Khumalo urges unprecedented interventions to curb deep-seated police corruption

Head of Crime Intelligence, Dumisani Khumalo, wrapped up his evidence before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee yesterday, providing a chilling illustration of how crime syndicates have successfully infiltrated the South African Police Service's (SAPS) top management.

Khumalo told the committee, which is currently investigating widespread police corruption, that a significant number of officers in Gauteng are "in the pockets" of provincial crime syndicates. Over the course of a two-day grilling by MPs and evidence leaders, Khumalo detailed the staggering scale of the crisis facing the force.

According to Khumalo, syndicate members frequently attempt to shield themselves by creating the illusion of proximity to power. He noted that these individuals often "paint a picture" that they are closely connected to senior politicians to deter investigations.

Despite the pressure from the committee, Khumalo refused to publicly name the individuals involved in these cartels, maintaining that many of the suspects remain under active investigation.

The scale of the internal compromise has reached a point where standard procedures may no longer be sufficient. Khumalo urged Parliament to consider drastic, unprecedented measures to address the rot within the SAPS.

"Realising the infiltration that we are experiencing now internally - that is at a very high level of top management - that’s what makes us think that the interventions that need to be implemented [must be ones] that have never been seen before."

The Ad Hoc Committee will move into its next phase of witness testimony on Tuesday. Members are expected to hear from former Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) head, Robert McBride, as they continue to probe the depth of institutional corruption.