Phiyega scraps 'dompas'

National police commissioner Riah Phiyega has ordered that the use of green work cards in Worcester, Western Cape, be stopped immediately.

Job seekers have needed the green cards to gain access to certain upmarket neighbourhoods in the Boland town.

The stated goal of the local policing forum in introducing the cards was to remove criminals but the cards have been likened to the dompas permits of the apartheid era.

Phiyega admitted that the police had been aware of the use of the green cards long before the media reported on them this week.

Phiyega, who was questioned about the use of the cards by the National Assembly's police portfolio committee, told MPs that Worcester police station managers had ordered the withdrawal of only those green cards that bore the SAPS logo.

The Worcester Community Policing Forum issued the cards in July last year in response to rising crime in predominantly white suburbs.

MPs asked Phiyega to explain why it appeared that the green cards had the backing of SAPS management.

ANC MP and committee chairman Francios Beukman said: "We need to ensure that all South Africans are able to walk the streets freely."

Phiyega said she started investigating the matter on Tuesday and found that the green cards were an initiative of sector four of the Worcester Community Policing Forum. She said that it was a "[community policing forum] type of arrangement, together with the participation of [police sector commander] Sergeant [Julian] Plaatjies".

Phiyega yesterday assured the committee that the system would end with immediate effect.

Beukman said a "clear signal" had to be sent to Plaatjies about his support of the system.

The committee hauled the police and the State Information Technology Agency over the coals for the slow delivery and upgrading of police computer systems.

The national network upgrading project - aimed at connecting rural police stations and improving control of dockets and firearms - had stalled between 2012 and 2014 because of poor tender and contract management.

DA member Dianne Kohler Barnard asked if there was a way for the police to rid themselves of SITA - the government's in-house IT company.

ANC MP Leonard Ramatlakane said SITA had capacity and delivery problems.