Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia has welcomed the inaugural workshop of the National Police Advisory Council (NPAC), which is expected to strengthen strategic policy guidance and support policing reforms in South Africa.
The Council, recommended in the 2012 National Development Plan, will provide strategic and policy advice to the Minister of Police and the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Comprising 14 members drawn from diverse fields -- including law, finance, law enforcement, academia and business -- the Council held its inaugural workshop on Tuesday to formally constitute the body, orientate members on its mandate and familiarise them with the Police Reset Agenda and other key priorities.
Addressing the members, Cachalia highlighted the urgency of reforming policing amid high crime levels and revelations emerging from the Madlanga Commission, which have further eroded public confidence in the police.
“A light has been cast on the darker side of policing and society. These developments have further deepened the trust deficit between the police and the communities they serve, undermining public confidence in policing,” he said.
Cachalia emphasised that the police service belongs to the people of South Africa and must fulfil its responsibility to serve and protect citizens.
“The police service belongs to the people of South Africa, and citizens have a legitimate expectation that the police will serve and protect them. It is against this backdrop that the Police Reset Agenda has become necessary.
“At its core, the Reset Agenda is a programme of policing reform aimed at reshaping the SAPS to ensure that it delivers on its constitutional mandate, upholds the rule of law and restores public trust.
“We look forward to the Council’s contribution towards ensuring that the Police Reset Agenda translates into meaningful and measurable improvements in policing and, ultimately, safer communities for all South Africans,” Cachalia said.
The Police Reset Agenda encompasses key institutional and operational interventions aimed at strengthening the capacity, effectiveness and professionalism of the SAPS.
These include filling critical vacancies, improving supply chain management processes, strengthening vehicle management and addressing police infrastructure challenges through the construction of new police stations, as well as the maintenance and upgrading of existing facilities.
The Council’s contribution is expected to support efforts to translate these reform priorities into tangible improvements in policing and public safety. – SAnews.gov.za
