South Africa: Consolidated Acts

[Last checked: 28 March 2025.*]

*The last time this Act was reviewed for updates.

 

CIVILIAN SECRETARIAT FOR POLICE SERVICE ACT 2 OF 2011

[Updated to 1 December 2011.**]

**Date of last changes incorporated into this Act.

 

______________________

(English text signed by the President)

(Assented to 12 May 2011)

______________________

Published: G. 34299

Commencement: 1 December 2011;

ss 4(2), 4(3) and 14: 1 April 2014

Proc. 67, G. 34799; Proc. 57, G. 37151

 

ACT

 

To provide for the establishment of a Civilian Secretariat for the Police Service in the Republic; to define the objects, functions and powers of the Civilian Secretariat, and for this purpose to align the operations of the Civilian Secretariat in the national and provincial spheres of government and reorganise the Civilian Secretariat into an effective and efficient organ of state; to regulate the appointment, duties and functions, powers and removal from office of the Secretary for the Police Service and heads of provincial secretariats; to provide for the establishment of a senior management forum and a Ministerial Executive Committee; to provide for co-operation between the Civilian Secretariat and the Independent Police Investigative Directorate; to provide for co-operation between the Civilian Secretariat and the South African Police Service; to provide for intervention into the affairs of provincial secretariats by the Civilian Secretariat; and to provide for matters connected therewith.

 

PREAMBLE

 

WHEREAS every person has the right to life and the right to security of the person, which includes, among other things, the right to be free from all forms of violence from either public or private sources;

 

AND WHEREAS the Constitution places a duty on the State to respect, protect, promote and fulfil the fundamental rights in the Bill of Rights;

 

AND WHEREAS the adequate protection, promotion and fulfilment of such rights are fundamental to the well-being and social and economic development of every person;

 

AND WHEREAS the Constitution provides for the police service to combat and investigate crime, to maintain public order, to protect and secure the inhabitants and their property, and to uphold and enforce the law throughout the territory of the Republic;

 

AND WHEREAS there is a need to promote democratic accountability, transparency and openness within the police service and to ensure co-operation between the police service and the communities it serves;

 

AND HAVING REGARD to section 208 of the Constitution, which stipulates that a civilian secretariat for the police service must be established by national legislation to function under the direction of the Cabinet member responsible for policing,

 

BE IT THEREFORE ENACTED by the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, as follows.

 

ARRANGEMENTS OF SECTIONS

 

CHAPTER 1

INTERPRETATION, APPLICATION AND OBJECTS OF ACT

 

1.       Definitions

2.       Application of Act

3.       Objects of Act

 

CHAPTER 2

CIVILIAN SECRETARIAT FOR POLICE SERVICE

 

4.       Establishment of Civilian Secretariat

5.       Objects of Civilian Secretariat

6.       Functions of Civilian Secretariat

 

CHAPTER 3

SECRETARY FOR POLICE SERVICE

 

7.       Appointment of Secretary

8.       Duties and functions

9.       Powers

10.     Delegation of powers and assignment of duties

11.     Removal from office

12.     Vacancy

13.     Reporting

14.     Finances and accountability

15.     Annual report

 

CHAPTER 4

PROVINCIAL SECRETARIATS

 

16.     Constitution of provincial secretariats

17.     Functions of provincial secretariats

18.     Appointment of heads of provincial secretariats

19.     Duties and functions

20.     Removal from office

21.     Vacancies

22.     Reporting and referrals

 

CHAPTER 5

CO-OPERATIVE FRAMEWORK

 

Part 1

Secretary and heads of provincial departments

 

23.     Secretary and heads of provincial departments

 

Part 2

Senior management forum

 

24.     Establishment of forum

25.     Composition and functions of forum

 

Part 3

Intervention by Civilian Secretariat

 

26.     Intervention by Civilian Secretariat

 

Part 4

Ministerial Executive Committee

 

27.     Establishment of Ministerial Executive Committee

28.     Composition of Committee

29.     Functions of Committee

30.     Meetings

 

Part 5

Co-operation with Independent Police Investigative Directorate

 

31.     Co-operation with Independent Police Investigative Directorate

 

