. When the SAPS is responsible for police station construction projects extensive use is made of both consultants and contractors. On average it is estimated that approximately 18% of the total expenditure for each police station is spent on consultants. Despite requests for this information, the Department did not provide a breakdown of exactly how much was spent on consultants for each building project undertaken by the SAPS. Both National Treasury guidelines and the Acquisition Manual of the SAPS themselves state that consultants should only be appointed when the requisite skills are not available within the organisation. While the appointments of consultants and contractors for building projects are not in themselves problematic, the Task Team raised the concern as to whether the extensive use of consultants and contractors is in fact in line with the agreement entered into with the Department of Public Works. As early as 2006 the SAPS stated that it had the necessary core expertise in architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, technical personnel, builders and financial managers and was in the process of further recruitment. On this basis, DPW agreed to the devolution pilot. Conclusion: Continuous outsourcing to consultants and contractors reflects that the SAPS may not have the required expertise within the organisation. It is a concern that the Department could not provide details of the exact amount spent for each project on consultants. The 18% estimate seems high.