Pretoria - Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa believes the Civilian Secretariat for Police Bill will mark a new era and provide a "new way of securing our democracy" through civilian oversight over police.
During a debate on the Bill in Parliament on Tuesday, Mthethwa said that government's success in making South Africa safe would depend largely on the kind of civilian oversights that were developed and the levels of accountability implemented.
He stressed that the Police Ministry had no intention of allowing its policing approach to slide towards a police state.
"We are of a firm view that there needs to be a transparent and separation of powers in determining policy and the implementation thereof. This Civilian Secretariat for Police Bill gives effect to that separation of powers and functions," Mthethwa said.
The Bill allows for the Secretariat to provide civilian oversight functions over the SAPS, offer policy advice to the police minister and drive partnerships.
"Importantly, the Bill de-couples the budget of the Secretariat as a cost centre of SAPS, so that it can maintain its independence from SAPS," the minister added.
Mthethwa was confident that a revamped, efficient and effective Secretariat would help develop policy that was on par with international practices. He said the Bill would help ensure that police carried out their duties with excellence.
The minister added that the Civilian Secretariat for Police would be responsible for strategic planning, research and developing departmental policy proposals.
The Secretariat will also monitor the department to ensure alignment with the policies approved by the minister.
It will be expected to monitor, develop and implement performance controls of the performance agreements and provide ministerial support services.
The Secretariat will also be tasked with implementing a communications strategy aimed at informing role players and partners outside the department about policing matters.
The Secretariat would ultimately be accountable to the minister and to Parliament for its functions and activities.
Mthethwa said a key aspect of the Bill dealt with the establishment of the provincial secretariats.
"It is here, in the engine room of the provinces, that we will expect to see strong and functioning monitoring and evaluation units," he added.
Mthethwa said the Ministry intended on deepening the national dialogue on safety by establishing partnership units as part of the provincial secretariats.
