Untitled - Saps
Untitled - Saps
Untitled - Saps
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1999<br />
10 Years of Policing in a Democracy 1995 – 2005<br />
34<br />
the crime intelligence component, was appointed Divisional Commissioner of Crime<br />
Intelligence. Commissioner Mafemane Makhubela, Area Commissioner in the Far<br />
North Area of the Northern Province, was appointed Divisional Commissioner of Crime<br />
Prevention. Northern Province Deputy Commissioner Johannes Ferreira was appointed<br />
Divisional Commissioner of Training. Mpumalanga Lowveld Area Commissioner<br />
Moranodi Joseph Gaobepe was appointed Free State Provincial Commissioner.<br />
• Police members at Parkview Police Station were offered a course in basic sign language<br />
in order to be able to communicate with the deaf. This followed the designing of a<br />
programme aimed at helping the deaf report crimes to police stations.<br />
• Tracker Network SA donated 250 police tracking computers, valued at R2, 3 million to<br />
the SAPS. The computers added to the existing systems already operational, bringing the<br />
total to 1 180 tracking computers. They were fitted at border posts, at the Air Wing and<br />
many ground units such as the Highway Patrol, Flying Squad and Dog Units.<br />
The late Minister for Safety<br />
and Security Steve Tshwete<br />
• Mr Steve Tshwete succeeded Mr Sydney Mufamadi as Minister for Safety and Security.<br />
• In October 1999, the restructuring of the SAPS received a boost with the appointment<br />
of several new commissioners aimed at making police management more representative.<br />
It also approved the appointment of six new divisional police commissioners.<br />
• It was announced in October 1999 that Foreign Affairs Director-General Jackie Selebi<br />
was to be appointed the new National Police Commissioner.<br />
• Two women were, for the first time in history, among the seven officials appointed to<br />
senior positions. Commissioner Magda Stander was appointed Divisional Commissioner<br />
of Personnel Services and Dr Mala Singh the Divisional Commissioner of Career<br />
Management. Commissioner Tim Williams, a former member of the Interim Advisory<br />
team of the Minister for Safety and Security, and, prior to his appointment, head of<br />
• Phumelela Gaming and Leisure Company, which runs horse-racing in Gauteng, agreed<br />
to sponsor the SAPS with equipment worth R7-million over the next five years to assist<br />
in putting more equestrian police on the streets.<br />
• More than 400 police detectives were trained in techniques to trace cellphones.<br />
• SAPS hosted the first ever games of the Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation<br />
Organization (SARPCCO). The aim of the games was to create a betClorking<br />
relationship among police members. Teams from Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Swaziland,<br />
Zimbabwe and South Africa participated in the event.<br />
• In 1999, the Arms and Ammunition Amendment Act, 1999 (Act 15 of 1999), which<br />
restricts the owners of licensed firearms to lending their weapons only to licensed firearm<br />
owners, was approved. The Minister for Safety and Security presented the Draft Policy on<br />
the Control of Firearms in South Africa to Cabinet in September 1999. The document<br />
recommended that the powers of the police be increased to search vehicles and buildings<br />
and to seize ammunition and guns. It proposed the creation of new offences, for instance<br />
the possession of a gun while under the influence. It also recommended much harsher