SAPS uncertain about members’ firearm competency but confident in new crime-fighting tech:
The South African Police Service (SAPS) on Wednesday was unable to tell parliament’s portfolio committee on police exactly how many of its officers were not competent to carry firearms, but said it was confident that new technology would improve the crime-fighting landscape in the country.
The police service is developing a new Firearm Control Management System to replace its issue-laden Enhanced Firearm Registry System.
One of the key features of the new system is the ability for individuals to apply and pay for firearm licences online, as well as for licensed firearm dealers to submit their returns electronically. Users will also have a profile where they can monitor the progress of their applications.
The current and new system will run concurrently until full migration has taken place.
The new Firearm Control Management System is planned to be fully operational by the end of March 2026, and was one of the many updates police presented to the committee on Wednesday, along with how technology was and could enhance policing.
But when asked by Democratic Alliance committee member Dianne Kohler Barnard — twice — how many officers did not have firearm competency certificates or had failed their firearm tests, none of the senior police representatives present was able to answer. A response would be “submitted in writing” once it was pulled from “the system”, they said.
In 2015, Kohler Barnard caused a stir when she said that as many as 40 000 police members did not have competency certificates, or had failed their competency tests.
Lieutenant General Edith Nonkululeko Mavundla, the SAPS divisional commissioner for technology management services, made the presentation on the new technologies to the committee, but made no mention of budgets or specific costs for plans that included advanced crime-fighting tech such as body and dashboard cameras, and artificial intelligence-driven systems.
Mavundla did, however, say that although the police service’s current information and communication technology was “adequate and maintained” it would require “progressive expansion and upgrade to accommodate technology evolution and its inevitable demands”.
“We are upgrading our technology infrastructure, and yes, we are behind with the upgrades because of the austerities of funding, but at the moment we are able to run on that particular infrastructure,” she said.
She said that SAPS was working on a trial programme involving 41 body-worn cameras, and the police were evaluating various bodycam solutions from suppliers.
This was being done as a “proof of concept” to help SAPS determine the specifications and requirements for a broader body-worn camera deployment across the police service.
She said remotely piloted aircraft were being used for aerial surveillance during large events and in rescue operations. Drones helped reduce the risks to officers by allowing them to cover dangerous or inaccessible areas, she said, but also acknowledged that there were difficulties in retaining skilled personnel such as drone pilots.
Economic Freedom Fighters committee member Molebogeng Letlape asked what provision had been made for the use of improved technology in rural areas, given that many police stations there frequently had problems with phones and signals, and had limited access to or no vehicles.
Mavundla said rural areas were “not enabled with the infrastructure that is relevant to be able to run the new technologies”.
“In the rural areas, you may not be able to even find any telecommunication entity that is in that particular area, because that area doesn’t bring business to the telecommunication suppliers,” she said.
Rural areas still needed to be policed, Mavundla said, but with “relevant technologies” such as analogue, which was “still being maintained … and upgraded in rural areas”.
Kohler Barnard raised concerns about historical problems with the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS), and the lack of fingerprint capacity at myriad police stations.
Mavundla said AFIS was used to verify individual identities, check for prior convictions and determine the wanted status of people in real-time during operations, but did not say whether the problems experienced with AFIS had been fully resolved.
ActionSA committee member Dareleen James asked whether any police station in the country where the current technologies and systems spoken of by Mavundla were fully operational.
When Mavundla answered, James accused her of obfuscation. After this, Mavundla said “Johannesburg Central”.
As for facial recognition technology, Mavundla said agreements between the police service and the private sector, including private security companies with vast camera networks already in place, would ensure police could use technology that was “already out there”, to avoid duplication.
The goal was to leverage existing infrastructure and databases to enhance the police’s ability to identify and track individuals of interest, particularly at border areas such as airports.
The success you see comes from the habits you don’t – start habit stacking your way to success:
Momentum Group’s Executive Head of Conversations (Content and PR), Natalie Druion, gives us insight into how habit stacking is the key to achieving success and shares tips on how she does it.
Q: Tell us a little bit about why Momentum has made habit stacking this year’s theme for the #SuccessIsAScience campaign?
A: Our essence as the Momentum brand is about success – we want our clients and the audience to know that they can achieve their financial dreams. And through our #SuccessIsAScience campaign, we want to make it clear that success is an output of the effort you put in. And this theme illustrates that there are recipes and approaches that require an intentional application of certain habits, methods and behaviours to achieve the desired outcome – which in this case, is financial success.
Q: Why is habit stacking an effective formula for success?
A: I think the secret is in how our brain processes habits. Simply put, a habit is something that over time becomes automatic and so ingrained into our daily routine that we don’t even realise we’re doing it. This means that our brains find this a very efficient way to operate. And so, when you are adopting new habits, it feels counter intuitive. Habit stacking is simple: you pair a new habit with one that already exists making the new habit easier to stick to. For example, performing a chore with listening to an exciting podcast. Or if you enjoy reading the news while sipping your coffee in the mornings, you might try checking your account balances at the same time.