Part 6

Co-operation with South African Police Service

 

32.     Co-operation with South African Police Service

 

CHAPTER 6

REGULATIONS, TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS, AMENDMENT AND REPEAL OF LAWS, SHORT TITLE AND COMMENCEMENT

 

33.     Regulations

34.     Transitional provisions

35.     Amendment and repeal of laws

36.     Short title and commencement

Schedule

 

CHAPTER 1

INTERPRETATION, APPLICATION AND OBJECTS OF ACT

 

1.       Definitions

 

In this Act, unless the context indicates otherwise—

 

“Civilian Secretariat” means the national Civilian Secretariat for the Police Service established in terms of section 4(1) of this Act;

 

“Committee” means the Ministerial Executive Committee established under section 27(1);

 

“Constitution” means the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996;

 

“Department” means the national Department of Police;

 

“Directorate” means the Independent Police Investigative Directorate established in terms of section 3 of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate Act, 2010;

 

“Executive Director” means the Executive Director appointed in terms of section 6(1) of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate Act, 2010;

 

“forum” means the senior management forum established under section 24;

 

“head of a provincial department” means the head of a department responsible for safety and security in a province;

 

“head of a provincial secretariat” means the head of a provincial secretariat appointed in terms of section 18(1);

 

“member” means a member as denned in section 1 of the South African Police Service Act;

 

“MEC” means the Member of the Executive Council of a province responsible for policing in the province;

 

“Minister” means the member of the Cabinet responsible for policing;

 

“organ of state” means an organ of state concerned with matters relating to the police service;

 

“police official” means the police official as defined in section 1 of the South African Police Service Act;

 

“police service” means the South African Police Service established in terms of section 5(1) of the South African Police Service Act;

 

“prescribe” means prescribe by regulation;

 

“provincial department” means the department responsible for safety and security services in a province falling under the relevant MEC;

 

“provincial secretariat” means a provincial secretariat established in terms of section 16;

 

“regulation” means a regulation made under this Act;

 

“Secretariat” means the Civilian Secretariat for the Police Service established in terms of section 4(1);

 

“Secretary” means the Secretary for the Police Service appointed in terms of section 7(1);

 

“South African Police Service Act” means the South African Police Service Act, 1995 (Act 68 of 1995); and

 

“this Act” includes the Schedule, regulations and any rules, directives or instructions made under it.

 

2.       Application of Act

 

All organs of state must accord such assistance as may be reasonably required to ensure the effective functioning of the Civilian Secretariat in terms of this Act.

 

3.       Objects of Act

 

The objects of this Act are to—

 

(a)     give effect to section 208 of the Constitution by establishing the Civilian Secretariat to function under the direction of the Minister;

 

(b)     provide for civilian oversight of the police service;

 

(c)      provide for the functions and powers of the Civilian Secretariat;

 

(d)     provide for the establishment, composition and functions of the ministerial executive committee as required by section 206(8) of the Constitution;

 

(e)     provide for the establishment, composition and functions of the senior management forum;

 

(f)      provide for co-operation with the Independent Police Investigative Directorate and the South African Police Service; and

 

(g)     provide for intervention by the Civilian Secretariat into the affairs of a provincial secretariat.

 

CHAPTER 2

CIVILIAN SECRETARIAT FOR POLICE SERVICE

 

4.       Establishment of Civilian Secretariat

 

(1)     The Civilian Secretariat for the Police Service contemplated in section 208 of the Constitution is hereby established.

 

(2)     The Civilian Secretariat is hereby established as a designated department at the national level.

[Commencement of s 4(2): 1 April 2014.]

 

(3)     The Secretary is the accounting officer of the Civilian Secretariat and must comply with the provisions of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act 1 of 1999).

[Commencement of s 4(3): 1 April 2014.]

 

(4)     The Civilian Secretariat established in terms of subsection (1) must exercise its powers and perform its functions without fear, favour or prejudice in the interest of maintaining effective and efficient policing and a high standard of professional ethics in the police service.

