PRETORIA – Calls for an urgent overhaul of the South African Police Service (SAPS) are growing louder following explosive allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, during a Sunday media briefing.
During the session, Mkhwanazi exposed what he described as deep-rooted corruption, political interference, and a culture of impunity—especially within the Crime Intelligence unit. He warned that these issues are directly fuelling rising crime levels and damaging public confidence in the justice system.
Reacting to the revelations, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Ian Cameron, said urgent and deliberate action is needed to restore integrity within SAPS. He raised concern over recent arrests of senior Crime Intelligence officials linked to fraud and corruption, adding that these developments show a serious breach of public trust.
Cameron said the committee wants lifestyle and skills audits conducted on all senior SAPS members, starting with Crime Intelligence. He added that corrupt officers must face real consequences if SAPS is to regain credibility.
Figures from Minister of Police Bheki Cele show that since 2019, over 5,000 police officers have been arrested—yet more than 4,000 are still serving. Cameron questioned why officers implicated in criminal activity continue to wear the badge.
To tackle the crisis, the committee is proposing a commission of inquiry with a set deadline to investigate misconduct, a freeze on criminal dockets linked to implicated officers for independent review, and vetting of all senior police personnel from the rank of brigadier upwards. The plan also includes revamping Crime Intelligence to remove unfit officers and providing adequate resources to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).
Cameron flagged unresolved misconduct cases at the Philippi Training Academy, where individuals facing serious charges are still employed. He also pointed to ongoing concerns involving the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA) and a company reportedly linked to Vusimusi ‘Cat’ Motlala. He said PSIRA must enforce its mandate to ensure the safety of the public.
He warned that the dysfunction within Crime Intelligence has left SAPS operating blindly in its fight against organised crime. The committee will push for an urgent parliamentary debate and summon all relevant stakeholders for accountability.
Discussion about this post