Page 884 - Demo

Estimates of the Provincial Revenue and Expenditure (EPRE) %u2013 2025/26 Financial YearA significant portion of the budget as based on 2025/26, the lion%u2019s share of the budget (72 per cent) goes towards Compensation of Employees, whilst 25 per cent is set to service the contractual obligations. The department continues to comply with Financial Management Treasury Circular No.45 of 1999, as amended by Treasury Circular No.45 of 2004, and Provincial Treasury Instruction Note 01 of 2023/24 on cost containment measures. The department has appointed Budget Advisory Committee to enhance transparency and participation in the budget compilation and implementation. 2 REVIEW OF THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR (2024/25) The department has registered some success stories during the period under question, and hereunder is a summary of accomplishments on various facets of service delivery. 2.1 Key achievements In spite budgetary constraints, the department continued to play its oversight role over law enforcement through the implementation of Civilian Secretariat for Police Services Act, 2 of 2011. %uf0b7 A consistent provision of qualitative and quantitative oversight over the South African Police Service is maintained. The department has successfully implemented the Court Watching Brief as a strategic contribution in the fight against Gender Based Violence and Femicide. %uf0b7 The department plays a leading role in the coordination of the multi-sectoral committees that ensures the implementation of the Provincial Safety Strategy. The PSS ensures a collaboration and integration with other government institutions and organs of civil society across all spheres implementing crime prevention initiatives. The department continued to strengthen the Community Safety Platforms (CSF) and fostering direct community and public participation by conducting assessments and capacitation of Community Police Forums (CPF%u2019s), assessment and capacitation of CSFs, police accountability sessions, crime prevention and awareness campaigns. Community Police Forum members were appointed as safety patrollers, as seventy (70) patrollers were appointed in thirty-five (35) schools through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) to enhance school safety. %uf0b7 Department further implemented Community Safety Brigades Pilot Project in Mqhekezweni Great Place and Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB). Thus, about Fifty (50) patrollers were deployed in the Bityi policing precinct, whilst ninety-nine (99) were deployed at NMB (in Kwa-Zakhele, KwaDwesi and New Brighton areas). An additional hundred (100) Community Safety Brigades have been placed at the Buffalo City Metro. These patrollers enhance the role of the department in mobilising communities against crime and are assisting with early identification of crime, quick reporting and speedy response by the police; conducting crime prevention and awareness programmes and patrolling the streets to provide communities with a sense of safety when travelling around their communities. %uf0b7 In ensuring sound financial practises, the department has submitted its Annual Financial Statements (AFS%u2019s) to the Auditor General and Provincial Treasury timeously. Continuous implementation of financial management system to ensure compliance with applicable legislative framework was prioritised. 2.2 Key challenges Congruent with the name change, there is a desperate need for additional human resources to take on and execute the extended mandate of the department. The department cannot reach out to all communities to fulfil its mandate and cannot establish partnerships with various key stakeholders in the fight against crime. Despite our interventions and strategies, the Eastern Cape is still confronted by a high murder rate, high levels of violent crimes and worrying levels of Gender Based Violence 863