 

(5)     Provincial secretariats contemplated in sections 16 and 17 must assist the Civilian Secretariat to achieve its objects, and perform functions and exercise powers of the Civilian Secretariat in the provincial sphere of government in accordance with the principles of co-operative government and intergovernmental relations contained in Chapter 3 of the Constitution.

 

(6)     The Civilian Secretariat is financed from monies appropriated by Parliament.

 

5.       Objects of Civilian Secretariat

 

The objects of the Civilian Secretariat are to—

 

(a)     exercise civilian oversight over the police service;

 

(b)     give strategic advice to the Minister in respect of developing and implementing policies;

 

(c)      provide administrative support services to the Minister to ensure South Africa’s engagement with relevant international obligations;

 

(d)     liaise and communicate with stakeholders;

 

(e)     implement a partnership strategy to mobilise role players and stakeholders to strengthen service delivery by the police service to ensure the safety and security of communities;

 

(f)      implement, promote and align the operations of the Civilian Secretariat in the national and provincial spheres of government;

 

(g)     co-ordinate the functions and powers of the Civilian Secretariat in the national and provincial spheres of government;

 

(h)     promote co-operation between the Civilian Secretariat, the police service and the Directorate; and

 

(i)       provide guidance to community police fora and associated structures and facilitate their proper functioning.

 

6.       Functions of Civilian Secretariat

 

(1)     The Civilian Secretariat must, in order to achieve its objects—

 

(a)     monitor the performance of the police service and regularly assess the extent to which the police service has adequate policies and effective systems and to recommend corrective measures;

 

(b)     monitor the utilisation of the budget of the police service to ensure compliance with any policy directives or instructions of the Minister;

 

(c)      monitor and evaluate compliance with the Domestic Violence Act, 1998 (Act 116 of 1998);

 

(d)     make recommendations to the police service on disciplinary procedures and measures with regard to non-compliance with the Domestic Violence Act, 1998;

 

(e)     consider such recommendations, suggestions and requests concerning police and policing matters as it may receive from any source;

 

(f)      conduct or cause to be conducted any research as it may deem necessary;

 

(g)     enter into either memoranda of understanding or agreements or both, in consultation with the Minister, with civilian oversight groups and other parties and engage such groups and parties to strengthen co-operation between the various roleplayers;

 

(h)     advise and support the Minister in the exercise of his or her powers and the performance of his or her functions;

 

(i)       provide the Minister with regular reports with regard to—

 

(i)      the performance of the police service; and

 

(ii)      implementation of and compliance by the police service with policy directives issued or instructions made by the Minister; and

 

(j)       assess and monitor the police service’s ability to receive and deal with complaints against its members.

 

(2)     The Civilian Secretariat must, for the purpose of subsection (1), establish competencies and capabilities in its operations in order to—

 

(a)

(i)      conduct research into any policing matter and report to the Secretary thereon;

 

(ii)      provide policy advice to the Minister through the Secretary;

 

(iii)     make available recent, relevant and evidence-based research to the Minister and to Parliament;

 

(iv)     create a resource information centre; and

 

(v)      develop at least one civil society reference group;

 

(b)

(i)      conduct quality assessment of the police service and monitor and evaluate its performance;

 

(ii)      identify problem areas for early interventions;

 

(iii)     review police practices and develop best practice models;

 

(iv)     recommend steps for improved service delivery and police effectiveness;

 

(v)      develop frameworks and strategies to ensure improved police accountability; and

 

(c)

(i)      facilitate and implement intergovernmental co-operation on safety;

 

(ii)      conduct ongoing interaction with citizens in the manner contemplated by this Act;

 

(iii)     enhance the quality and accessibility of safety programmes through improved participation by the community;

 

(iv)     encourage national dialogue on safety and crime prevention;

 

(v)      facilitate pro-active and interventionist models in communities;

 

(vi)     co-ordinate efforts to deal with challenges faced by the police service as requested by the Minister;

 

(vii)    develop frameworks and strategies to ensure uniformity, accountability and enhancement of community police for a and associated structures; and

 

(viii)   maximise capacity and expertise in the Civilian Secretariat.

 

CHAPTER 3

SECRETARY FOR POLICE SERVICE

 

7.       Appointment of Secretary

 

(1)     The Minister must, subject to the laws governing the public service, appoint a person as Secretary for the Police Service.

