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The Democratic Alliance (DA) notes the announcement of the new head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), Anwar Dramat. His test will now be to ensure that the new unit acts without fear or favour when confronting any form of criminality, but most especially corruption.

The major challenge facing the new head of the DPCI will be to establish the autonomy of the unit, which has been considerably reduced by its location within the Department of Police. The DA maintains that the move of the unit to this department is an excessive centralisation of power.

DPCI investigators will be selected, supervised and funded by the police, which could undermine the fight against corruption in the police service, as the police are unlikely to investigate themselves. It is a top priority for Mr Dramat to assert the DPCI's independence, otherwise the integrity of the unit will be compromised.

The DA continues to believe that a priority crime unit located within the Justice Department, such as the Scorpions, represents a better model to fight crime and corruption than a unit within the SAPS.