SAPS Crisis: More Than Just a Single Corruption Scandal

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JEREMY MAGGS: President Ramaphosa has placed National Police Commissioner, Fannie Masemola, on suspension following charges related to corruption in a procurement issue involving the SAPS (South African Police Service). Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane, previously in charge of police finances, will take over as acting commissioner. However, this situation transcends a single contract. It poses significant concerns regarding SAPS leadership, systemic corruption, procurement oversight, and the potential infiltration of organized crime into state institutions.

I’d like to explore this with Dr. Guy Lamb from the National Planning Commission, who is also a prominent criminologist in South Africa. Welcome, Guy. Is this merely a procurement issue, or do we have a more extensive policing crisis at hand?

GUY LAMB: We’ve actually been grappling with a comprehensive policing crisis for many years; it encompasses various dimensions. The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry and subsequent parliamentary probes have revealed longstanding corruption issues, particularly deep infiltration by organized crime. We’ve known for some time that organized crime impacts operations at local stations—evidence can go missing, witnesses may face intimidation, or bribes could be offered to investigators to sabotage cases by not providing substantial evidence or failing to conduct thorough investigations.

What the Madlanga inquiry has unveiled is a significant decay at the highest levels, with many facets of the procurement process being compromised.

This situation isn’t unprecedented; we’ve seen several incidents involving the police before. It’s crucial since the SAPS is one of the largest government entities, operating over 1,100 stations nationwide and managing an enormous procurement budget. Thus, this is a considerable setback for organized crime groups.

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Thus, managing the procurement process is vital because corruption here drastically affects the entire police force. It’s essential to tackle this issue first, as fixing procurement is associated with internal processes.

This involves overseeing financial expenditures, contract management, and daily operations, which are quite intricate. Rebuilding public trust in the police is essential, and one way to achieve that is through stringent financial oversight.

JEREMY MAGGS: We must inquire, as you partly mentioned, why SAPS procurement consistently falls prey to corruption.

GUY LAMB: SAPS procurement is particularly vulnerable for several reasons. Firstly, it represents one of the largest budgets in government. The police have extensive funding for diverse expenditures. Additionally, there’s a significant lack of external oversight; in other government departments, there would typically be an Auditor General monitoring activities.

Yet, within the police, a closed-off culture prevails, often pushing back against external scrutiny.

In these opaque conditions, corruption can flourish. Hence, combined with a substantial budget enticing to criminal organizations, the internal processes are both convoluted and lacking transparency, requiring corrupt individuals in the police to access these resources.

JEREMY MAGGS: Altering that resistant culture towards external oversight will undoubtedly be challenging.

GUY LAMB: Indeed, it will be challenging. However, it’s crucial to involve supporting institutions, which the police have traditionally resisted. These should have been put in place years ago, especially as outlined in the National Development Plan. As a commissioner on the National Planning Commission, I advocate for enhanced oversight through advisory boards offering closer monitoring of police operations, as parliamentary oversight has often fallen short, given most MPs lack policing expertise.

Even though we have the IPID (Independent Police Investigative Directorate), they are currently overwhelmed.

Fundamental oversight is desperately needed, which the National Development Plan emphasizes—holding police accountable not just for law enforcement, but also for financial spending.

JEREMY MAGGS: Where do you propose we begin with these changes?

GUY LAMB: We need leadership changes, which are underway. However, it remains uncertain whether these will be temporary or lead to long-lasting solutions. As we consider legal reforms, we must amend the South African Police Service Act to introduce oversight mechanisms focusing on policing practices, budget management, and internal discipline—issues we’ve grappled with for years. We often see officers breaking the law without facing appropriate consequences. Thus, we have the opportunity to reform legislation and integrate the necessary institutions as articulated in national policy.

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JEREMY MAGGS: Conventional wisdom suggests Puleng Dimpane is a reliable choice, but operating within the outlined system poses significant challenges.

GUY LAMB: It is indeed challenging. Managing a vast organization with over 100,000 employees and a large management team can be daunting—some are effective, others are not. We know that an authoritarian management approach leads to dysfunction.

We have yet to learn about Lieutenant General Dimpane’s style, but if she can inspire and unify people towards meaningful change, positive advancements are possible. Nonetheless, leading this extensive organization with various vested interests, coupled with existing corrupt elements, is quite the task.

JEREMY MAGGS: Reportedly, she has voiced concerns regarding irregular expenditures in the past, and it’s troubling to understand why those warnings weren’t heeded.

GUY LAMB: Indeed, her warnings weren’t sufficient. She expressed her concerns from a limited perspective and lacked the authority to enforce reforms. While she identified underlying issues and risks, now is the time to address what reforms are necessary.

Is the system so convoluted that it generates opportunities for corruption? What weaknesses need attention? How can we institute a framework to minimize corruption while enabling effective policing? It’s crucial that the police can operate efficiently without funds falling into criminal hands.

JEREMY MAGGS: Thank you very much, Dr. Guy Lamb.