 

(2)     The Secretary is appointed for a term of five years, which is renewable for one additional term only, subject to terms and conditions of service under the laws governing the public service.

 

(3)     The Secretary must be a citizen of the Republic and be a fit and proper person with appropriate knowledge, experience or qualifications.

 

(4)     The Secretary must not be a member or former member of the police service of the Republic contemplated in section 199(1) of the Constitution.

 

8.       Duties and functions

 

(1)     The Secretary—

 

(a)     is responsible for the performance of the functions of the Civilian Secretariat and, for this purpose, is the—

 

(i)      head and accounting officer of the Civilian Secretariat; and

 

(ii)      adviser to the Minister on police and policing policy matters;

 

(b)     takes all decisions relating to the functions of the Civilian Secretariat referred to in section 6;

 

(c)      performs any function assigned to the Civilian Secretariat in terms of this Act or any other Act or memoranda of understanding or agreement referred to in section 6(1)(g);

 

(d)     monitors and evaluates the activities and performance of the Civilian Secretariat; and

 

(e)     ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of the Civilian Secretariat.

 

(2)     As head and accounting officer of the Civilian Secretariat, the Secretary is responsible for the—

 

(a)     administration and management of the budget of the Civilian Secretariat;

 

(b)     proper and diligent implementation of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act 1 of 1999);

 

(c)      development and organisation of an efficient administration within the Civilian Secretariat;

 

(d)     establishment of the staff component in accordance with the laws governing the public service; and

 

(e)     appointment of such staff as may be necessary to enable the Civilian Secretariat to perform its functions in terms of this Act.

 

(3)     As adviser to the Minister, the Secretary must—

 

(a)     oversee, and advise the Minister on, the implementation of policy directives or instructions issued or made by the Minister;

 

(b)     provide the Minister with the necessary support service to ensure compliance with relevant international obligations;

 

(c)      monitor utilisation of the budget of the police service to ensure compliance with any policy directives or instructions of the Minister;

 

(d)     present legislation in Parliament as determined by the Minister;

 

(e)     perform such functions as the Minister may consider necessary or expedient to ensure police civilian oversight; and

 

(f)      any other function assigned to the Secretary as may be determined by the Minister.

 

(4)     The Secretary must, in consultation with the Minister and subject to the laws governing the public service, appoint employees, either full-time or part-time, to the Civilian Secretariat to assist the Secretary to perform the functions or exercise the powers of the Civilian Secretariat, or both, as may be necessary.

 

(5)     The provisions of this section, in so far as it relates to the Secretary as accounting officer of the Civilian Secretariat, will only come into operation when the Civilian Secretariat becomes a designated department.

 

9.       Powers

 

The Secretary may do all that is reasonably necessary or expedient to perform the functions of the Civilian Secretariat properly, including—

 

(a)     entering any building or premises under the control of the police service;

 

(b)     requesting and obtaining information and documents relating to any matter under the control of the police service;

 

(c)      requesting, and be entitled to, all reasonable assistance by a member;

 

(d)     obtaining the assistance of any state department, functionary or institution, to perform any specific act or function within the competency of the Civilian Secretariat;

 

(e)     performing any specific act or function within its competence on behalf of any other person, including any state department, functionary or institution; and

 

(f)      performing legal acts, or instituting or defending any legal action in the name of the Civilian Secretariat.

 

10.     Delegation of powers and assignment of duties

 

(1)     Subject to subsection (2), the Secretary may—

 

(a)     delegate to any person in the employ of the Civilian Secretariat any power conferred upon the Secretary by or under this Act, excluding the power referred to in this subsection or in section 9(f); and

 

(b)     authorise any person in the employ of the Civilian Secretariat to perform any duty assigned to the Secretary by or under this Act, on such terms and conditions as the Secretary may determine.

 

(2)     A delegation or authorisation in terms of subsection (1)—

 

(a)     must be in writing; and

 

(b)     may at any time be amended or revoked by the Secretary.

