Lack of internal SAPS disciplinary cases for corruption ‘unfathomable’
The Portfolio Committee on Police has expressed concern after learning that the South African Police Service (SAPS) failed to initiate a single internal disciplinary case for corruption allegations during the first quarter of the current financial year.
The committee, chaired by Ian Cameron, received first-quarter performance reports from SAPS, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), and the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service on Tuesday.
Cameron said it was “unfathomable” that no disciplinary steps were taken, citing delays in appointing functionaries as the reason provided by SAPS.
The committee warned that the absence of accountability undermines already low public trust in the police.
Members also raised concern that SAPS installed closed-circuit television cameras at only one site, despite a quarterly target of 15. SAPS had previously highlighted the use of information technology as a “force multiplier” in crime prevention.
The report further showed SAPS underperformed in efforts to address violence against vulnerable groups. Contact crimes against women decreased by 4.1% against a 25% target, while cases against children rose by 1.8%.
Concerns were also raised about the lack of investment in alternative interventions. The committee noted that SAPS spent nothing on biological assets such as dog and mounted units, despite earlier recommendations that these resources are critical to combating narcotics and other crimes.
The detective service achieved only 40% of its targets due to high docket-to-detective ratios. Forensic backlogs also remain a problem, with case exhibits exceeding the stipulated 90-day processing timeframe.
The committee said DNA evidence is critical in securing convictions, particularly in gender-based violence cases, and delays weaken justice for victims. It called on SAPS to improve performance across all targets and address persistent underachievement.
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