Honourable Speaker and Deputy Speaker

Honourable Premier of our Province, Dr Zamani Saul

Honourable Members of the Executive Council

Honourable Members of the Provincial Legislature

Executive Mayors and Speakers

Director General of the Northern Cape

Provincial Commissioner and the Collective SAPS Management

The Head of the Department and Senior Officials

Stakeholders in the Transport and Safety Fraternity

Veterans of our beloved Movement

Traditional, Religious and Community Leaders

Representatives of Political Parties

Representatives from Labour Unions

Representatives from various Media Houses

Distinguished Guests

Fellow citizens of the Northern Cape

Ladies and Gentlemen

It is my honour to present the 2023/24 Budget Vote of the Northern Cape Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison.

Honourable Speaker, I have come across a tongue in cheek quote that goes “Safety does not happen by accident.” This wordplay must not be lost on us – we must understand, acknowledge and honour the fact that the realization of safety ideals cannot be left to fortuity but to purpose.

In a country where so much of our socio economic and lived realities, including poverty, unemployment and inequality, plays a definitive role in shaping our vulnerability to crime and criminality – we are called upon to be vigorously intentional and methodical in our collaborative approaches to crime prevention.

  

Honourable Speaker, starting with an inward focus, the Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison regards human resources as its greatest asset.  The need for effective and efficient civil service has become more urgent than ever before.  The service delivery needs of our communities are becoming more complex and intertwined. The only way we are able to more effectively address the needs of our people is if we can stand up to the task, see the wider picture, and adapt to an ever-changing service delivery environment.  

As a result of this, the Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison, has identified leadership development initiatives among all levels of staff in order to better equip them to respond to the changing needs of the people of the Northern Cape.

During the 2022/23 financial year remarkable progress has been made in relation to the submission of ground documents for the employee performance management and development system.  We have seen an increase of more than 20% of staff that adhered to regulated timeframes.  The Department is reporting remarkable progress with regards to adherence to the submission of Employee Performance Management Development documents. This can largely be attributed to advocacy initiatives and training and development interventions for managers.  

Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison has restarted the consultation process with organised labour in late 2022, in relation to the dispute raised on the implementation of the new organisational structure, signed off by the MEC in early 2022. The consultation process has progressed to the extent that only one (1) meeting is outstanding for organised labour to respond to the information provided by the management of DTSL, under the guidance of the Office of the Premier.

The insourcing of security officers and the creation of a directorate for security services in DTSL, is affected by these factors. Phase One of the insourcing of the security officers will therefore be completed once the consultation in relation to the organisational structure has been completed. The insourcing is scheduled for finalization by September 2023.

The DTSL has reactivated the workstreams to ensure the smooth facilitation and implementation of this SOPA commitment. Three of the workstreams will be led by the Department including Legal, Human Resource and Finance, whilst Efficiency Services will be led by the Office of the Premier. 

Honourable Speaker, the total budget allocated for the Department is three hundred and forty million one hundred and thirty-two thousand rand      (R340 132 000), apportioned as follows:

• R179 650 000:   Allocated for Compensation of Employees
• R80 351 000:      Allocated for Goods and Services
• R70 183 000:      Earmarked for Transfers and subsidies, which includes R66 300 000 earmarked for Public Transport Grant PTOG and R1 800 000 million put aside for transfers to Non-Profit Institutions. 
• R9 948 000:        Allocated for Capital Assets as department intends to replace and procurement some Information Technology related equipment and also, through Department of Roads and Public Work refurbishing our Traffic Stations

BUDGET ALLOCATION PER PROGRAMME:

• Administration             : R122 973 000
• Civilian Oversight         : R32 908 000
• Transport Operations  : R85 289 000
• Transport Regulations : R98 962 000

During the 2022/23 financial period, the Department did not perform well in terms of the revenue collection, particularly on the Motor Vehicle License renewal. A pilot project was initiated in conjunction with Provincial Treasury, for the department to explore the possibility to perform the function, without utilising the agencies.

Young people will be appointed in the pilot project that will continue for a duration of 12 months. In the meantime, the department continues to engage with municipalities in the affected areas where the services of motor vehicle license renewals are affected by closing down of registering authorities under the current service provider.

The purpose of the engagements with municipalities is to sign service level agreements which will outline the working relationship between the two parties. We are looking forward to optimize revenue collection with no commission payable to a third party. The added benefit of job creation is also another major consideration in this process.  

