EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/804

(2004/C 84 E/0899)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0511/04

by Sérgio Marques (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(24 February 2004)

Subject: Provision of aid to South Africa

South Africa has been going through a period marked by extremely serious problems to which the EU and the international community cannot remain (and, indeed, have not remained) indifferent. Those problems include a high rate of Aids infection, alarming unemployment levels, economic stagnation and an extremely worrying level of violent crime.

The alarming level of crime continues to have a tragic impact not only on the South African people themselves but also on the communities of European immigrants who are settled in South Africa.

Under the EU cooperation umbrella, projects have been implemented for the specific purpose of promoting and improving security levels in South Africa (project to organise and provide institutional support for the South African police service: EUR 18,5 million; project to assist the overhaul of the legal system: EUR 25 million; project to assist the policing of Eastern Cape Province: EUR 10,8 million).

In view of the above, would the Commission answer the following questions:

1. What stage has been reached in the implementation (both practical and financial) of the projects designed to promote and improve security levels in South Africa, and what effect have those projects had so far on improving security in the country?

2. Is the Commission planning to strengthen the above projects and extend them to other parts of South Africa?

3. Are further projects relating to improved security in South Africa to be devised and launched in areas such as policing, crime prevention and cooperation with the criminal-justice sector?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(5 April 2004)

The Commission recognises the threat that high levels of criminality, together with other socio-economic challenges like unemployment, HIV/AIDS and poverty pose to the sustainability of democracy in South Africa. Not only does it threaten the political advances already achieved during the past 10 years, but it also directly impacts on the quality of the lives of ordinary South Africans and others resident there.

The Commission is of the opinion that the South African Government has a sound policy framework in place to deal with crime. This is borne out not only by robust policy development in this field over the past eight years, but also by increased spending for the Criminal Justice Departments during the same period.

1. Regarding the intended impact on the levels of safety and security by the development programmes referred to, the main objective is the improvement of service delivery by the South African Police Service (SAPS) and other relevant Criminal Justice Departments to the vulnerable communities in South Africa. In addition, the programmes emphasise issues related to improved access to the Justice system, crime prevention as well as the development and implementation of policies related to the fight against crime more broadly and building capacity in these departments. For example, access to the Courts has been improved by piloting an electronic maintenance grant payout system in the Department of Justice, while police service delivery has been improved by training hundreds of police officers to drive vehicles as well as the upgrading of Victim Friendly facilities at several Police Stations. One of the programmes also supports improvement of the investigative capacity of the SAPS by assisting with the development of an automated DNA Criminal Database that will extend SAPS's current ability to use DNA profiling to link suspected criminals to crimes committed. This will also be of benefit in relation to Sexual Offences like Rape and Child Abuse. Projects: Physical Implementation (1) Financial Disbursements (1) APEC (96/08) Closure phase >90 % SAPS/DSS (99/024) 40 % implemented 25 % e-Justice (00/28) 60 % implemented 100 %

2. Both the e-Justice (00/28) and SAPS (99/24) programmes are piloted across all nine provinces of the country already. Despite the fact that the relevant departments have, with their own funds, extended aspects of these programmes to other geographical areas, the Commission remains ready to assist both the SA Police Service and the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development with extending these programmes where possible and feasible to other parts of the country.

3. The Commission and its Member States, in September 2003, agreed to the funding (with DFID (2)) of a programme that will focus on support to the policing of crimes against women and children in the Eastern Cape Province, worth EUR 25 million in total. The overall objective of this programme is improved safety and security for the people of the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa. This theme is developed into the specific programme purpose of prevention of crimes against women and children and improving the services delivered to people affected by such crimes in project priority areas. While the Financing Agreement has been signed by the Commission, a signature is expected by the South African Government in early March 2004, with project implementation commencing soon afterwards. As previously explained and in line with Parliamentary recommendations, the Commission confirms its intention to continue co-operation with the Criminal Justice sector as foreseen in the Country Strategy Paper 2003/05, emphasising service delivery improvement, crime prevention in relation to vulnerable groups, community involvement and increased accountability of the Criminal Justice sector (3).

(1) These figures are estimated.

(2) DFID — Department for International Development — United Kingdom Government.

(3) Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.