BUDGET 2004/05
R1.9bn more for policing, justice
Richard Mantu
19 February 2004
The fight against crime and streamlining of South Africa's justice system received a boost when Finance Minister Trevor Manuel announced the allocation of an additional R1.9-billion over the next three years to increase the capacity of the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Delivering his Budget speech in Cape Town on Wednesday, Manuel said the SAPS would use the allocation to recruit more personnel, modernise and expand its transport fleet, and upgrade its support systems.
Manuel also allocated R475-million to strengthen court administration and to prioritise services to vulnerable groups, particularly women and children.
"The allocations to Correctional Services include provision for establishing new remission and parole boards to bring community involvement into decisions to reintegrate offenders", Manuel said.
In an effort to improve services provided by the department of home affairs, Manuel allocated R850-million to
the department to fund different initiatives to be undertaken this year.
These include the deployment of 67 mobile offices to under-serviced rural communities to ensure that they have the necessary identity documents to access social grants.
Manuel said provision was also made to computerise regional home affairs offices and to upgrade the department's systems in general.
Source: BuaNews
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