Q: What are some potential challenges when it comes to habit stacking?
A: I think the biggest challenge is getting the right advice on how to start – and when you start really thinking about it, you find that it is probably something you have been doing unconsciously. Simplicity makes it easy to understand and apply to your life. You’ll find that you are more motivated and efficient and by pairing new habits with something you are already doing, you will reduce your decision fatigue and ultimately enhance your financial well-being.
The reality is that success does not happen by luck and without the right habits you will not reach your financial aspirations.
Q: Tell us about some of the ways that you habit stack as a successful communications executive.
A: My professional life is very demanding on my time and energy, and there are ways that I have learnt to habit stack in ways that have been beneficial for me. Here are two tips on how I habit stack:
Weave mental health into your habits
Mental health is an important thing to take care of and working from home is one of the legacies of the COVID-19 pandemic that has tested our mental health. One of the things that I do is that when I do check-ins with my team from home I sit outside in my garden. This helps me get some vitamin D from the sun, take deep breaths and being around nature relaxes me. This means that my mood is positive and that I am a bit more relaxed going into my team check-ins. I also routinely go into the garden during breaks to stretch my legs in my garden. And with life being so fast-paced and stressful, you must be able to stack habits in your life that help keep you mentally healthy and avoid suppressing it until you reach an uncomfortable level.
Habit stack to be productive, not busy
The word ‘busy’ can also have negative, toxic connotations as well. And so, I’ve had to form productivity hacks and one of those hacks that I stack is blocking my diary. I will block my diary but now I have become more intentional about how I use that time that I have blocked off. It’s easy to see an open slot in your diary and do other things such as answering emails and messages and an hour can easily go by even though your intention was something else. So, the habit is blocking my diary but what I’ve stacked onto that is using my time wisely.
One bad habit that I have managed to modify through habit stacking is that I am the kind of leader who responds quickly. It is great because I am on it, but it can also lead to distractions from what you are doing. So, now I will put my phone on ‘do not disturb’ so I can focus on what is on hand and be present. I’ve accepted that I can respond later – especially if it’s not urgent and can wait a couple of hours – and be more intentional with my productivity.
Habit stacking has been a great resource for me to be more productive and it has helped me to work smarter.
Q: The campaign also includes a festival taking place on Friday, November 22nd 2024 – what can people expect from this?
A: Yes. It is called the Science of Success Festival, and it is an annual event where we really unpack the practical ways in which you can achieve the success you want. This year we will focus on building the right habits and we have a host of amazing local speakers and a couple of international speakers. We will have masterclasses with these experts who will share how habit stacking can be an efficient science for your success. The event is free, and you just register online to become a part of our exciting community.
Trump says Musk, Ramaswamy will lead ‘Department of Government Efficiency’:
United States president-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday announced via social media the appointment of tech billionaire and backer Elon Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy to lead a yet to be created “Department of Government Efficiency” (DGE).
The move is part of Trump’s plan to overhaul federal bureaucracy, aiming to slash regulations, cut wasteful spending, and restructure federal agencies in what he calls a “Save America” initiative.
In a statement from his transition team, Trump praised Musk and Ramaswamy as “two wonderful Americans” chosen to spearhead efforts to streamline government operations.
The DGE, shortened to “Doge” by Trump, is positioned as a radical solution to address what the president-elect views as rampant inefficiency and waste in government.
“This will send shockwaves through the system,” Musk is quoted as saying in the statement. He added that the department’s mission includes targeting those “involved in government waste, which is a lot of people”.
The DGE aims to be, in Trump’s words, “potentially, ‘The Manhattan Project’ of our time,” emphasising the scope of the restructuring effort.
The plan involves Musk and Ramaswamy working closely with the White House and the Office of Management and Budget to instigate large-scale structural reforms. Trump’s vision includes leveraging private-sector expertise to foster what he calls “an entrepreneurial approach to government”.
The initiative comes as part of a broader commitment from Trump to reduce the federal government’s annual $ 6.5 trillion expenditure.
According to Trump’s statement, the DGE’s work is set to conclude by July 4, 2026, aligning with the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Trump described this goal as a “gift” to the American people, aimed at creating a leaner, more efficient government that is directly accountable to the public.
The president-elect also announced via X that former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee would be made the US ambassador to Israel. Trump said Huckabee “loves Israel, the people of Israel, and likewise, the people of Israel love him. Mike will work about tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East!”
Other selections include Fox news co-host Pete Hegseth as secretary of defence, former National Intelligence director John Ratcliffe as CIA director, and GOP lawyer William McGinley as White House Counsel.
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