Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC, Anroux Marais, has welcomed the announcement by the SAPS that lifestyle audits will be conducted on senior SAPS managers. The announcement was made by the Acting National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane.

“The reality is that SAPS, in its current form, is not winning the fight against violent and organised crime, said MEC Anroux Marais.

Decision welcomed that lifestyle audits will be conducted on senior SAPS managers

MEC Marais says this development is long overdue and aligns with repeated calls by the Western Cape Government for enhanced accountability and transparency within the police service. The Provincial Government also previously called for lifestyle audits to be conducted on senior SAPS management. At that time, Premier Alan Winde offered provincial support to ensure that such audits could proceed.

South Africans deserve a police service that is beyond reproach

MEC Marais says the ongoing allegations against senior police officials have eroded public confidence in law enforcement institutions. She added that it underscores the urgent need for decisive reform. “South Africans deserve a police service that is beyond reproach. Lifestyle audits are a necessary tool to ensure that senior officers entrusted with significant authority and influence are acting with integrity and are not compromised by criminal networks or corrupt relationships. We are happy to see that the SAPS and Police Ministry are finally taking this matter seriously,” said Marais.

Trust between communities and the SAPS must remain a national priority

The MEC added that restoring trust between communities and the SAPS must remain a national priority if the country hopes to effectively combat violent and organised crime. She said, “Transparency and accountability are essential if we are to rebuild confidence in the SAPS. Communities will not come forward with information if they believe corruption exists within the very structures meant to protect them.”

A SAPS Advisory Panel will be established

MEC Marais also welcomed the announcement by Acting Minister of Police, Professor Firoz Cachalia, that a SAPS Advisory Panel will be established to help drive reforms within the police service. She elaborated that meaningful reform is urgently needed, particularly in light of South Africa’s persistently high levels of violent and organised crime.

MEC Anroux Marais added, “Fundamental reform, professionalisation, improved intelligence capability, the expansion of intelligence and investigative capacity to the municipal level and stronger internal accountability mechanisms are urgently required if we are to reverse the tide of criminality facing communities across our country.”