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I will today be writing to President Zuma to request that he commission the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate tender procurement processes in the SAPS.

Figures revealed in a meeting of the Police Portfolio Committee this week indicate that irregular spending by the SAPS has increased from R2.5 million to R76 million over the last financial year.

The Auditor-General has confirmed that only a fraction – less than 5% – of the total police budget of R58 billion is reviewed as part of the annual audit. If irregular expenditure of R76 million was identified after only 5% of the total budget was audited, the overall figure could potentially exceed R1.5 billion.

This increase is indicative of serious financial mismanagement, and raises questions about the extent of corruption in tender procedures.

The SAPS has become synonymous with the reckless use of state funds.

The bill for this year’s National Police Day totaled R22 million, which included almost R12 million spent on performing artists alone. Last year, the SAPS incurred R13.6 million in irregular expenditure on this event.

This in itself is a tragedy, as this day is meant to honour the brave SAPS members who put their lives on the line to fight crime. Instead it has been turned into a day of National Police Shame due to mismanagement, irregular expenditure and poor planning.

National Police Day is sadly just the tip of the iceberg. I have been informed by insiders at the SAPS that the contracts for even the most basic items, down to pencils and tyres, go to friends and family of top SAPS members.

The rot in SAPS procurement processes runs deep. Outside intervention is crucial if this trend is to be halted and reversed. The SIU must step in to reveal the full extent of irregularities at the SAPS and assist in rooting out all corruption in this critical service, and action must be taken against those implicated in corruption.