reported crime.
“The top 30 High Contact Crime Weight Stations have been prioritised in terms of resources which includes an additional budget allocation of R62 million, while R25 million additional allocation will be directed to safety and security at Police stations; The KwaZulu- Natal, Gauteng, Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Limpopo provinces received the biggest allocation of funds in this regard.
“A further R26 million additional funding will continue to capacitate the Anti- Gang Units in this regard. The Western Cape province has the lion's share of this budget with R10 million allocated towards preventing, combating and investigating gang violence in that province,” said Cele.
Umlazi and Inanda in KZN, Delft and Khayelitsha in the Western Cape, Thohoyandou in Limpopo and Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape are among regions on Cele’s radar.
