The government spends R3.6 billion a year to pay and maintain 722 brigadiers and generals in the South African Police Service (SAPS), which works out to an average of R4.99 million each.
Cameron said the figures came from recent parliamentary questions that requested a breakdown of SAPS’ senior ranks, including brigadiers, major generals, lieutenant generals and the national commissioner.
“In total, the South African Police Service has a number of 722 brigadiers and generals,” he said in an interview with BizNews.
“The long and the short of it is that we spend on those senior officers nearly R3.6 billion to pay them and to maintain them.”
Without R5 rifles
He explained that the Cape Town Flying Squad is operating at only about 40% vehicle capacity, while officers in the Cape Flats have been without R5 rifles for several years and were expected to confront extortion gangs armed with AK-47s using only old pistols.
Balistic backlog
He also pointed to the backlog in ballistic evidence and nearly 300,000 outstanding DNA cases as further examples of SAPS’ operational failures. “So one must wonder exactly why we are paying R3.6 billion,” he said.
Cameron also questioned whether all of the senior officers had earned their positions, citing concerns over appointments made without the necessary policing experience or qualifications.
Concerns about oversight
He also highlighted what he described as the concentration of senior officers at headquarters rather than in operational policing.
“Out of those 722 brigadiers and generals, almost 400 of them are stationed at national head office, and another 166 are at provincial head offices,” he said.
“Very few of the senior officers are on the ground level.
Cameron said SAPS currently has one full general, National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola, alongside 20 lieutenant generals, 123 major generals and 578 brigadiers.
Lifestyle audits
Cameron also raised concerns about oversight and pointed to evidence presented at the Madlanga Commission that only five of 823 senior SAPS officers underwent lifestyle audits during the 2024/25 financial year.
Source Businestech