Honourable Speaker;
Honourable Deputy Speaker;
His Excellency, President Cyril Ramaphosa;
His Excellency, the Deputy President Paul Mashatile;
Cabinet Colleagues;
Deputy Ministers of Police, Mr Cassel Mathale and Dr Polly Boshielo;
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Mr Ian Cameron;
Honourable Members;
Acting National Commissioner of the SAPS, Lt General Puleng Dimpane and Heads of entities
Ladies and Gentlemen;
I rise to present the 2026/27 Budget Vote for the Ministry of Police at a defining moment for policing in South Africa.
This budget supports the Government agenda to build the capabilities of our law enforcement agencies and to meaningfully improve safety in our country.
The Acting National Commissioner and I are committed to a bold police reset agenda to strengthen the fight against organised and violent crime by building a modern, professional and trusted police service that places the safety of our people first.
South Africans want to be safe and feel safe. They want to feel safe in the streets, their homes, schools, while using public transport and their workplaces. Our people want a police service that is visible, responsive, disciplined and effective. Above all, they want a police service they can trust.
As the largest institution in the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster, SAPS has been allocated R127,072 billion for the 2026/27 financial year, increasing to R135,8 billion by 2028/29.
It is important to understand that the police “reset agenda” is not a one‑year project finalised in an annual budget cycle. It requires a multi‑year turnaround strategy that is consistently implemented.
The actions we take in this financial year should contribute to the foundations upon which a strengthened SAPS can be built. We won’t promise miracles or short-term fixes. What matters is that the direction we are taking is clear and the goals are firm.
This Budget backs our longer term strategy focusing on the integrity of the SAPS, its intelligence and investigative capabilities in order to improve community safety.
Towards, Accountability and Integrity
Honourable Members,
The SAPS is one of the most important institutions of our democracy. Every day, many tens of thousands of dedicated and committed police officers serve this country with integrity, courage and professionalism. They work under difficult and dangerous conditions, making personal sacrifices to protect our communities and uphold the rule of law.
The media frequently carries stories of violent criminals engaging in gun battles with the police, drug busts, many arrests for serious crime or corruption of well-known high-flyers, some posing as “businessmen” – now facing criminal charges in court.
The SAPS members responsible for these actions represent the backbone of the South African Police Service.
The government appreciates and supports them unreservedly.
At the same time, we acknowledge that the SAPS like other public institutions, particularly in its procurement systems, is bedevilled by systemic corruption. Those involved, must and are being held accountable.
It is important to recognise that most of the recent arrests and criminal charges against senior police officers is the result of investigations that predate the Madlanga Commission.
However, the important work of the Madlanga Commission is assisting our endeavours to improve accountability in policing. The SAPS has established a dedicated Task Team to investigate referrals arising out of the Madlanga Commission. The Task Team is making progress. Arrests will continue, as we recently saw with Brown Mogotsi.
While we wait for the final recommendations of the Madlanga Commission, we will be taking action to implement systemic reforms.
Crime Intelligence
Honourable Members,
Strengthening Crime Intelligence is a key priority. Effective crime intelligence is necessary to fight organised crime; it must identify threats early, infiltrate organised criminal networks, prevent violent crime and guide operational deployments through credible information and analysis.
Over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, we will implement a turn-around strategy developed by the SAPS, to effectively strengthen our crime intelligence capabilities. Deputy Minister Mathale will provide additional details.
Detective Service
Honourable Members,
We are also determined to strengthen the Detective Service and improve the quality of criminal investigations. Given the challenges facing this Division, this is not a short-term endeavour but must be a priority.
Communities do not measure safety by the number of arrests alone. They measure safety by whether dangerous criminals are removed from their streets, whether cases are properly investigated, and whether justice is successfully secured in court.
To retain expertise, the Detective Critical Skills Allowance of R1000, introduced in October 2025 will continue to support both SAPS and DPCI investigators.
The challenges facing the forensic services must be addressed as a priority including DNA analysis, ballistics, digital forensics, chemistry and cybercrime investigation capabilities.
I have also taken note of the recent statement from POPCRU with regard to the working condition of their members in this environment.
Procurement and Supply Chain Management
Honourable Speaker,
A professional police service cannot function effectively if corruption undermines procurement systems and operational preparedness.
The Acting National Commissioner is therefore implementing a far-reaching overhaul of SAPS procurement and supply chain management systems in partnership with the Government Technical Advisory Centre (GTAC) in National Treasury.
This reform process will modernise procurement systems, strengthen oversight, improve transparency and ensure that police officers receive the vehicles, technology, protective equipment and operational resources they require to serve communities effectively.
