South African Police Service Act, 1995 (Act No. 68 of 1995)Chapter 2 : Ministerial Services3. Functions of secretariat |
| (1) | The secretariat shall— |
| (a) | advise the Minister in the exercise of his or her powers and the performance of his or her duties and functions; |
| (b) | perform such functions as the Minister may consider necessary or expedient to ensure civilian oversight of the Service; |
| (c) | promote democratic accountability and transparency in the Service; |
| (d) | promote and facilitate participation by the Service in the Reconstruction and Development Programme; |
| (e) | provide the Minister with legal services and advice on constitutional matters; |
| (f) | provide the Minister with communication, support and administrative services; |
| (g) | monitor the implementation of policy and directions issued by the Minister and report to the Minister thereon; |
| (h) | conduct research into any policing matter in accordance with the instructions of the Minister and report to the Minister thereon; |
| (i) | perform such functions as may from time to time be assigned to the secretariat by the Minister; and |
| (j) | evaluate the functioning of the Service and report to the Minister thereon. |
| (2) | To the extent that it is reasonably necessary for the performance of the functions of the secretariat, any member of its personnel— |
| (a) | may request and obtain information and documents under the control of the Service; |
| (b) | may enter any building or premises under the control of the Service; and |
| (c) | shall be entitled to all reasonable assistance by a member. |
| (3) | The Minister may make regulations regarding the establishing and proper functioning of secretariats: Provided that regulations with regard to provincial secretariats shall be made in consultation with the executive coordinating committee. |
| (4) | A document in the prescribed form, certifying that a person is a member of the personnel of the secretariat, shall serve as prima facie proof that such person is such a member. |
| (5) | Subsections (1), (2) and (4) shall apply mutatis mutandis to a Provincial Secretariat for Safety and Security. |