[South Africa] R25m cost to taxpayers for suspended police officers to remain on payroll

Taxpayers paid over R25 million to suspended members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) who remained on the payroll between April 1, 2024, and October 1, 2025, Newsday reports.

Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia disclosed the figures in response to a written question from RISE Mzansi MP Makashule Gana.

Keeping suspended employees on the payroll is reportedly a common practice among government departments in South Africa.

Mr Cachalia told Mr Gana that R13.2 million was paid to 149 suspended officers during the 2024/25 financial year. A further R12.2 million was spent on salaries of 84 suspended officers in the next six months.

Based on this, the party estimates the figure for the entire 2025/26 financial year will surpass that of 2024/25.

In 2025, suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu informed Build One South Africa MP Mmusi Maimane that 11 police members were suspended with full pay as of May 16 that year. Mr Mchunu disclosed that the total cost of the officers’ suspensions up to that point was R5.02 million.

The majority of this (R3.44 million) was reportedly paid to a lieutenant-general who had been suspended with full pay since July 8, 2022, nearly three years prior. Another lieutenant-general had cost the South African taxpayer R1.14 million since being suspended on June 14, 2024.

Mr Gana stated that something even more concerning than the millions paid to these officers is the charges that they are facing, which include, but are not limited to, rape, extortion, corruption, defeating the course of justice, robbery and hijacking.

“The SAPS Code of Conduct commits South Africa’s women and men in blue to a higher standard of integrity; it is therefore unacceptable that such gross misconduct is found within the SAPS,” Mr Gana said.

“While we acknowledge that there are almost 200,000 SAPS officers, and that there are hardworking and ethical members of the Service, it is not acceptable to have even a handful of fraudsters, rapists, murderers, and the like don the badge.”

The parliamentarian reportedly said he would raise the matter with the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police to request a detailed briefing from SAPS leadership, as well as the leadership of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).

“Furthermore, I will submit additional written questions to ascertain how many of these serious cases resulted in SAPS officers being shown the door,” Mr Gana said.

“We cannot build a safe, prosperous, equal, and united South Africa when those tasked with keeping us safe and secure are compromised.”

Source: Newsday

(Quotes via original reporting)

Taxpayers paid over R25 million to suspended members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) who remained on the payroll between April 1, 2024, and October 1, 2025, Newsday reports.

Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia disclosed the figures in response to a written question from RISE Mzansi MP Makashule Gana.

Keeping suspended employees on the payroll is reportedly a common practice among government departments in South Africa.

Mr Cachalia told Mr Gana that R13.2 million was paid to 149 suspended officers during the 2024/25 financial year. A further R12.2 million was spent on salaries of 84 suspended officers in the next six months.

Based on this, the party estimates the figure for the entire 2025/26 financial year will surpass that of 2024/25.

In 2025, suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu informed Build One South Africa MP Mmusi Maimane that 11 police members were suspended with full pay as of May 16 that year. Mr Mchunu disclosed that the total cost of the officers’ suspensions up to that point was R5.02 million.

The majority of this (R3.44 million) was reportedly paid to a lieutenant-general who had been suspended with full pay since July 8, 2022, nearly three years prior. Another lieutenant-general had cost the South African taxpayer R1.14 million since being suspended on June 14, 2024.

Mr Gana stated that something even more concerning than the millions paid to these officers is the charges that they are facing, which include, but are not limited to, rape, extortion, corruption, defeating the course of justice, robbery and hijacking.

“The SAPS Code of Conduct commits South Africa’s women and men in blue to a higher standard of integrity; it is therefore unacceptable that such gross misconduct is found within the SAPS,” Mr Gana said.

“While we acknowledge that there are almost 200,000 SAPS officers, and that there are hardworking and ethical members of the Service, it is not acceptable to have even a handful of fraudsters, rapists, murderers, and the like don the badge.”

The parliamentarian reportedly said he would raise the matter with the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police to request a detailed briefing from SAPS leadership, as well as the leadership of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).

“Furthermore, I will submit additional written questions to ascertain how many of these serious cases resulted in SAPS officers being shown the door,” Mr Gana said.

“We cannot build a safe, prosperous, equal, and united South Africa when those tasked with keeping us safe and secure are compromised.”

Source: Newsday

(Quotes via original reporting)