Secunda - Urgent action is needed to turn the South African Police Service into a well-oiled machine, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said at the end of the two-day Mpumalanga Safety and Security Summit in Secunda on Friday.
He said South Africans were in a protracted war against criminals.
"Talk shops must be thing of the past - what we require is more action and less talk," he said.
The minister said it was important to boost police training, but ensure that police distinguish between using maximum force against violent criminals and minimum force when dealing with fellow citizens.
"The task that confronts us is to act urgently to galvanise the SAPS into a well-oiled machinery. However, without high levels of discipline, command and control this would not be possible. Training and discipline of police officers is now underpinned by a deeper commitment to the Constitution and a culture of service to the people," he said.
Mthethwa said more focused attention was now given to specialised training, firearm handling and ensuring that police officers who respond to crime scenes were fully equipped with bulletproof vests.
"Unless we address and pay attention to this kind of training, we shall not achieve the kind of results we aim to," he said.
Training will continuously be benchmarked with international standards and has already been extended from 12 to 24 months, incorporating both theoretical and practical work.
Recruitment will also be more stringent to ensure the appointment of the most committed police officers. Existing police officers will be empowered to perform better.
Mthethwa said his ministry was also reviewing the 1998 White Paper on Safety and Security to ensure it sent a message to criminals that "the honeymoon is over".
The review will also look at how police should handle service delivery protests. "One of the things we have tasked police to do is to utilise water cannons during protests instead of rubber bullets," he said.
The minister said the legislative review process would ensure police were not expected to solve matters that were beyond their control, such as domestic or spousal violence.
"This is where a cluster approach becomes crucial, with the involvement of social workers, justice, correctional etc... in most cases, police ... do not have the capability to sort out love relationships," he said.
Police management have also been told to prioritise the building of police stations in neglected areas so that victims don't have to travel long distances to report crimes.
"The battle against crime is a daunting task, yet doable and achievable," said the minister.
He said the people of Mpumalanga and South Africa were eagerly awaiting the outcome of the summit.
"What they are waiting for are not PowerPoint presentations and papers, but clear and pragmatic actions in dealing with crime. Let the outcomes ensure that integration and partnerships in crime prevention are strengthened. Let this summit provide hope to citizens of Mpumalanga that this government shall not rest in ensuring their safety; at their places of work, at their homes, at their recreational places," he said.
