The new units will be dealing with narcotics and illegal firearms.
The two new crime-fighting units will fall under the Hawks (Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation).
The Committee chairperson, Francois Beukman, stated that the President’s announcement is in keeping with the kind of police service and crime-fighting efforts envisaged in the National Development Plan (NDP), and is in line with the ‘back to basics’ strategy.
“As part of the ‘back to basics’ strategy the ministry of police will establish special units to deal with drugs and related transgressions and transnational crimes, as well as violence and proliferation of firearms in our society,” said President Zuma during his reply to the State of the Nation Address debate.
The committee is of the view that the establishment of two new specialised units dealing with narcotics and illegal firearms will further contribute to make the police service more professional and effective.
According to Beukman, there is no substitute for specialised, highly trained and skilled personnel.
Beukman said South Africa needs to focus on cross-border and international crime syndicates and that the capability to be effective in this field requires specialisation.
“We believe that the best of the best in SAPS and DPCI and other agencies should be recruited for these two units,” said Beukman in a statement. -@FanieFLK