 

11.     Removal from office

 

The Minister may remove the Secretary from office on account of—

 

(a)     misconduct;

 

(b)     ill health; or

 

(c)      inability to perform the duties of that office effectively.

 

12.     Vacancy

 

(1)     When the Secretary is unable to perform the functions of office, or during a vacancy in the office of Secretary, the Minister may designate another person to act as Secretary until the Secretary returns to perform the functions of office or the vacancy is filled.

 

(2)     The provisions of section 7(1), (3) and (4) apply to the designation or filling of a vacancy in terms of subsection (1).

 

(3)     In the case of a vacancy, the Minister must fill the vacancy within a reasonable period of time, which period must not exceed one year.

 

13.     Reporting

 

The Secretary must submit quarterly reports to the Minister and the parliamentary committees responsible for police on the activities of the Civilian Secretariat.

 

14.     Finances and accountability

 

(1)     The Secretary—

 

(a)     must, subject to the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act 1 of 1999)—

 

(i)      be charged with the responsibility of accounting for money received or paid out for or on account of the office of the Civilian Secretariat;

 

(ii)      cause the necessary accounting and other related records to be kept; and

 

(b)     may exercise such powers and perform such duties as may from time to time be conferred upon or assigned to him or her, and in respect thereof be accountable to the Minister.

 

(2)     The records referred to in subsection (1)(a) must be audited by the Auditor-General.

[Commencement of s 14: 1 April 2014.]

 

15.     Annual report

 

(1)     The Secretary must prepare and submit to the Minister an annual report in a form prescribed by the Minister within five months after the end of the financial year.

 

(2)     The annual report referred to in subsection (1) must include the following documents—

 

(a)     The audited financial statements prepared in terms of this Act;

 

(b)     the Auditor-General’s report; and

 

(c)      a detailed report on the activities of the Civilian Secretariat undertaken during the year to which the audit relates.

 

(3)     The Minister must table in Parliament a copy of the annual report, financial statements and the audit report on those statements within one month after receipt thereof if Parliament is then in session, or if Parliament is not then in session, within one month after the commencement of its next ensuing session.

 

(4)     The Secretary must publish the annual report, financial statements and the audit report on those statements.

 

CHAPTER 4

PROVINCIAL SECRETARIATS

 

16.     Constitution of provincial secretariats

 

Subject to section 17, each MEC must constitute a provincial secretariat for that province, within 18 months after the commencement of this Act, to support and align the mandate of that provincial secretariat with the mandate of the Civilian Secretariat: Provided that the date on which a provincial secretariat comes into operation, will be determined by the MEC in consultation with the Minister.

 

17.     Functions of provincial secretariats

 

(1)     In order to support the objects of the Civilian Secretariat referred to in section 5 and subject to the principles of co-operative governance and intergovernmental relations contained in Chapter 3 of the Constitution, each provincial secretariat must—

 

(a)     align its plans and operations at the provincial sphere of government with the plans, policies and operations of the Civilian Secretariat; and

 

(b)     integrate its strategies and systems at the provincial sphere of government with the strategies and systems of the Civilian Secretariat.

 

(2)     The provincial secretariat must, for purposes of subsection (1), establish competencies and capabilities in its operations, to—

 

(a)

(i)      monitor and evaluate the implementation of policing policy in the province;

 

(ii)      evaluate and monitor police conduct in the province;

 

(iii)     develop and evaluate safety models and monitoring tools to ensure alignment with the functions of the Civilian Secretariat;

 

(iv)     assist the Civilian Secretariat with any monitoring and evaluation projects; and

 

(b)

(i)      promote community police relations;

 

(ii)      establish and promote partnerships; and

 

(iii)     manage the enhancement of community safety structures with the province.

 

18.     Appointment of heads of provincial secretariats

 

(1)     The MEC must, in consultation with the Minister and subject to the laws governing the public service, appoint the head of a provincial secretariat in the province.

 

(2)     The head of a provincial secretariat is appointed for a five-year term which is renewable for one additional term only, subject to terms and conditions of service under the laws governing the public service.

 

(3)     The head of a provincial secretariat must be a citizen of the Republic and be a fit and proper person, with appropriate knowledge, experience or qualifications.

