Parliament Weighs Police Bill Amid Corruption Probes

MPs consider whether to proceed with the SAPS Amendment Bill while the Madlanga Commission and an ad hoc committee investigate police corruption.

Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Legislative Policy

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a solemn civic building facade with a flagpole, rendered in navy and cream with a red accent. — South African lawmakers are weighing whether to advance the SAPS Amendment Bill now or wait for the Madlanga Commission and an ad hoc parliamentary committee to report on police corruption. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Parliament's police portfolio committee considered on Wednesday whether to proceed with the SAPS Amendment Bill, tabled in June, which seeks to professionalise appointments and sets guidelines for specialist units and task teams. The committee has proposed waiting for the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry and Parliament's ad hoc committee, both probing police corruption, to deliver their recommendations first.

Why it matters

Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia said the overhaul of the police service is desperately needed and will take years. MPs argued that provisions added later would require a public participation process to start from scratch.

The SAPS Amendment Bill was tabled in Parliament in June and covers appointments, specialist units and intelligence-related matters. Whether the committee proceeds now or waits for the Madlanga Commission and ad hoc committee remains undecided.

The players

Firoz Cachalia

Acting Police Minister of South Africa, who said reform of the police service is desperately needed and will take years.

The details

The portfolio committee weighed the desirability of proceeding with the bill against the option of waiting for the inquiry and committee findings. The Madlanga Commission could make recommendations not included in the bill, which would require another process to expand its scope.

June: SAPS Amendment Bill tabled in Parliament.
Wednesday: Portfolio committee considers whether to proceed with the bill.
Coming months, possibly years: Police matters requiring urgent action are expected.

Political Context

The SAPS Amendment Bill, tabled in June, is now being weighed against the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry and Parliament's ad hoc committee, both probing police corruption. Committee members have argued that late additions would force public participation to restart, which shapes whether the bill moves forward now.

If the bill proceeds, South Africans could see changes to how police officers are appointed and how specialist units and task teams are set up. If the committee waits, the timeline for those changes is pushed back until the commission and ad hoc committee report.

The takeaway

Reform of policing in South Africa is likely to be a multi-year process, and how the SAPS Amendment Bill is sequenced against the corruption inquiries will shape its final content.