Untitled - Saps

1996
10 Years of Policing in a Democracy 1995 – 2005
• The final phase in the restructuring of the SAPS was completed in March 1996 with the
appointment of 746 persons to the levels of director and senior superintendent.
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• In April 1996, Cabinet set up an interdepartmental committee of directors-general
to drive anti-crime efforts and to oversee the implementation of the National Crime
Prevention Strategy (NCPS). The Crime Prevention Committee was made up of the
most senior officials in the Safety and Security and Defence Secretariats, the SAPS, the
SANDF, the National Intelligence Agency, the SA Secret Service, the Department of
Justice and the Department of Correctional Services.
• Six South African universities joined in the fight against crime by making their facilities
available for the training of station commissioners at 132 police stations.
• On 24 April 1996, it was announced that about R240 million had been set aside to
upgrade 65 police stations throughout the country.
An observation post between the RSA and Lesotho. SAPS members use
these posts to watch out for possible smuggling routes and stolen cattle
• The newly formed Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization
(SARPCCO) held a meeting in Midrand in February 1996. Representatives from
Angola, Tanzania, Mozambique, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Lesotho, South Africa,
Zimbabwe, Malawi and Swaziland attended the meeting. Among the resolutions adopted
were to improve communication and technology; to standardize vehicle clearance
certificates in order to combat cross-border vehicle theft; to establish a central database;
to improve border control; and to address corruption and undertake joint operations in
identified flashpoint areas.
• The National Commissioner’s Annual Police Plan, required in terms of legislation passed
in 1995, was presented to Cabinet the first time at the end of April 1996. It detailed
SAPS crime-combating strategies and was the first real attempt at prioritizing the use of
existing police resources. Priority crimes dealt with in the plan included murder, domestic
and sexual violence, stock theft, housebreaking, witchcraft, gang-related offences,
hijacking, taxi violence, corruption, narcotics-related crime, serious economic offences
and politically motivated massacres.
• In May 1996, it was announced that South Africa’s intelligence agencies would, in future,
consult the SAPS on the gathering of crime-related information. The signatories to this
agreement were the SAPS, the National Intelligence Agency, the SA Secret Service and
the SANDF.
• In June 1996, a “sword and shield” policing plan was launched. Primary objectives of
the plan included reducing hijackings, violent crime, the illegal possession of firearms,
organized crime and police corruption.