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The DA notes with concern the emergence of a forensic report detailing allegations of fraud and corruption involving KwaZulu-Natal businessman, Thoshan Panday, and procurement fiddling in the KZN SAPS. The findings amount to an allegation that Mr Panday bought off KZN’s top police brass to the benefit of companies he owns.

The supply chain mismanagement outlined in the media reports provides a glimpse into some of the main reasons for the shoddy state of the SAPS on the ground, with police stations being chronically under-staffed and under-resourced, and operational officers being under-equipped and under-trained.

It is little surprise that SAPS is in shambles when the practices uncovered in the report are happening: from faked and uncompetitive tender bidding processes to inflated quotes which resulted in 200% profit on goods and services rendered to the police.

At the end of the day, it is ordinary citizens and cops who suffer due to this kind of collusion and corrupt relationships. It diverts funds away from where they should go and deprives police stations and specialised units of the means to fulfil their mandate effectively.

The DA has long held that the root of the crisis in our police service lies in incompetent SAPS senior management that has the wrong priorities. The alleged transactional relationship between Panday and KZN Provincial Commissioner Mmamonnye Ngobeni is a stark example of this malady.

Our police management should be above reproach and set the example for ethical leadership that maintains the highest standards of corporate governance. Instead, it has become the pattern in the SAPS that personal connections compromise the integrity of those who should lead the fight against criminal conduct: from the Jackie Selebi-Glenn Agliotti connection to the Bheki Cele-Roux Shabangu connection to the long-reported Ngobeni-Panday connection.

The DA believes it is high time for a complete leadership overhaul of the police service, right from the top, to bring about a laser focus on the right policing priorities. This must entail the appointment of an experienced and fit-for-purpose National Police Commissioner who will be uncompromising on ensuring accountability within the service and driving a turnaround in the fight against crime, right through to adequate staffing and resourcing.

Issued by DA