PRETORIA — The South African Police Service (SAPS) is facing intense scrutiny following shocking revelations about SAPS lifestyle audits and vetting failures within the criminal justice system. According to testimony presented at the Madlanga Commission, severe shortcomings in the vetting process have raised concerns about criminal infiltration, prompting urgent calls for the removal of unvetted officers.
World Bank anti-corruption expert Albertus Schoeman delivered a stark warning to the commission, revealing that only five lifestyle audits have been conducted on top SAPS leadership over the past five years. His comprehensive report highlighted a glaring gap in accountability, noting that not a single senior officer was referred for lifestyle investigations between 2021 and 2024. Furthermore, out of the 823 senior managers within the police service, only five were investigated last year—all of whom were subsequently cleared.
South African Police Union (SAPU) deputy national spokesperson Jabu Mabena expressed profound shock at these findings, emphasizing that the current system appears fundamentally broken.
“Those numbers are so shocking,” Mabena stated, pointing out that the Crime Intelligence unit is specifically tasked with vetting, which includes lifestyle audits. He noted that security clearances for senior officials are designed to last for five years, yet the system has failed to execute this mandate.
Mabena revealed that the vetting unit was last properly capacitated in 2013. “Fast forward today, we remain with 25% of the 120-plus members that were recruited in 2013 to really make sure that this work is done properly,” he explained, highlighting a decade-long degradation of the vetting infrastructure.
The consequences of this systemic failure extend far beyond senior management. Mabena clarified that vetting is mandatory for all ranks, from junior station-level officers to top brass, with security clearances ranging from confidential to top secret. A thorough lifestyle audit and vetting investigation delve deep into an individual’s life, examining their upbringing, social circles, assets, and financial health.
During the commission’s proceedings, the vetting process was scrutinized from an HR perspective regarding General Faron Khan, examining declared luxury cars and business revenues. This raised concerns about whether the process has devolved into a mere box-ticking exercise rather than a genuine investigation into unexplained wealth, such as luxury watches and properties.
“Vetting itself goes as far as interrogating even your bank statements,” Mabena said. He explained that the process involves submitting names of childhood friends for interviews, assessing how many cars or businesses an individual owns, and determining their susceptibility to corruption. If a senior member handling sensitive information fails to obtain security clearance, they are supposed to be removed from their office immediately.
The rigorous process is designed to prevent criminals from infiltrating the police service. During recruitment, fingerprints and criminal records are checked, but ongoing vetting is crucial to monitor border crossings, communications, and shifting associations.
When vetting is neglected, the integrity of the entire criminal justice system is compromised. Mabena pointed out that at the station level, investigating officers must properly handle sensitive documents governed by the Minimum Information Security Standards (MISS) when dealing with victims and charges. Without regular and intense vetting, the police service risks defocusing from its constitutional objectives and failing to protect the public.
In light of the Madlanga Commission’s findings and the SAPU’s response, the call to action is clear: the police service must urgently address its capacitation issues and ensure that every officer without proper security clearance is removed from their position to safeguard the integrity of South Africa’s law enforcement.
