Untitled - Saps

1999
10 Years of Policing in a Democracy 1995 – 2005
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the crime intelligence component, was appointed Divisional Commissioner of Crime
Intelligence. Commissioner Mafemane Makhubela, Area Commissioner in the Far
North Area of the Northern Province, was appointed Divisional Commissioner of Crime
Prevention. Northern Province Deputy Commissioner Johannes Ferreira was appointed
Divisional Commissioner of Training. Mpumalanga Lowveld Area Commissioner
Moranodi Joseph Gaobepe was appointed Free State Provincial Commissioner.
• Police members at Parkview Police Station were offered a course in basic sign language
in order to be able to communicate with the deaf. This followed the designing of a
programme aimed at helping the deaf report crimes to police stations.
• Tracker Network SA donated 250 police tracking computers, valued at R2, 3 million to
the SAPS. The computers added to the existing systems already operational, bringing the
total to 1 180 tracking computers. They were fitted at border posts, at the Air Wing and
many ground units such as the Highway Patrol, Flying Squad and Dog Units.
The late Minister for Safety
and Security Steve Tshwete
• Mr Steve Tshwete succeeded Mr Sydney Mufamadi as Minister for Safety and Security.
• In October 1999, the restructuring of the SAPS received a boost with the appointment
of several new commissioners aimed at making police management more representative.
It also approved the appointment of six new divisional police commissioners.
• It was announced in October 1999 that Foreign Affairs Director-General Jackie Selebi
was to be appointed the new National Police Commissioner.
• Two women were, for the first time in history, among the seven officials appointed to
senior positions. Commissioner Magda Stander was appointed Divisional Commissioner
of Personnel Services and Dr Mala Singh the Divisional Commissioner of Career
Management. Commissioner Tim Williams, a former member of the Interim Advisory
team of the Minister for Safety and Security, and, prior to his appointment, head of
• Phumelela Gaming and Leisure Company, which runs horse-racing in Gauteng, agreed
to sponsor the SAPS with equipment worth R7-million over the next five years to assist
in putting more equestrian police on the streets.
• More than 400 police detectives were trained in techniques to trace cellphones.
• SAPS hosted the first ever games of the Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation
Organization (SARPCCO). The aim of the games was to create a betClorking
relationship among police members. Teams from Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Swaziland,
Zimbabwe and South Africa participated in the event.
• In 1999, the Arms and Ammunition Amendment Act, 1999 (Act 15 of 1999), which
restricts the owners of licensed firearms to lending their weapons only to licensed firearm
owners, was approved. The Minister for Safety and Security presented the Draft Policy on
the Control of Firearms in South Africa to Cabinet in September 1999. The document
recommended that the powers of the police be increased to search vehicles and buildings
and to seize ammunition and guns. It proposed the creation of new offences, for instance
the possession of a gun while under the influence. It also recommended much harsher