The department is committed to ensure improved Audit outcomes through the following measures:

• Prioritising the filing of vacant managerial positions, especially in the Finance Directorate;
• Identify a dedicated qualified and experienced official within the department to head the function of inspectorate which will enforce compliance to the legislative mandate that governs public sector and adherence to the departmental polices;
• Commitment to better the audit outcome has already started to show positive results as the request to condone the Irregular Expenditure of R668 million was approved by Provincial Treasury.

Honourable Speaker, the Department, together with the Northern Cape Community Police Board (NCCPB) and Civilian Secretariat for Police Service has provided capacity building workshops and inductions for Community Police Forum structures of Frances Baard and Z.F. Mgcawu. We have as a purpose to continuously improve community police relationships and trust as well as clarification of roles and responsibilities.

All twenty-seven (27) CPFs in Pixley ka Seme District were inducted. Namakwa and JTG were trained in April 2023. All five districts are thus now capacitated to fulfil their roles and responsibilities.  

With regards to the capacitation of CPFs, Minister Cele announced that R70 million has been allocated to provinces to support resource requirements such as vehicles, laptops, torches, reflective jackets and other tools of trade. In addition, a R5 million is also provided for community interactions in terms of Imbizo, awareness campaigns, summits and conferences.

With regards to above, a three-day CPF/Policing Indaba was concluded in the beginning of May, where these matters were raised and discussed. We are asking that we stay on top of resolutions made here and that we keep engaging National in terms of the modalities of the roll-out of funding allocated in this regard.  

Honourable Speaker we need to remove blockages that stand in the way of the establishment of the Sol Plaatje Community Safety Forum (CSF). Engagements with Hantam and Richtersveld Municipalities were held for the launching of their respective CSFs.

Gamagara, Hantam and Richtersveld CSFs has been officially established as per local council resolutions. Ga-Segonyana is at a point of readiness, with inductions underway in all these spaces.  

Through Monitoring and Evaluation, the exhibit stores at eighteen (18) police stations have been assessed. We are reporting a 100% implementation of Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) recommendations over the year. In total, the Department has conducted twenty-four 24 National Monitoring Tools, with 100% of the Domestic Violence Act recommendations implemented.

To remain in tune with community needs and abreast of challenges and perceptions of safety, the Department has completed eight (8) Community Satisfaction Surveys and five (5) social crime prevention programmes.

The Department has exceeded its target of the number of Victim Friendly Facilities that were assessed, which stands at ninety-three (93) for the year. The additional assessments formed part of Executive Authority Outreach Programmes. We have assessed the functionality of forty (40) CPFs, also above target, to ensure readiness for its Provincial Annual General Meeting.

The Programme can report that seventy-two (72) Safety Volunteers have been appointed under the Expanded Public Works Programme. This proud initiative bolsters our ability to reach out to communities with awareness programmes, while simultaneously creating much needed job opportunities for our young people.

Community awareness, information and education remain the cornerstone of social crime prevention programmes implemented in the Northern Cape - informed communities make informed decisions that contribute towards community safety & security.

Civilian Oversight focus on the implementation of Five Provincial Integrated Social Crime Prevention Programmes, which include Anti-Substance Abuse, Child Safety, Youth Crime Prevention, Stop Gender Based Violence & Femicide and Building Safer Communities.

The department implemented twenty-four (24) GBVF projects to address the scourge of violence against women and children in the province. Gender based violence and femicide remains a social ill that decimate the life of victims, their families and society at large.  It is a pain that does not readily heal.

The Department has recently joined SAPS at a Rural Safety Summit in Kuruman, where we saw engagements with traditional, religious and community leaders, agricultural, rural and farming formations and CPF leadership. Crime and its impact on society remains a high priority, along with other critical developmental imperatives such as health, education, rural development and the creation of decent and equal work.

This must be the driving force behind the development of a united, multi-faceted approach in the fight against crime, that combines aspects of crime prevention, crime combating, improving socio-economic conditions and strengthening of human solidarity among citizens in the Northern Cape.

The Department continues to lead the fight against GBVF through the National Strategic Plan on Gender Based Violence and Femicide.  Civil society, business and government institutions continue to champion the fight against this pandemic.

Through the relaunch of the Development Committee, under the auspices of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, focus will be placed on tracking GBVF cases in court to ensure that no perpetrator will go unpunished.

