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R130 Million in One Year on Paid Sick Leave

Dear Editor

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is outraged by recent revelations that an astonishing R131, 585,808.09 has been spent on South African Police members (SAPS) who have been on paid sick leave for periods exceeding six months during the 2023/2024 financial year. This shocking misuse of public funds demands urgent accountability.

The DA demands that the Minister of Police launch an immediate and fully independent audit to investigate this gross mismanagement of public funds.

In response to a Parliamentary question, Minister Senzo Mchunu, has revealed that:

  • The total number of SAPS employees who were on paid sick leave for a period exceeding six months, during the 2023/2024 financial year, is 618.
  • The costs in respect of these employees amounts to R131,585,808.09.

This eye-watering expenditure is made at a time when SAPS is dealing with severe operational difficulties and rising calls for increased security and safety. In addition to wasting already limited public resources continuing to pay the salaries of employees who miss work for extended periods of time, this unchecked spending threatens real attempts by hard-working SAPS officers to reform and create a responsive and effective police force.

The DA is further concerned about the lack of transparency and appropriate action to resolve this issue, which seems to be a sign of more widespread poor senior management within SAPS.

The DA calls for:

  • An immediate and fully independent audit into the reasons and financial implications of long-term sick leave within SAPS,
  • More stringent procedures to prevent the abuse of sick leave,
  • Thorough examination of the procedures for managing employees on sick leave,
  • Frequent parliamentary updates on the efforts to cut down on these expensive absences.

We will also write to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police and the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration to formally request an audit into the abuse of sick leave within the respective departments

South Africans deserve a police force that is responsible, professional, accountable and capable of delivering safety without placing excessive strain on already struggling tax payers with irresponsible expenditure. The DA remains committed to ensuring that senior management will be held accountable for this waste of precious resources.

Regards

Lisa Schickerling MP
DA Deputy Spokesperson on Police

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