Civilian Secretariat for Police Service Act, 2011 (Act No. 2 of 2011)RegulationsCivilian Secretariat for Police Service Regulations, 2016Chapter 26. Roles and responsibilities of the Civilian Secretariat and provincial secretariats |
| (1) | The Civilian Secretariat and provincial secretariats must conduct independent civilian oversight, as contemplated in section 5 of the Act, in respect of all policing aspects to ensure accountability and transparency by the police service. |
| (2) | In conducting independent civilian oversight of the police service, the Civilian Secretariat and provincial secretariats must ensure that the police service— |
| (a) | conducts its activities within the parameters of all relevant legislation, policies, the rule of law and due process; |
| (b) | has due regard to and respects the Bill of Rights in the execution of its mandate; |
| (c) | adheres to and respects the oversight mandate of the Civilian Secretariat and provincial secretariats as contemplated in the Constitution and the Act; |
| (d) | provides all the necessary support and cooperation in improving policing services to all the people in the Republic without any form of discrimination ; and |
| (e) | is accountable for its actions and functions in accordance with its constitutional mandate. |
| (3) | The Civilian Secretariat and the provincial secretariats, through the Secretary or the respective head of provincial secretariats, as the case may be, must— |
| (a) | regularly monitor police conduct and its performance to assess the level of service delivery in accordance with the rule of law, applicable policies, ministerial directives, service standards and norms; |
| (b) | regularly review police conduct and its performance and activities against its mandate with regard to methods, results, relevance, adequacy, efficiency and effectiveness in meeting the needs of communities; |
| (c) | receive, assess or evaluate complaints lodged by any member of the public, organisation, group or member of the police service or complaints referred by the Minister, Parliament, MEC, a provincial legislature, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate or any other organ of state; |
| (d) | monitor the utilisation of the budget of the police service in respect of compliance with any policy directives or instructions of the Minister; |
| (e) | monitor and evaluate police service conduct and performance with regard to compliance by the police service with its obligations and responsibilities in terms of the Domestic Violence Act, 1998; |
| (f) | conduct on-going research into policing and develop or review policing policy; |
| (g) | implement and promote a partnership strategy to mobilise role-players and stakeholders to strengthen service delivery and safety and security; and |
| (h) | produce and deliver reports from time to time on the performance of the police and recommendations on its operational conduct. |