Cachalia Misses Deadline

Statement by Lisa Schickerling MP – DA Spokesperson on Police:

The DA will write to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police to request that Acting Minister of Police Firoz Cachalia appear before the committee to provide a full update on the status of the SAPS lifestyle audit process.

This follows Cachalia’s failure to respond to a formal request for clarity on the implementation of SAPS lifestyle audits by the deadline of 19 May 2026.

The request followed commitments made by the Acting Minister before the committee that the lifestyle audit process had commenced. However, no updates, documentation, or progress reports have subsequently been furnished.

In our correspondence, we requested clarity on whether the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has formally been approached to conduct the audits, what steps have already been taken to initiate the process, the timelines for implementation and reporting, and what interim accountability measures are in place pending full implementation.

There remains significant uncertainty regarding the scope of the proposed audits, which officials will be subjected to the process, what oversight mechanisms will apply, or when the audits are expected to begin and conclude.

Seeing senior police officers with expansive mansions, luxury lifestyles, multi-million Rand cars and walking around wearing imported designer clothing raises serious questions about their salaries.

We keep seeing allegations of senior police being close to organised crime and tender kingpins, and this demands that every cent they spend is properly scrutinised.

Lifestyle audits are a critical accountability tool in restoring public trust in the police.

When Cachalia comes to the committee, he must also outline any engagement with the SIU, clarify implementation timelines, explain interim accountability measures, and commit to regular reporting to Parliament going forward.

The DA will continue to push for full implementation of lifestyle audits and to ensure that commitments made to the public are honoured because South Africans deserve a police service that is transparent and accountable.