Issued by: SA Communication Service
6 October 1997
MEDIA STATEMENT BY THE HEAD NATIONAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS OF THE SAPS, ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER DIRK BURGER.
IMPLEMENTATION OF A NEW INTERNET HOMEPAGE FOR THE SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE.
When South Africans and the world logon to the World Wide Web on Wednesday, 8 October 1997, they will be able to visit the exciting new Internet Homepage of the South African Police Service.
The South African Police Service ventured into the world of the Internet earlier this year when we started to test different options in the quest to host our own Homepage. Although the current Homepage was established only as a test environment, we have received tremendous support and encouragement from both the community and users within the SAPS.
The new SAPS Homepage was fully developed by members of Information Systems of the SAPS who are currently undergoing training at ITI (Information Technology Integration) in Centurion. They have come up with an appealing look, using crisp colours and attractive sketches. After completion of their training, they will be able to fully maintain the Homepage and support the Internet users in the Service.
The Internet is fast becoming a necessity in policing in South Africa. On the one had it will assist police officers with research and on the other it is a vital tool to disseminate and collect information regarding crime and policing.
On the new Homepage all Internet users will be able to "meet" the Minister and the Secretary for Safety and Security as well as the Management of the Service. They will also be able to collect data on the latest Policing priorities, successes in policing, crime statistics, missing persons, wanted criminals and other vital information on drugs, Satanism and more.
Because children are accessing the Internet on a large scale, we have created a Kiddies Corner specially for them with lots of information and fun.
In the near future, all media statements will also be available in the Internet. For those who cannot attend media conferences, we may in future be able to supply some photographs. It can be regarded as our gateway to the media not represented in South Africa.
The South African Police Service uses its existing computer network to supply access to the Internet users in the Service. This method ensures a controlled user environment and negates the use of telephone lines for this purpose. We will be implementing Electronic Mail soon (first for the internal environment and later for the external environment).
Through the Internet, the South African Police Service aims to deliver even a better service to the community and to create yet another point of contact with as many South Africans as possible as well s with other people throughout the world.
We aim to keep the information on or Homepage as lively and up to date as possible. This will not only market the South African Police Service, but supply the community with objective information to assist the SAPS in the fight against crime.
Inquiries: Snr Supt Andrew Lesch, Communication Officer, National Support Services. Cell. 082 800 6740