The Portfolio Committee on Police has said it is highly dismayed about the lack of progress made in investigations into allegations of mismanagement at the Phillipi Training College.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) gave the committee a preliminary update on Wednesday 20 November, and a more comprehensive briefing is planned for next week.

The committee conducted an oversight visit to the college in September following allegations of mismanagement, criminal activity at the training academy, corruption, and leadership failures that threatened the academy’s effectiveness and, consequently, the future of policing in South Africa, the committee said in a statement.

On Wednesday, the committee heard that the complainant who gave details of fraud and corruption was interviewed, and a statement was obtained. The witnesses mentioned by the complainant were also interviewed and 19 affidavits were obtained. The committee also heard that the report on the internal audit is expected to be finalised soon.

However, committee members expressed grave concern about the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigation’s (the Hawks) slow progress in acting on allegations of “blatant corruption”. They maintained that the update did not reveal anything new or different from what the committee had been told in September. The committee also noted that the SAPS did nothing about disciplinary actions, and none of the officers who stole ammunition or commanders who covered it up were charged.

The committee was also concerned about witnesses’ anonymity, as there are reports that witnesses were called over loudspeakers for everyone to hear. The committee wanted to know what the SAPS was doing to protect the witnesses and noted that the process followed set them up as targets instead of protecting them.

Stressing that the committee gave SAPS about two months to provide feedback on its progress, the committee Chairperson Ian Cameron, said, “It is either a lack of interest or there is a deliberate pushback because there has been no action whatsoever.”

The Chairperson said that commanders seemingly still have access to bank accounts, and the whistleblower, who is a good, dedicated, career police officer, has now been suspended. It is estimated that over R100 million has been stolen over the last six years. “The Hawks also did not do 205 applications in court to access bank accounts. Something that does not need to take longer than 24 hours,” the Chairperson said.

Responding to the suspension of the complainant (whistleblower), Cameron said, “If this is how we’re going to deal with the good people in the police who speak out against corruption, then we’re not protecting whistleblowers, and this just simply cannot be. So, someone speaks out against corruption, and it takes six years for the police and the Hawks to do something about it. But we will not stop cleaning up.”

The committee was encouraged to hear that the Minister of Police would now intervene. It will receive further feedback next Wednesday.