Discipline and Professionalism
Honourable Members,
Discipline and accountability are fundamental to rebuilding public confidence in policing.
The SAPS is reviewing the disciplinary regulations to improve effectiveness of this function. The disciplinary system must be seen to be consistent, fair and efficient by police members and the public.
Our objective is to build a disciplined, professional and ethical police service that commands public confidence and supports honest police officers in carrying out their duties effectively.
My view is that where members are facing serious criminal charges, they should be removed from operational policing duties while due process unfolds. Those convicted of offences involving dishonesty, corruption or violent crime including rape must face mandatory dismissal from the organisation.
Whistleblower mechanisms should also be strengthened to encourage the reporting of corruption and criminality within SAPS.
Measures are therefore being taken to strengthen internal disciplinary and investigative capacities.
Tackling Organised Crime
Honourable Members,
Organised crime continues to threaten our economy, communities and democratic institutions. Criminal syndicates are becoming increasingly sophisticated and violent. We are still in the middle of violent gang wars, despite ongoing efforts to restore safety and security.
Government is responding with equal determination.
A new Organised Crime Strategy has been developed to strengthen intelligence-led policing, improve interdepartmental coordination, intensify financial investigations and enhance partnerships with the private sector and international law enforcement agencies. Substantial resources have been allocated from CARA funds and the MTEF budget.
The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation will continue strengthening cross-border cooperation and intelligence-sharing to target criminal networks operating across the region and beyond.
Illegal firearms continue to fuel violent crime across our country. To strengthen regulation and enforcement under the Firearms Control Act, an additional R18 million has been allocated over and above the baseline allocation for licensing and compliance activities.
Furthermore, more than R200 million will be invested in the development of an enhanced digital Firearms Control Management System to improve firearm tracking, compliance monitoring and operational efficiency.
Success has to be measured by criminal syndicates dismantled, convictions secured, illicit assets seized, and a reduction in organised criminal activity.
Improved Station Level Policing
Honourable Speaker,
Crime is concentrated in specific communities and police precincts. We are therefore introducing a renewed focus on the 50 highest-crime precincts in the country.
Detailed assessments will be conducted to evaluate leadership, staffing levels, operational readiness, detective performance and infrastructure requirements at these stations.
A strengthened monitoring system will assess whether resources are directed strategically towards crime hotspots and offenders who cause the most harm to their communities. The Civilian Secretariat for Police Service will be playing a key role here.
We will continue investing in police stations, mobile Community Service Centres and station maintenance to improve service delivery and police visibility.
The Police Modernisation Project aims digitalise administrative systems and improve operational efficiency, allowing more police officers to focus on frontline policing and community safety.
This project will continue to be rolled out at high-crime stations and is part of the public-private sector partnership – the Joint Initiative Against Crime and Corruption, being led by the Presidency.
Integrated Crime and Violence Prevention Strategy
Honourable Members,
Policing alone cannot solve crime. Crime is driven by deep social and economic challenges that require a whole-of-government and whole-of-society response.
This is why the Integrated Crime and Violence Prevention Strategy remains central to our approach. Preventing crime requires stronger families, safer schools, youth development, substance abuse prevention, better urban planning, stronger community partnerships and intergovernmental cooperation.
Government remains firmly committed to tackling Gender-Based Violence and Femicide. R1.6 billion has been set aside for activities related to the fight against GBVF and that and additional R50million is allocated additionally to provincial baselines. Deputy Minister Polly Boshielo is driving an initiative to improve our response to GBV.
Community Policing
Honourable Speaker,
Community partnership remains one of the strongest foundations of effective policing.
Across the country, Community Policing Forums, neighbourhood structures, faith-based organisations and community volunteers continue to play an important role in strengthening safety and social cohesion.
In the year ahead, we will work with provinces and municipalities to implement a structured national community patroller programme to improve visibility and community-based prevention in high-crime areas.
These patrollers will not do police work, and will be properly regulated, community-centred and implemented under SAPS coordination, with appropriate vetting, training and oversight mechanisms.
Conclusion
Honourable Members,
This Budget is not a silver bullet. But it is an important step towards a more capable, more honest, and more focused police service.
The Police Reset Agenda is about restoring hope to the people of South Africa.
To the dedicated members of SAPS who continue to serve with honour and courage: This government stands with you.
And to the people of South Africa, we say; the work of rebuilding trust is continuing. Through disciplined leadership, measurable action and unwavering commitment, we will build a safer South Africa and a stronger, more trusted South African Police Service together.
We must all remain optimistic, resilient and focused on the task at hand.
I commend the 2026/27 Budget Vote for Police to the House.
I thank you.
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