The Democratic Alliance (DA) has welcomed the establishment of parliament’s ad hoc committee tasked with investigating corruption and political interference within the South African Police Service (SAPS), describing it as a rare chance to address deep-rooted problems in the institution.

DA spokesperson on policing, Ian Cameron, emphasised that the party had fought for a strong framework to guide the inquiry, ensuring that it will be thorough and uncompromising. The committee is expected to finalise and adopt its terms of reference by Monday.

According to Cameron, the DA successfully secured several key provisions in the committee’s mandate. These include compelling sworn testimony, collecting critical documents, and hearing evidence from all relevant stakeholders — including those accused of political meddling, corruption, and links to organised crime.

Scope of the inquiry

• Political interference in policing structures.
• The disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT).
• The blocking of vital crime intelligence appointments.
• Allegations against senior politicians, law enforcement officials, prosecutors, and judges.
• The disappearance of 121 dockets from the PKTT.
• The overall credibility of SAPS crime intelligence operations.

“Once these terms are adopted, the committee must get to work without delay,” Cameron stressed. He added that the DA will insist on accountability at every level, ensuring that weaknesses in the police service are fully exposed.

“South Africa cannot afford hesitation when the credibility of its policing and justice systems is on the line. The DA will make certain this committee leaves no stone unturned,” he said.