This Parliament has voted increased amounts for the SA Police Service year after year. Yet it has become clear that those put in charge of the Service, and of the distribution of these funds, are simply not up to doing their job.
According to the Public Protector, the National Police Commissioner, Bheki Cele, has committed an illegal act. He is the chief accounting officer appointed by the President. He has shown a total lack of administrative ability or ability to balance a budget. He has allowed transfers from capital to pay salaries. This is in complete contravention of the Public Finance Management Act, PFMA. Under him, the SAPS suffered the humiliation of being called before the Standing Committee on Appropriations to explain themselves for the first time ever.
SAPS accounts are going unpaid. Perhaps it is because they are short of money as a result of expenditure on personal vehicles, hotel stays, houses and travel by the Minister, his Deputy and the Commissioner. In addition, the contracts awarded for the enormous, expensive national police days are under investigation as we speak. No, the DA will not support this Budget Vote.