 

(4)     The head of a provincial secretariat must not be a member or former member of the police service of the Republic contemplated in section 199(1) of the Constitution.

 

19.     Duties and functions

 

The head of a provincial secretariat—

 

(a)     is responsible for the performance of the functions of a provincial secretariat as contemplated in section 17 or such duties and functions assigned to the head of a provincial secretariat by the Secretary in terms of section 10;

 

(b)     is responsible for the resources and the employees of a provincial secretariat in the province;

 

(c)      must take all decisions necessary or expedient for performance of the functions of a provincial secretariat referred to in section 17 or otherwise assigned to him or her by the Secretary in terms of section 10 or by the MEC of the province concerned;

 

(d)     must monitor that national policing policies and directives issued or made by the Minister are implemented by the police service in the province and reports thereon are submitted to the head of a provincial department, the MEC and the Secretary;

 

(e)     must evaluate and review practices, methodologies and performance of the police service in the province, submit reports thereon to the head of a provincial department and the MEC and submit copies thereof to the Secretary; and

 

(f)      must perform such functions as the head of a provincial department or the MEC may consider necessary or expedient to ensure civilian oversight over police in the province.

 

20.     Removal from office

 

The MEC may, after consultation with the Minister, remove the head of the provincial secretariat from office on account of—

 

(a)     misconduct;

 

(b)     ill health; or

 

(c)      inability to perform the duties of that office effectively.

 

21.     Vacancies

 

(1)     When the head of a provincial secretariat is unable to perform the functions of office, or during a vacancy in the office of the head of a provincial secretariat, the MEC may, after consultation with the Minister, designate another person to act as head of the provincial secretariat until the head of a provincial secretariat returns to perform the functions of office or the vacancy is filled.

 

(2)     The provisions of section 18(1), (3) and (4) apply to the designation or filling of a vacancy in terms of subsection (1).

 

(3)     In the case of a vacancy, the MEC must fill the vacancy within a reasonable period of time, which period must not exceed six months.

 

22.     Reporting and referrals

 

(1)     The head of a provincial secretariat in each province must, through the head of a provincial department, submit to the MEC and the Secretary quarterly reports on the activities of a provincial secretariat in the province, and on any matter as or when required by the Secretary.

 

(2)     The head of a provincial department must submit regular reports to the MEC and the relevant committee in the provincial legislature.

 

(3)     The head of a provincial department in each province must—

 

(a)     through the MEC, table an annual report in the provincial legislature on the activities of a provincial secretariat in the province; and

 

(b)     submit a copy of the annual report tabled in terms of paragraph (a) to the Secretary.

 

CHAPTER 5

CO-OPERATIVE FRAMEWORK

 

Part 1

Secretary and heads of provincial departments

 

23.     Secretary and heads of provincial departments

 

(1)     The Secretary and heads of provincial departments must meet at least on a quarterly basis to—

 

(a)     ensure alignment between the provincial secretariats and the Civilian Secretariat of their respective—

 

(i)      annual strategic and performance plans; and

 

(ii)      priorities, objectives and strategies;

 

(b)     identify any other matter of strategic importance within each province;

 

(c)      discuss performance of the police service in the province in order to identify best practices, to detect failures and to recommend preventative or corrective action when necessary;

 

(d)     ensure regular reporting on matters specific to the performance of the police service in the province; and

 

(e)     prepare for meetings of the Ministerial Executive Committee, the relevant Cabinet cluster committee or any other forum.

 

(2)     The Secretary convenes, determines the agenda for and presides at the meetings referred to in subsection (1), and his or her office is responsible for providing administrative and other support services to the meetings.

 

(3)     The Secretary may invite any person as he or she may consider necessary to attend the meetings referred to in subsection (1).

 

Part 2

Senior management forum

 

24.     Establishment of forum

 

There is hereby established a forum to be known as the senior management forum.

 

25.     Composition and functions of forum

 

(1)     The forum established in terms of section 24 consists of—

 

(a)     the Secretary, who is the chairperson of the forum;

 

(b)     the heads of provincial secretariats;

 

(c)      senior management staff from the Civilian Secretariat; and

 

(d)     senior management staff from each provincial secretariat.

