Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu received some tough questions from Portfolio Committee on Police Chairperson Ian Cameron on two critical fronts, raising concerns over the expanding role of private business in policing and the unresolved DNA backlog crisis. In a series of written parliamentary questions, Cameron challenged the Minister to clarify the expectations placed on private sector partners in public safety, and to account for the sidelining of a former SAPS forensic expert while evidence processing delays continue to harm victims and compromise justice.
Business Partnerships, A Double-Edged Sword?
Cameron questioned the Minister on the nature of SAPS’s partnerships with private businesses, asking what is expected from companies under these arrangements and how government plans to prevent a shift in core public safety responsibilities to the private sector, particularly in ways that may worsen inequality.
In response, Minister Mchunu said SAPS expects businesses to cooperate through information and technology sharing to enhance policing effectiveness. The long-standing partnership, formalised in a 2018 Memorandum of Understanding with Business Against Crime South Africa (BACSA), focuses on mutual collaboration in crime fighting. A key outcome of this cooperation is the Eyes and Ears (E2) initiative, which integrates private and government surveillance systems, such as CCTV and Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), to aid crime detection and prevention.
Businesses are also expected to support police operations by contributing to capacity building and logistical support. According to SAPS, this collaboration has enabled daily tracking of suspects and recovery of stolen vehicles. However, the Minister stressed that businesses are not permitted to take over policing functions, and no preferential treatment is granted. These boundaries are clearly outlined in SAPS’s official partnership guidelines.
To address concerns of inequality, Mchunu cited efforts to improve policing in underdeveloped areas, including building new stations in rural regions, engaging traditional leadership, and piloting smart policing technologies in five selected precincts. He emphasised that equitable access to policing remains a constitutional mandate.
DNA Backlog Controversy, Calls for Accountability
Cameron also raised the issue of the worsening DNA backlog, questioning why Brigadier Hennop, credited by some for a previous reduction in the backlog, has not been reinstated despite reports of operational decline.
Minister Mchunu responded that Brigadier Hennop resigned in November 2019 due to medical reasons and had already transferred out of the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) prior to her resignation. According to SAPS, she held the national leadership role in the Biology Section for only two years, seven years ago, and no formal request for her return has been made by current FSL management.
The Minister further stated that no investigation has been initiated into whether internal obstructionism is preventing Hennop’s return. He maintained that SAPS believes current leadership is sufficiently capable and, as such, no report or timeline on her reinstatement will be provided. No details were shared on legal or financial implications stemming from ongoing resistance to reinstatement.
Critics argue this approach reflects poor accountability at a time when backlogs in DNA processing are delaying justice for victims of violent crime. Cameron’s questions hint at broader concerns about leadership decisions and whether they reflect value-for-money for taxpayers, particularly when skilled professionals are left sidelined.
While SAPS appears committed to private sector collaboration in crime fighting, questions remain about oversight, equity, and the risk of privatising core state functions. Meanwhile, the unresolved issues around the DNA backlog and Brigadier Hennop’s absence highlight ongoing concerns about the capacity and accountability of SAPS leadership in key operational areas. As crime continues to challenge communities across the country, parliamentary oversight on both fronts is likely to intensify.
