Parliament, Wednesday, 5 August 2026 – The Portfolio Committee on Police held its first meeting to consider the South African Police Service Amendment Bill which according to its view the proposed legislation presents a significant opportunity to strengthen the integrity of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and align the governing legislation with Constitutional Court judgments and recommendations from various commissions of inquiry.
"Successive portfolio committees on police have called for a comprehensive overhaul of the SAPS Act. This Bill gives Parliament and the people of South Africa an opportunity to modernise policing legislation, align it with the Constitution and court judgments, and ensure the SAPS is equipped to meet today's policing challenges," said the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Mr Ian Cameron.
While this was the committee's first briefing on the Bill, members emphasised that the legislation must significantly strengthen integrity management within the SAPS, particularly in light of the challenges currently being exposed by the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference and Corruption within the Criminal Justice System, as well as the work of the Ad Hoc Committee to Investigate Allegations made by Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
The committee stressed the need for stronger enforcement mechanisms and mandatory provisions relating to lifestyle audits and integrity testing for SAPS members. "We cannot rebuild public confidence in the SAPS without making integrity non-negotiable. Lifestyle audits and integrity testing must not be optional or inconsistently applied; they must be mandatory, enforceable and protected in law. Accountability cannot depend on discretion," Mr Cameron said.
The committee further highlighted the need to strengthen integrity management throughout the SAPS, from recruitment and entry level appointments to senior management, particularly in the context of the credibility challenges currently facing the organisation.
The committee also raised concerns about the capacity of the SAPS to combat crime effectively and the need to maximise all available policing resources. In this regard, members of the committee welcomed the Bill's proposal to expand the role of municipal police services in public order policing. The committee believes the legislative process presents an opportunity to further consider the feasibility of expanding the role of municipal police beyond public order policing to include clearly defined investigative functions, subject to appropriate training and oversight.
"South Africa cannot police 21st-century crime with yesterday's capacity. Every capable law enforcement resource must be utilised. The Bill provides an opportunity to strengthen municipal policing, and we must carefully consider whether appropriately trained municipal officers can take on additional investigative responsibilities where it strengthens the fight against crime," Mr Cameron said.
The committee also welcomed the Bill's proposals to strengthen the functioning of Community Police Forums (CPFs) and provide greater clarity on their role. Since its establishment, the committee has consistently recognised the important contribution CPFs make in combating crime and serving as a vital bridge between the SAPS and communities.
Through its oversight visits across the country, the committee has engaged with numerous CPFs, many of which have raised concerns about weaknesses in their working relationships with local police stations. Members believe the legislative process provides an important opportunity to establish a practical framework that strengthens collaboration between the SAPS and CPFs and enables these forums to fulfil their intended role more effectively. "Community Police Forums are often the first bridge between the police and the communities they serve. If we are serious about rebuilding trust and improving crime prevention, that partnership must be clearly defined, properly supported and strengthened through legislation," Mr Cameron said.
While noting that the legislative review process has taken considerable time to reach this stage, the committee committed itself to considering the Bill thoroughly to ensure that Parliament ultimately adopts legislation that is fit for purpose.
The committee also underscored the importance of a meaningful public participation process to ensure that members of the public are well informed and able to make constructive submissions that strengthen the Bill. "This Bill will shape policing in South Africa for years to come. We want meaningful public participation so that every South African has an opportunity to help build legislation that delivers a professional, accountable and effective police service," Mr Cameron concluded.
The committee is scheduled to meet again on Friday to receive a further briefing on the Bill.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON POLICE, MR IAN CAMERON.
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