Johannesburg - There’s a quiet police search mission on the go - for some of their own rules.
The Ministry of Police has been unable to find the law or regulations under which the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (Natjoints) operates. Now officials are searching the archives.
In October last year, the DA asked the ministry to explain the composition of Natjoints and under which legislation it operates.
There have been three replies from the ministry on this matter, to increasingly focused questions, but still not clarity on which law it is or if there even is one.
The first reply, issued in November, avoided any reference to the relevant law but said the body was chaired by the SA Police Service and listed the Natjoints core membership as 17 national departments and government entities, including the police, the SA Revenue Service, the State Security Agency and the National Intelligence Co-ordinating Committee.
At least 15 more departments or entities are co-opted onto the structure.
“The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure is responsible for the development and implementation of operational safety plans, providing a safe and secure environment at big events, prioritise peace and stability of the country as well as handling issues of immigration and maritime security,” said Minister of Police Nathi Nhleko at the time.
Days later, the DA asked “what (a) legislation, (b) regulations and/or (c) policy provides for the (i) establishment, (ii) composition, (iii) powers and (iv) functions” of Natjoints, eliciting a vague response about the 1995 White Paper on the Transformation of the Public Service and the existence of Natjoints as a subcommittee of the justice, crime prevention and security cluster.
The next question asked “what specific (a) legislation and (b) regulations” provided for the establishment of Natjoints.
That reply indicates that the police have no idea. “Due to the nature of the information that is required, we are not able to provide the reply within the given time frame, as the documentation required to answer this question is not readily available and must be obtained from archives. The reply will be provided as soon as the information is obtained,” Nhleko said this week.
The Star