Date reply submitted: 11 March 2011 125.
whether the police in rural areas are engaging communities to expand the net for curbing stock theft; if not, why not; if so, (a) what is the response of rural communities in this regard and (b) what are the further relevant details?
Yes, the Rural Safety Strategy that was recently developed to enhance safety and security levels in rural areas is being rolled out at a provincial levels. The Plan will be implemented from 2011. The Strategy has already been launched in Gauteng and launches are being planned in the other provinces.
Enhancing service delivery and accessibility to policing in rural areas, is an objective of the South African Police Service and this involves increasing both human and physical resources in rural areas. As part of this objective an intensive audit of all resources in rural areas, to identify resource needs and establishment of a resource base will be undertaken. During this audit, the current police station buildings, available resources and personnel allocated to the rural areas, will be assessed.
Building and upgrading of police stations will be addressed, as part of the long term Infrastructure and Capital Asset Plan of the South African Police Service and includes police stations in rural areas.
According to the Medium Term Human Resource Management Plan, the personnel strength of the South African Police Service will be expanded. As part of this process, newly recruited members will be placed at identified police stations, in rural areas.
The South African Police Service is constantly engaging with the communities concerning crime, including stock theft. This engagement with the community is further entrench through the roll out of the Rural Safety Strategy.
Rural community generally support crime prevention and other activities, at local level. Due to the unique conditions that exist in rural areas, the involvement of the community in Sector Policing and other crime prevention initiatives will be implemented as part of the roll out of the Rural Safety Strategy.