More ammunition for the fight against crime

Annually, crime statistics continue increasing, a situation which negatively affects investors’ perception of the country as an ideal destination for foreign direct investment.  But, judging from the national budget, there is a resolute commitment to change the situation.
In order to address this challenge, government’s spending on public safety and order and on defence will continue to increase, from R163bn this year to R193bn by 2017/18, according to Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene. Police services will receive about 48% of the total allocation.
To ensure that justice is not only done but also seen to be done, effective and efficient courts, are essential. And so, over the medium term, a total amount of R492m has been reprioritised towards improving access to justice.  in due course, it is hoped that this will increase capacity for court support personnel, public defenders and prosecutors.