Persistent audit findings, including R1.112 billion in irregular expenditure in the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) 2025/26 annual report and raised by the Auditor-General of South Africa have raised alarm in the Select Committee on Security and Justice.
While committee members last week welcomed SAPS’s sixth consecutive unqualified audit opinion on its financial statements, they strongly emphasised that financial cleanliness cannot mask severe governance, compliance and performance delivery failures.
Committee Chairperson Ms Jane Mananiso said: “Behaviour and cultural change are important in the institution. The committee highlights with alarm the increase in material findings on reported performance information, which rose by 35.71 per cent, from 14 findings in the previous cycle to 19.
The committee also expressed serious concern over the R1.1 billion in irregular expenditure incurred by the SAPS during the year under review. The scale of this expenditure raises questions about compliance with supply chain management prescripts, the effectiveness of internal controls and accountability for the use of public funds.
The committee emphasised that irregular expenditure cannot be treated as a mere administrative shortcoming, particularly in a service entrusted with protecting communities and combating crime.
Committee members called on the SAPS to account for the circumstances that gave rise to this expenditure, to identify the officials responsible where wrongdoing or negligence has been established and to implement corrective measures to prevent a recurrence of these failures.
Committee members also said that public funds allocated to policing must be spent lawfully, transparently and in a manner that strengthens operational capacity and public safety.
The Auditor-General’s report underscores that adequate supporting evidence was frequently absent in the financial statements, causing reported achievements in vital operational areas – such as the number of 10111 emergency calls handled, firearm recovery and detective detection rates – to be overstated, unverifiable or material inaccuracy. “This is extremely concerning,” added Ms Mananiso.
Furthermore, committee members were concerned about capacity and technology. “It should be prioritised, as it will have an impact in fighting crime and improve levels of safety,” said the Chairperson. “The SAPS must look at the whole ecosystem of digitising its workflow. They must procure a system that is fit for purpose and that is integrated.”
The committee noted the remarks of Prof Firoz Cachalia, the Acting Minister of Police, who said that performance targets must be realistic. The committee also confirmed its ongoing commitment to critically assess the department’s annual performance plans.
Minister Cachalia said deploying digital surveillance in communities would greatly improve safety in the short term. He noted that the SAPS is not keeping up with rapidly evolving technological advances.
“Clearly, a greater rollout of surveillance technologies in communities can greatly improve safety in the short to medium term. Like other departments, the SAPS has struggled somewhat because these technologies are rapidly evolving and because of our dependency on the State Information Technology Agency,” the Minister said.
Meanwhile, the committee noted that the SAPS has a recovery plan for fleet strategy and infrastructure management, which will go some way to improving SAPS’s operations.
However, Ms Mananiso said that severe control breakdowns continue to plague SAPS’s internal administration and operations, supply chain management and consequence management. The committee notes the identification of a new material irregularity concerning the ineffectiveness and underutilisation of the Investigation Case Docket Management System, alongside ongoing material irregularities tied to forensic examination delays, unlawful detentions exceeding 48 hours and struggling 10111 command centres.
Furthermore, non-compliance with procurement prescripts drove up irregular expenditure, highlighting a systemic failure to implement effective preventative controls and post-audit action plans.
Committee Member Mr Ofentse Mokae criticised the shortage of vehicles at police stations, highlighting the impact this has on police visibility, response times and the ability of officers to carry out their duties effectively. He stressed that inadequate transport undermines frontline policing and compromises the SAPS’s ability to respond promptly to crime and community needs.
Another Committee Member, Mr Pitso Noe, called for the establishment of satellite police stations, particularly in remote and far-flung areas where existing stations must serve large, geographically dispersed communities. He stressed that the lack of accessible policing facilities places an additional burden on residents who may have to travel long distances to report crimes or seek assistance. He urged SAPS to consider the expansion of satellite stations in underserved communities.
Several committee members urged the SAPS to prioritise Community Policing Forums, as they assist with crime prevention on the ground.
While welcoming Finance Minister Mr Enoch Godongwana’s allocation yesterday of R186 million to boost investigations and forensic capacity, the committee demands that these funds address immediate and critical challenges like fleet management turnaround times. The committee will closely monitor how these funds are spent.
The committee furthermore calls for urgent accountability regarding lifestyle audits, vacancies and intergovernmental friction between SAPS and the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure.
Ms Mananiso said that the committee also requested a post-audit action plan from the SAPS regarding all commitments made at the meeting. “In conclusion, the committee insists on rigorous internal reforms, particularly in light of the Madlanga Commission and parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee testimonies and expects a drastic improvement in future audit outcomes,” she concluded.
Rajaa Azzakani
27 October 2026
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