Parliament, Wednesday, 25 February 2025 – The Portfolio Committee on Police has resolved to accede to a request made by the Acting Minister of Police to extend the term of the current Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) executive director, as demanded by Section 6 (5)(a) of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate Act.
The committee is of the view that this decision is necessary to ensure organisational stability and to sustain the improvements occurring at IPID. “While this is not an ideal occurrence, the need to ensure that there no vacuum in leadership of a strategic oversight mechanism over the South African Police Service compelled the committee to accede to the request,” said Mr Ian Cameron.
The decision was necessitated by the lapse in the contract of the former executive director on 31 July 2025 and the appointment of an acting executive director from 13 August 2025. The committee noted that while there has been a marked improvement in IPID’s performance, forward planning is critical and the ministry should have anticipated the end of the contract and acted with speed to ensure a seamless handover process. “That no foreplaning was done is an indictment on the strategic planning of the ministry. The IPID is a critical body and must be headed by someone with strong leadership qualities, which means there was a need for careful, detailed and fair process of recruitment free from the pressure of time,” Mr Cameron emphasised.
Meanwhile, several members of the PC on Police are also involved in the work of the Ad Hoc Committee instituted to investigate allegations made by the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Head. The portfolio committee has therefore had to consider the impact of the Ad Hoc committee on critical aspects of its work, such as a National Assembly-mandated investigation into the causes and impact of gang violence in the Cape Flats, which has had to be deferred.
As a result, the committee has resolved to write to the Speaker of the National Assembly to request an extension on the deadline of the lifespan of the investigation. The committee remains committed to undertake this work, and the application for an extension is to ensure that adequate planning is done to ensure a thorough process when the work on the investigation is undertaken. “Gang-related violence and mass murders in the Cape Flats and elsewhere in the country have reached a crisis point and requires extensive and considered work. Upon the completion of the lifespan of the Ad Hoc committee, this matter will receive the necessary attention it deserves,” Mr Cameron emphasised.
Meanwhile, the committee has resolved that there is a need for the South African Police Service to brief the committee on the deployment of the South African National Defence Force and how this deployment will assist in operations to quell the violence.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON POLICE, MR IAN CAMERON.
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