SAPS irregular expenditure sits at R650m for 2024/25, reveals Auditor-General

The Auditor-General of South Africa (AG) has raised concerns over the irregular expenditure by the South African Police Service (SAPS), standing at R650 million in this year.

The irregular expenditure for the 2024/25 financial year is because of non-compliance in procurement, like the payment of services that were never rendered.

The AG and the police leadership are appearing before Parliament’s Police Committee to brief it on the latest audit outcomes and the police’s annual report.

According to the office of the AG, the audit outcomes of the SAPS and some of its entities have regressed over the last financial year.

Some of the irregular expenditure includes how police bought equipment and never used it, as well as the failure to implement funded projects.

Nelisiwe Mhlongo, an official from the AG’s office responsible for the portfolio, said the police department has failed to deal with its own irregular expenditure from previous years.

“They have a bigger budget, and they are the biggest contributor in terms of this area. I think I would like to reflect on the fact that about r650 million was disclosed by the department of police this year.

She says despite the irregular expenditure, the police maintained an unqualified audit opinion with findings while police watchdog the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) achieved a clean audit.