 

(2)     The forum meets at least bi-monthly to—

 

(a)     report on the activities of a provincial secretariat in each province; and

 

(b)     facilitate interaction and co-operation amongst the provincial secretariats.

 

(3)     The Secretary convenes, determines the agenda for and presides at the meetings referred to in subsection (2), and his or her office is responsible for providing administrative and other support services to the meetings.

 

(4)     The Secretary may invite any person as he or she may consider necessary to attend meetings referred to in subsection (2).

 

Part 3

Intervention by Civilian Secretariat

 

26.     Intervention by Civilian Secretariat

 

(1)     Notwithstanding the provisions of this Chapter, the Minister may, after consultation with the relevant MEC, instruct the Civilian Secretariat to intervene in the affairs of a provincial secretariat in accordance with section 100 of the Constitution—

 

(a)     when that provincial secretariat is unable to perform its functions effectively; or

 

(b)     when that provincial secretariat cannot fulfil its obligations in terms of this Act,

 

and take appropriate steps to ensure proper fulfilment of its functions in terms of this Act.

 

(2)     Nothing in this Part precludes the Minister from instructing the Civilian Secretariat to perform such functions contemplated by this Act in a province.

 

Part 4

Ministerial Executive Committee

 

27.     Establishment of Ministerial Executive Committee

 

There is hereby established a Committee to be known as the Ministerial Executive Committee, as contemplated in section 206(8) of the Constitution.

 

28.     Composition of Committee

 

The Committee consists of—

 

(a)     the Minister, who is the chairperson of the Committee;

 

(b)     the MEC from each province; and

 

(c)      any other member the Minister may consider necessary.

 

29.     Functions of Committee

 

(1)     The functions of the Committee are to—

 

(a)     facilitate close co-operation between the national and provincial spheres of government;

 

(b)     discuss matters of common interest or those emanating from reports of the Civilian Secretariat; and

 

(c)      discuss any other policing matter relevant to the functions of the MEC from each province.

 

(2)     The Secretary or his or her office is responsible for—

 

(a)     providing administrative and other support services to the Committee; and

 

(b)     liaising and consulting with heads of provincial departments to ensure provincial issues are part of the agenda of the Committee.

 

30.     Meetings

 

(1)     The Minister convenes and determines the agenda for meetings of the Committee.

 

(2)     Suggestions for inclusion in the agenda for a meeting may be submitted to the Minister in terms of a framework determined by the Minister.

 

Part 5

Co-operation with Independent Police Investigative Directorate

 

31.     Co-operation with Independent Police Investigative Directorate

 

(1)     The Civilian Secretariat must consider reports received from the Executive Director in terms section 9 of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate Act, 2010.

 

(2)     The Civilian Secretariat must monitor the implementation by the police service of the recommendations made by the Directorate and provide the Minister with regular reports on steps taken by it to ensure compliance, and a copy thereof must be sent to the Executive Director.

 

(3)     The Secretary and the Executive Director must ensure the necessary co-operation for the proper functioning of the Consultative Forum contemplated in Chapter 4 of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate Act, 2010.

 

Part 6

Co-operation with South African Police Service

 

32.     Co-operation with South African Police Service

 

The members must provide their full co-operation to the Civilian Secretariat and where so required to a provincial secretariat, including but not limited to—

 

(a)     assisting the Civilian Secretariat with the necessary information and records in the manner prescribed to perform its monitoring function in relation to oversight of the police service in terms of this Act;

 

(b)     assisting the Civilian Secretariat to monitor and evaluate compliance with the Domestic Violence Act, 1998 (Act 116 of 1998); and

 

(c)      any other information or documentation as may be required by the Civilian Secretariat in order to fulfil its functions in terms of this Act.

 

CHAPTER 6

REGULATIONS, TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS, AMENDMENT AND REPEAL OF LAWS, SHORT TITLE AND COMMENCEMENT

 

33.     Regulations

 

(1)     The Minister may, after consultation with the Secretary, make regulations regarding—

 

(a)     any matter which in terms of this Act may or must be prescribed;

 

(b)     any action in order to promote compliance with this Act; and

 

(c)      any ancillary or incidental matter that it is necessary to prescribe for the proper implementation or administration of this Act.

