Budget Vote Speech on Safety and Security By Cecil Burgess, MP
2004-06-22. Madame Speaker, Hon. Minister, Hon. Members, Distinguished Guests Hon. Minister, the public is desperately waiting to see positive visible results in the Fight against Crime. I strongly recommend that you start with alcohol abuse in all its ugly forms.
Nowhere in any of the Departments
list of challenges is there mention of alcohol abuse. We are all aware
that large profits are made from the sale of alcohol. However, if
government is serious about dealing with crime, especially violent
crimes against women and children, then urgent steps, positive action
through legislation must be taken by Government to outlaw alcohol
abuse.
Start by banning all alcohol from state institutions, including all schools. No attempts to combat crime can succeed if our officers are underpaid, demoralised and working in a stressful environment. The ID supports any positive attempts to raise the morale of these good men by improving their working conditions. Too many officers are killed on and off duty. The death of one police officer, is one too many.
Government can no longer pretend that this is not a National Crises when R30 million has to be budgeted for death grants because of the deaths of 150 police officials. The ID proposes that those who perpetrate serious assaults on peace officers get maximum penalties: life imprisonment and no bail.
Notwithstanding the claims that crime has decreased, crime levels are still unacceptable. 21 000 murders, 250 000 residential burglaries, over 50 000 rapes.
This debate cannot conclude without mentioning the ongoing escapes from custody by dangerous criminals. As distressing are the levels of deaths in police custody it’s simply unacceptable. The ICD investigated 5 882 complaints from 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004. ranging from misconduct to serious corruption.
In his address to parliament on 21 May 2004 the President announced Special Joint Teams to apprehend the top 200 criminals in the country. We will watch to see how it develops, but the ID notes that all the other task teams and units that have previously been involved have failed. What has become of the Scorpions? Are these 200 criminals individuals or syndicates? Most importantly - why have they not been apprehended to date, if we know who they are?
I thank you.
Start by banning all alcohol from state institutions, including all schools. No attempts to combat crime can succeed if our officers are underpaid, demoralised and working in a stressful environment. The ID supports any positive attempts to raise the morale of these good men by improving their working conditions. Too many officers are killed on and off duty. The death of one police officer, is one too many.
Government can no longer pretend that this is not a National Crises when R30 million has to be budgeted for death grants because of the deaths of 150 police officials. The ID proposes that those who perpetrate serious assaults on peace officers get maximum penalties: life imprisonment and no bail.
Notwithstanding the claims that crime has decreased, crime levels are still unacceptable. 21 000 murders, 250 000 residential burglaries, over 50 000 rapes.
This debate cannot conclude without mentioning the ongoing escapes from custody by dangerous criminals. As distressing are the levels of deaths in police custody it’s simply unacceptable. The ICD investigated 5 882 complaints from 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004. ranging from misconduct to serious corruption.
In his address to parliament on 21 May 2004 the President announced Special Joint Teams to apprehend the top 200 criminals in the country. We will watch to see how it develops, but the ID notes that all the other task teams and units that have previously been involved have failed. What has become of the Scorpions? Are these 200 criminals individuals or syndicates? Most importantly - why have they not been apprehended to date, if we know who they are?
I thank you.
