JOHANNESBURG - Testimony coming from the Madlanga Commission continues to bring police corruption into the spotlight.
However, it has also raised questions about the structure of the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Currently, there are over 700 senior officers, consisting of brigadiers and generals, with just over 3000 officers at the colonel level.
This is costing taxpayers around R3.6 billion.
Approximately 400 are stationed at the police headquarters in Pretoria, while the majority of the others work at the provincial offices.
Portfolio Committee on Police Chairperson Ian Cameron said this leaves very little senior guidance on the ground.
“It costs an annual salary of R3.6 billion to South African taxpayers to pay all of these senior officers… I don't think in any other state department or any private business or private entity, whether it would be allowed to have that kind of bloated management structure,” he said.
Cameron's concerns were also compounded by revelations that only five senior SAPS officers have undergone lifestyle audits.
This was during the 2024/25 financial year.
This, he said, begs the question of how deep potential corruption runs in these structures.
“It would be totally wrong of me to suggest that everyone there is bad. And it's certainly not the case. But it would mean that we have a very long way to go to ensure that we really have a clean top structure,” Cameron added.
He also argued that the issue was not only the cost of maintaining such a large management, but also the impact it has on policing on the ground.
Cameron made an example of the Cape Town Flying Squad, which he said is running at about 40 percent vehicle strength.
“How is it that we can pay these types of numbers, the R3.6 billion a year, but we can't ensure that basic service delivery on the ground is happening the way that it should?” Cameron said as he pointed to DNA backlog and firearm licensing delays, as well as irregular expenditure in the SAPS.
While Cameron admitted that there is no perfect institution, he said there is room for improvement.
According to Cameron, the committee continues to ask the relevant questions when it comes to annual performance plans, but in the same breath questions how seriously oversight is taken.
"It's going to take time, but we will certainly do the necessary questioning,” he said.