Parliament's Police Committee chair notes failure to manage SAPS' integrity

The chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police, Ian Cameron, has noted systematic failure in integrity management within the South African Police Service (SAPS).

He was speaking on 702 on Thursday about the arrest of 12 police officers for their alleged tender fraud, linked to Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala’s Medicare24 R360 million contract.

Cameron also weighed in on the National Police Commissioner, Fannie Masemola, being summoned to court in the case.

He said such developments put the credibility of the SAPS in the spotlight, adding that they are an embarrassment on global stages.

Cameron said the SAPS' internal audit team told Masemola to cancel the R360 million Medicare24 contract, but he did not do so in time.

"It just seems to be too little too late, and in this case, SAPS themselves didn’t act against its members. This is a move from IDAC [Investigating Directorate Against Corruption] and not the SA police service."

Cameron said there’s a lack of accountability even on the highest level.

“The appointment of the current supply chain in SAPS, which is essentially the gateway for any of these entities to get in, and they were told by SIU [Special Investigating Unit] already in 2023 about some of these supply chain issues. Former minister Cele and Senzo Mchunu were all warned about this specific supply chain issue since 2023, and they did nothing about it.”

Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia has confirmed that he has spoken to the president about the matter involving Masemola.

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