The training of community-based organisations to identify tell-tale signs of abuse, early warning systems and counselling skills, will receive priority in the 2023/24 financial year.

Honourable Speaker, research has been conducted on the Integrated Crime and Violence Project, to determine the roles and responsibilities that municipalities have in preventing violence. A National Draft Research Report will be published once the Minister of Police and Portfolio Committee endorse it.

The Northern Cape Provincial Regulatory Entity (PRE) established through the provisions of Section 23 – 25 of the National Land Transport Act, Act 5 of 2009 was dissolved on 10 February 2023. A new PRE has subsequently been appointed with effect 01 April 2023.

The PRE induction and training is currently underway, to ensure performance targets are reached. All relevant investigations pertaining to alleged fraudulent/irregular issuances of Operating Licenses are also underway. The PRE has been able to conduct thirteen (13) hearings to address the backlog that has been created.

The Department continues to assist Municipalities with Integrated Transport Plans (ITPs) as well as consultations with Municipalities in relation to the amendment and addendum to the Provincial Land Transport Framework (PLTF).  

Following the successful and fully operational Decentralized Offices in Namakwa, JTG and ZFM Districts, the Department will launch the fourth decentralized office in the Pixley Ka Seme District during 2023/24 financial year.

Honourable Speaker the Department has completed the Colesburg Taxi rank roof structure project and handed it over to the Umsobomvu Local Municipality. This project may be viewed as another successful collaborative initiative and example of positive intergovernmental programming as well as the strengthening of networks with taxi associations. In Springbok, we have successfully concluded the paving on the driving surface of the weighbridge.

To promote non-motorised transport as well as access to educational institutions, six hundred (600) Shova Kalula Bicycles with accessories were distributed at schools across the province.

Honourable Speaker, the Department had another successful October Transport Month in 2022, with the purpose of raising awareness of the important role of transport in developing local economies and provincial growth targets.

With transport industry workshops, taxi rank refurbishment as well as broader stakeholder engagements, we intensify and scope relationships within the transport sector. If we keep our ear on the ground to needs and challenges, we are better positioned to respond with clear and meaningful programmes to promote a more vibrant transport economy.

The Department funded initiatives of SANTACO Northern Cape to the amount of R1 400 000.00 (One Million Four Hundred Thousand Rand) for the 2022/23 financial year. Over the same period, initiatives of SANWIT and SANSBOC were supported with R200 000 each.

An External Stakeholder Committee was established and a Workshop, as a pivotal step to Empower these stakeholders during December 2022. In essence, the objective of the workshop was to equip them with the essential tools to operate in a conducive environment with a strong and reliable relationship with the Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison.

Honourable Speaker, the Department conducted seventy-four (74) road safety interventions, campaigns and demonstrations over the period. We have reached seventy-two (72) institutions of learning, higher learning as well as pre-schools to promote responsible road behaviour during holidays. We have been able to exceed our target in this regard, due to increased programming over festive periods. In acknowledgement to the fact that pedestrians are also at risk on our roads, we are reporting twenty-seven (27) operations.  

The Department’s last intake of traffic officials was in 2008, with no new appointment thus for more than ten years. I have subsequently engaged my counterpart at Provincial Treasury, through the Provincial Medium Term Expenditure Committee and other relevant platforms.

Provincial Treasury committed an amount of ten million rand (R10 000 000) that will be used for the recruitment of 25 traffic wardens during the 2023/24 financial year.

These wardens will be made up of young people in the entire province, providing quality, sustainable jobs. Provincial Treasury further committed an annual allocation that will empower the Department to increase the number of traffic officers in the Northern Cape.   

Ten (10) modern speed cameras were procured and delivered to the Department for enhancement of law enforcement. The use of these cameras may also assist with audit queries as they will be able to provide much needed accurate location of speed law enforcement on the roads.

Our Provincial Monitoring Team visits Registering Authorities such as the Driver License Testing Centres (DLTCs) and Vehicle Testing Stations (VTS) to do inspection to ensure that these institutions operate and comply in terms of the National Road Traffic Act (NRTA).

Various reports were produced by the team and in some cases some of these DLTC`s and VTS`s were found to be non-compliant with the NRTA. This has given them the opportunity to address shortcomings. Failure of compliance will lead to some operating authorities to be suspended and or cancelled by the Member of the Executive Council. The Department is reporting that 40 facilities are complying with regulations at this point.

