Ian Cameron, MP – Restoring credibility in SAPS: A fight between builders and breakers
Ian Cameron highlights the deep-seated challenges within SAPS Crime Intelligence, focusing on the controversial reinstatement of dismissed Western Cape crime intelligence head Major-General Tiyo. Cameron exposes systemic resistance to reform, accountability failures, and the critical divide between ethical officers and entrenched corruption.
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By Ian Cameron*
The dismissal of the crime intelligence head in the Western Cape, Major-General Tiyo, earlier this year, following a comprehensive section 34 inquiry, was seen as a pivotal moment in restoring credibility within the South African Police Service (SAPS). The decision to declare him unfit to hold office and remove him from his position was based on serious allegations, including misuse of state resources for personal gain, kidnapping, and assault. It sent a strong message that misconduct, even at the highest levels, would no longer be tolerated within SAPS.
However, Tiyo's dismissal was suddenly revoked last month. raising serious concerns about SAPS' commitment to accountability and the integrity of its disciplinary processes. Instead of facing the consequences of his actions, Tiyo is now being encouraged to take early retirement instead—a move prohibited under SAPS National Instruction 3/2017 for employees with pending cases. This decision undermines public trust and the morale of ethical officers, as it appears to shield rogue elements from facing justice.
Complicating matters further is the ongoing battle within SAPS Crime Intelligence. One major general has allegedly been "off sick" since 2017, frustrating disciplinary hearings with delays, changing union representatives, and failing to submit supporting medical documents. Another major general, reportedly a multi-millionaire, has been linked to allegations of questionable procurements involving the secret service fund, media smear campaigns against his commander, and allegations of defeating the ends of justice in a cocaine seizure case. Both individuals are part of a faction resisting reform and seem determined to preserve access to the notorious slush fund.
What is becoming increasingly apparent is the organised resistance to reform within the crime intelligence fraternity. Certain senior officials, accustomed to operating without accountability, have resorted to media campaigns to distract from their own actions and to target those enforcing discipline. These efforts include attacks on the divisional head of crime intelligence, who has taken firm steps to uphold discipline and address years of unaccountable behaviour in the unit. This resistance reflects the deep divide between those committed to reform and those fighting to preserve the status quo of unchecked power and resource abuse.
Recent reports highlight how these dynamics are playing out within the unit, where attempts to restore accountability are being met with fierce resistance. While whistleblower protections are vital, they cannot be used as a shield for misconduct. The actions of individuals like Brigadier Tiyani Hlungwani, alleged to be harassing other SAPS members following his own whistleblowing on senior SAPS officers allegedly dipping into the secret service fund, risk undermining the legitimate whistleblower framework by exploiting it to avoid accountability for their own behaviour.
I have even started doubting the real motives behind certain self-proclaimed whistleblowers and fringe politicians who loudly claim to fight corruption but seem more motivated by their own, questionable, interests. Their actions often appear to serve personal agendas, creating obstacles for those genuinely committed to reform.
This behaviour reflects a broader divide within SAPS between builders and breakers. The builders are those working tirelessly to transform SAPS into a professional, ethical institution that the public can trust. They are committed to ensuring that discipline, accountability, and fairness become the cornerstone of the service. In contrast, the breakers are those resisting these changes, using media narratives and political connections to perpetuate the impunity they enjoyed in the past.
The current state of SAPS' crime intelligence unit is emblematic of this long-standing divide. Since Jackie Selebi's tenure and the successful efforts by then-Gauteng crime intelligence head, Richard Mdluli, to discredit the now-defunct Scorpions, the senior ranks of SAPS crime intelligence have been riddled with allegations of impropriety. Today, senior officers in this critical law enforcement institution remain at loggerheads, battling-out their differences in the courts and in the media, further weakening the operational effectiveness of the entire division.
These internal struggles within crime intelligence threaten the very fabric of the entire institution. Where senior management officials are more intent on grasping for personal gain or settling political scores, the entire organisation is placed in jeopardy.
This is a critical moment for SAPS.
Decisions like the revocation of Tiyo's dismissal, coupled with the apparent lack of consequences for those undermining reform efforts, risk undoing hard-won progress. At the same time, the targeting of whistleblowers and ethical officers sends a chilling message to those striving to clean up the service.
The Portfolio Committee on Police will continue to demand answers regarding the legal and ethical basis for Tiyo's reinstatement and press for the consistent application of disciplinary measures across the service. SAPS leadership must decide whether it will stand with the builders or enable the breakers to continue undermining the service.
The public deserves a police service that prioritises integrity, fairness, and accountability. Anything less is a betrayal of South Africa's safety and security. The fight to restore credibility in SAPS is not just about one officer or one decision—it is about the future of the service and its ability to protect and serve all citizens without fear or favour.
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*Ian Cameron: National Assembly Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police