Vryheid KZN: IPID forges forward to make an impact

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) is currently visiting provinces to provide strategic direction on the vision, mission strategic imperatives and mitigating strategies on challenges that are encountered by various provinces in the quest of ‘policing the police’ and ensuring that justice is served for victims as well as their families.
On Tuesday, IPID Executive Director Jenifer Ntlatseng visited KZN, where she met with MEC for Community Safety & Liaison Bheki Ntuli, together with management and stakeholders. The aim was to identify various policy interventions for the next five years that will enhance and fast-track cases the IPID is dealing with.
These strategies include engaging communities on issues related to safety; ensuring that people know about the services of IPID; empowering communities on reporting procedures, violence prevention and community safety forums; as well as working together with local government structures to enhance community participation and enhance the rural safety strategy.
IPID is also in the process of strengthening stakeholder engagements with various strategic stakeholders such as APCOF, NPA, focus groups and NGO’s to ensure the integration of strategies in the fight against any form of misconduct within the police service.
On gender-based violence (GBV) related matters, the strategy includes prioritising cases of rape in police custody, rape by police officers, providing the necessary support to victims, and referrals without compromising the objectivity of the entire investigation process.
The directorate indicated that it will continue to recruit female investigators to make victims feel more comfortable, for example during medical examinations.

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IPID is currently in consultation with Telkom to establish the best possible solution for a 24-hour toll-free number that will respond to IPID case reporting needs.
The process of the IPID Act Amendment Bill is currently underway to address various identified shortcomings in the Act that restrict IPID in attaining its legislative mandate.
The Amendment Bill seeks to expand the IPID mandate to include, among other functions, oversight of Provincial Traffic, Road Traffic Management Corporation, law enforcement officials and Regional Municipal Police.
MEC Ntuli said, “The Department of Community Safety & Liaison’s role is to improve police performance by conducting regular visits and inspections of all police stations in order to monitor police conduct, evaluate police efficiency and effectiveness, and deal with complaints from the community against service delivery by the police.”
He added that, “Corruption is a cancer in our society that needs to be confronted by all of us, as it could destroy our institutions if it is not urgently dealt with. Combating fraud and corruption within the police ranks and rooting out criminal and corrupt elements from within the service will assist in regaining public trust.”
Director Ntlatseng said, “Community Policing Forums have been my partners throughout my career; therefore it is easy for me to implement my programmes. Community Policing Forums play a critical role between bridging that gap between government and the community. Community participation is crucial to ensure that early warning systems are detected if there are burning issues within the community and we are able to curb challenges around police misconduct.”

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