In instances where criminality is uncovered, it will be reported to the South African Police Service for investigation. These will be reported to the Registering Authorities for Disciplinary steps against officials involved and our teams will be required to testify at all these hearings.

Again, Honourable Speaker, due to increased operations over festive periods including Christmas and Easter, we have exceeded most of our targets with regards to road safety operations.

One hundred and fifty thousand four hundred and eighty-two (150 482) vehicles were stopped over the previous financial year. Five hundred and fifty-eight (558) speed operations were conducted and six hundred and forty (640) drunken driving operations.

Eighteen thousand four hundred and twenty-one (18 421) vehicles were weighed over the period, which brings us to a performance of 61%. The shortfall can be ascribed to the Colesburg weighbridge that was not operational for a period.

We have other major achievements to report over the period. Computerized Learner License Systems were installed at thirty (30) DLTCs in the Province. Our young people participated in the National Road Safety Debate and placed third on Rural and Urban categories.

We were able to appoint Principal Provincial Inspectors at Colesburg, Richmond, Olifantshoek and Jan Kempdorp Provincial Traffic Stations. A total of ten (10) double cabs were procured, delivered, branded and allocated to traffic stations across the province.      

Honourable Speaker, four hundred and eighty-eight (488) out of four hundred and ninety-eight (498) entry level police trainees have completed their programme and is currently busy with workplace exposure which will be concluded end of June 2023. The remaining ten (10) (of which 3 are graduates) are still busy with training that will also conclude end of June 2023. We are also reporting that fifteen (15) former employees have been re-enlisted.

In the Artisan appointments, sixteen (16) posts have been identified with ten (10) filled at this point. In the Employee Health and Wellness unit, five (5) out of seven (7) posts have been filled. In Forensic Social Work, both vacancies have been filled.

For entry level appointments under the Public Service Act, 61 vacancies exist, with appointment confirmation pending for forty-three (43) security posts and eighteen (18) General Workers.

Facility upgrades to accommodate persons with disabilities that were planned for four (4) Police Stations namely Olifantshoek, Belmont, Brandvlei and Witdraai, were finalised.  A number of seventy-eight (78) vehicles were delivered for the 2022/2023 financial year.

In terms of Crime Detection, thirty-one (31) members were trained on Basic Drug Investigators course and sixty (60) members on Introduction to Electronic Related Crime Scene Investigation. Eleven (11) members were trained on Introduction to Fraud Investigators Course and twenty-two (22) members on the Sexual Offences for Investigating Officers course. Ten (10) members were trained in the first quarter on the Informers Handling Course and seventy-eight (78) members trained on the SAPS 6 and Docket Progress System.

Honourable Speaker, the South African Police Service reports six hundred and ninety-four (694) entry-level trainees at the SAPS Training Academies since April 2023. The recruitment of reservists to bolster crime prevention efforts is an ongoing process.

With regards to crime prevention, the focus is placed on the Top 30 Crime Weight Stations that will be reviewed quarterly. Stabilization and normalization plans are in place to address the contributing Police Stations towards the reduction of priority crimes.

The official opening of Riemvasmaak Police Station is in progress. The official date of opening is to be announced by the Minister of Police. The province has budgeted for one hundred (100) vehicles to the value of sixty-eight million rands (R68 000 000) to be procured for 2023/24 financial year.

Honourable Speaker, I have waited until my concluding remarks to ask that we observe a moment of silence for Honourable Tina Joemat-Pettersson, who served as Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police and passed recently. Bidding her farewell has hit this province hard and most of us are still overwhelmed.

May we remember her, her dedication and commitment to the people of the Northern Cape. May this remembering show up in us matching that dedication and passion to work together towards stable and peaceful communities.

Honourable Speaker I would like to also take a special moment to thank the Provincial Commissioner of the Northern Cape, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola for her sterling work in heading our police in the province. If ever we need a clear indication of a woman at work, steadfast and resolute, we need look no further.

I would like to thank the leadership of the Northern Cape Community Police Board for standing with us and for the special nature and quality of the relationship we have been able to forge.

My gratitude goes out to The HOD Mr Rodney Pieterse who has taken the helm and moved with such enthusiasm and clarity.

I would like to observe the dedicated work of my counterparts in the Executive who have created an environment of support and reinforcement within which we are enabled to contribute meaningfully to society.

There are no words for the gratitude and love I have for my family who stands by, with and for me and afford me the opportunity and space to work in the manner we are called upon to do. I could not have done it without you.

I thank you