The Democratic Alliance (DA) has expressed support for the decisive action taken by Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, in addressing misconduct within the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) Crime Intelligence unit. However, the party insists that additional efforts are needed to fully restore the unit’s credibility.
While Minister Mchunu has ordered a directive to disband the Political Killings Task team, the order has yet to be followed. The DA has emphasised that this action should mark only the beginning of a broader clean-up within the embattled intelligence unit. The Minister has further pledged to work with the Police Portfolio Committee to scrutinise the continued employment of family members of former Gauteng crime intelligence head, Richard Mdluli.
The DA has repeatedly raised concerns about internal power struggles within Crime Intelligence and the ongoing conflict between factions within SAPS. The party maintains that these issues must be addressed through rigorous internal investigations and swift accountability measures.
Earlier this year, the DA called for the Inspector-General for Intelligence (IGI) to investigate Crime Intelligence’s acquisition of two high-value properties, one of which was reportedly purchased for R13 million above its listed price. Recent reports suggest that the IGI’s investigation has faced obstruction and that the police minister was not adequately informed about these transactions from the outset.
The DA underscores that the reform of Crime Intelligence is a pivotal moment for SAPS. The unit has long been marred by allegations of political interference, dating back to Richard Mdluli’s tenure and his efforts to undermine the now-defunct Scorpions. Accusations of corruption, questionable procurements, obstruction of justice, internal smear campaigns, and multi-million rand thefts from supposedly secure offices have further tarnished its reputation.
The party insists that Minister Mchunu must take comprehensive measures to restore integrity within the unit. To this end, the DA has committed to collaborating with the Minister through the Police Portfolio Committee to ensure that those responsible for misconduct are held accountable.
An earlier version of this article noted that the DA welcomed Minister Mchunu’s decision to dismiss national crime intelligence head, Dumisani Khumalo. However, it has been revealed that Khumalo has not been dismissed.