 

(2)     Regulations with regard to the implementation of this Act must be submitted to the Minister by the Secretary within three months of the commencement of this Act.

 

(3)     The regulations referred to in subsection (1) must be submitted to Parliament for notification purposes before promulgation.

 

34.     Transitional provisions

 

(1)     A Civilian Secretariat for the police service in existence immediately before the commencement of this Act continues as the Civilian Secretariat for the police service contemplated in section 4(1).

 

(2)     Any provincial secretariat structure in existence at the provincial sphere of government immediately before the commencement of this Act continues subject to section 16.

 

(3)     Any person who immediately before the commencement of this Act served in the post of Secretary or head of a provincial secretariat, as the case may be—

 

(a)     must be regarded as having been appointed in terms of section 7(1) or section 18(1); and

 

(b)     continues to serve in that capacity under the terms and conditions of service of his or her existing appointment for the remainder of the period of service in terms of such appointment.

 

(4)     Subject to subsection (1), any personnel who immediately before the commencement of this Act served in any post in the Civilian Secretariat—

 

(a)     must be regarded as having been appointed in terms of sections 8(2)(e) and 8(4); and

 

(b)     continue to serve in that capacity under the terms and conditions of service of his or her appointment for the remainder of the period of service in terms of such appointment.

 

(5)     Any assessment, evaluation or project instituted by the Civilian Secretariat in terms of the South African Police Service Act which was pending, continues as if this Act had not been passed.

 

(6)     Decisions of the Civilian Secretariat in force immediately before the commencement of this Act remain in force until amended, replaced or rescinded by the Civilian Secretariat.

 

(7)     The reports of the Secretary in terms of section 13 must include progress made in respect of the establishment of provincial secretariats until such time as provincial secretariats are established and functioning in the provinces.

 

35.     Amendment and repeal of laws

 

The laws mentioned in the Schedule are hereby amended and repealed to the extent set out in third column of that Schedule.

 

36.     Short title and commencement

 

(1)     This Act is called the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service Act, 2011, and takes effect on a date determined by the President by proclamation in the Gazette.

 

(2)     The provisions of sections 4(2) and (3), and 14 shall come into operation on a date determined by the President by proclamation in the Gazette.

 

(3)     Different dates may be determined under subsection (2) in respect of different provisions of this Act.

 

SCHEDULE

 

Laws amended and repealed (section 35)

 

Number and year of law	Short title	Extent of repeal or amendment
Act 68 of 1995	South African Police Service Act	Amendment of section 1 of Act 68 of 1995, as amended by section 1 of Act 41 of 1997 and section 1 of Act 83 of 1998   1.       Section 1 of the South African Police Service Act is hereby amended—   (a)     by the substitution for the definition of “secretariat” of the following definition—   “secretariat” means the [Secretariat for Safety and Security established under section 2(1)] Civilian Secretariat for the Police Service established in terms of section 4(1) of the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service Act, 2010;”;   (b)     by the substitution for the definition of “Secretary” of the following definition—   “Secretary” means the Secretary [for Safety and Security appointed under section 2(2)] for the Police Service appointed in terms of section 7(1) of the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service Act, 2010;”.   Repeal of section 2 of Act 68 of 1995   2.       Section 2 of the Act is hereby repealed.   3.       The substitution for the words “Secretary for Safety of Security”, wherever they occur in the Act, of the words “Secretary for the Police Service”.
Act 60 of 2000	Firearms Control Act, 2000	Amendment of section 1 of Act 60 of 2000, as amended by section 1 of Act 43 of 2003 and Act 28 of 2006   1.       Section 1 of the Firearms Control Act, 2000, is hereby amended by the substitution for the definition of: “Secretary for Safety of Security” of the following definition—   “Secretary for the Police Service” means the Secretary for the Police Service appointed in terms of section 7(1) of the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service Act, 2010;”.   2.       The substitution for the words “Secretary for Safety of Security”, wherever they occur in the Act, of the words “Secretary for the Police Service”.