IPID tables the 2021/22 Annual Report in Parliament Today
IPID tabled its Annual Report for the financial year 2021/22 in parliament today, 28 September 2022. The Annual Report was tabled in accordance with the IPID Act of 2011 and it details a number of achievements for the period under review.
The overall performance of IPID has shown significant improvement as compared to the two previous financial years in its role of providing oversight to the police as well as ensuring that there is accountability from those who enforce the law.
In the 2021/22 fiscal year, the directorate spent 98.34% of its allocated budget of R353 778 million and recorded a 94% achievement of its 2021/22 Annual Performance Plan targets.
IPID Executive Director, Ms Jennifer Ntlatseng says the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the directorate to reflect on its evolving role with a view to redesign its operating systems so as to provide for a resilient work environment.
“Our achievements included making headway as we made changes to the way we operated. We have managed to fill critical vacant positions, prioritised and converted some of the vacant positions into investigator positions which is our core mandate” said Ms Ntlatseng.
Section 206(6) of the Constitution and the IPID Act of 2011, empowers the directorate to investigate certain offences committed by the police as tabulated under section 28(1) of the IPID Act. IPID registered 5 295 new cases during the year under review.
The main case drivers were assault, the discharge of an official firearm and death due to police action. Assault led the pack with 3 407 cases, followed by the discharge of an official firearm at 744 and death due to police action at 410.
The enforcement of COVID-19 restriction and the July unrests in Gauteng and KwaZulu Natal resulted in more cases of police misconduct particularly assault which was reported to IPID.
During the year under review, 4 015 cases were investigated and referred to SAPS and NPA for disciplinary sanctions and decision for prosecution.
IPID secured 239 disciplinary convictions with 53 officers dismissed from service. The SAPS referrals involved 311 police officers.
Regarding criminal convictions, IPID secured twenty convictions with the highest sentence imposed being life imprisonment. The other sentences ranged between 8 and 22 years for acts of crime.
In ensuring that the directorate is easily accessible to the public, IPID increased its footprint nationally despite its limited budget. The initiative was intended to position IPID to manage service delivery in the country because the geographical areas of eight of our nine provinces is vast and posed a challenge for communities. The footprint was also increased in provinces with a huge case intake.
Eleven new Satellite Offices were established in the year under review. All this was done in collaboration with the Departments of Community Safety in provinces: Gauteng - Westonaria, Hammanskraal, Heidelberg and Mabopane KwaZulu Natal - Port Shepstone, Port Dunford, KwaMbonambi and Mkhuze Northern Cape – Kuruman, Springbok and Upington
The Tollfree number launched in 2021, also provided communities with an opportunity to report acts of police criminality much quicker. Since the launch of the platform the directorate has experienced a high call volume and this is a reflection that communities are becoming aware of IPID.
During the period under review, IPID signed an MOU with the African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum (APCOF) to develop a framework for the prioritisation and screening of cases. The objective is to improve IPID’s case investigation outcomes. IPID also received an unqualified audit and did not incur any unauthorized expenditure.
The Annual Report is available on the website, at www.ipid.gov.za
Enquiries:
Ms. Lizzy Suping
Director Communications and Marketing/Spokesperson
Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID)
Benstra Building, 473B Stanza Bopape Street, Pretoria, 0001
T: (+27) 12 399 0092,www.ipid.gov.za