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Earlier this year, RISE Mzansi quizzed Police Minister Senzo Mchunu’s political directive to halt the filling of vacancies at the South African Police Service (SAPS) Crime Intelligence Division (CID).

This decision, which has become central to both the Ad Hoc Committee and Madlanga Commission, affected a total of 18 posts, which include six Senior Managers and 12 Social Media Specialists.

RISE Mzansi further asked what impact this political decision had on the safety and security of South Africans, to which Minister Mchunu responded, “there is an impact [on crime fighting]”, given that among the posts affected are the CID Provincial Heads of KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Western Cape. Provinces which are besieged by political killings, taxi violence, extortion, gang violence, cross-border crimes and drugs.

Moreover, according to an analysis of SAPS annual reports, the CID has seen its workforce reduced from 8,453 in 2020/21 to 7,903 employees in 2024/25. The annual reports also show that SAPS aims to reduce the size of the unit even further.

It is worth noting that the provinces of KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Western Cape accounted for 60% of contact crimes; 60% of murders; 91% of gang-related murders; and 29% of all kidnappings across South Africa in 2024/25.

In essence, the SAPS unit mandated to “manage crime intelligence and analyse crime information, and provide technical support for investigations and crime prevention operations”, particularly when it comes to serious corruption and organised crime, is weak and corrupt. This was emphasised in testimonies emanating from the two probes, as well as the report by the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council (NACAC) published in August 2025. The NACAC report goes as far as stating that the Division should be “disbanded and reconstructed afresh”.

The Ad Hoc Committee and Madlanga Commission must interrogate the impact that the corruption and governance failures at the SAPS and its CID have had on crime in the country, and present remedies in their final reports.

South Africans deserve to live in a safe country – free from fear.

Issued by Makashule Gana MP, RISE Mzansi National Assembly Whip