Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Police chairperson Ian Cameron says while there has been commendable progress in turning the tide against crime, worrying senior management appointments and challenges facing the crime intelligence unit have the potential to derail the positive efforts to reform the South African Police Service (Saps).

Cameron called on Saps senior management to stop “self-destructive behaviour”, which he said would derail the “laudable progress” already achieved to reform the Saps into a potent tool to fight crime.

“…the Saps management must decide if they will contribute to building the country for a better future or are breakers of this beautiful country. The ultimate test will be how the Saps management responds to areas of concern to ensure a safe and secure country. If they can overcome these self-destructive actions, the Saps could be on a route to the necessary recovery needed to combat crime,” he stated.

He pointed to the ineffectiveness of the senior management to drive the necessary reforms within the Saps as a major challenge.

“This is now being exacerbated by the appointment of individuals who are unfit for purpose to drive the strategic interventions necessary to fight crime. While we are not saying that all senior managers within Saps are inadequate, the presence of rogue and inept officers weakens the stability of the entire organisation,” highlighted Cameron.

He noted Western Cape crime intelligence head major-general Mzwandile Tiyo’s dismissal earlier this year following a comprehensive Section 34 inquiry, which was seen as a pivotal moment in restoring credibility within the Saps.

The decision to remove Tiyo was based on allegations of misuse of State resources for personal gain, kidnapping and assault, which Cameron said sent a strong message that misconduct, even at the highest levels, would not be tolerated.

However, he said the recent revocation of this dismissal raises serious concerns about Saps’s commitment to accountability.

“Instead of facing the consequences of his actions, Tiyo is being encouraged to take early retirement, a move prohibited under Saps National Instruction 3/2017 for employees with pending cases,” he pointed out.

He said this undermined public trust and the morale of ethical officers, as it appeared to shield rogue elements from facing justice.

“Similarly, the irrational appointment of major-general Patrick Mbotho as Divisional Commissioner: National Priority Offences within the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation [,also known as the Hawks,] also reaffirms the perception of untouchables within the service,” he said.

Cameron highlighted that while the police committee had noted the commitment and action against mainly junior Saps officers, the commitment to remove unfit and rogue officers within the service must be cross-cutting from senior to junior levels.

“If we enhance trust levels in our officers the Saps will be a step further in creating an environment conducive to fighting the scourge of crime,” he said.

Cameron stated that the crime intelligence unit continued to be a concerning “Achilles heel” for the Saps and urgency to resolve its challenges could not be overemphasised.

“The resistance to reforms within the Saps crime intelligence unit is complicating matters further. One major-general has allegedly been off sick since 2017, frustrating disciplinary hearings with delays, changing union representatives, and failing to submit supporting medical documents. Another major-general, reportedly a multimillionaire, has been linked to questionable procurements involving the secret service fund, media smear campaigns against his commander, and allegations of defeating the ends of justice in a cocaine seizure case. Both individuals are part of a faction resisting reform and seem determined to preserve access to the notorious slush fund,” he said.