The suspension of 233 police members between April 2024 and October 2025 has cost taxpayers more than R25m in salaries. This was confirmed by acting police minister Firoz Cachalia in a written reply to parliament after a question by Rise Mzansi MP Makashule Gana. Gana asked for the number of officers suspended during the 2024/25 financial year and since April 1 2025; the ranks of those suspended; the reasons for their suspension; the salaries paid while on suspension; and the number of officers implicated in criminal activity.
Cachalia responded that 149 officers were suspended in 2024/25 and 84 more between April and October 2025, with annexures setting out the ranks, charges and salary costs. The reply confirmed that 185 officers were suspended on suspicion of criminal activity in the period, with an average of 83 cases per province. The most common charges were assault (often arising during arrests), but the annexures also record allegations of theft, fraud, corruption, rape, murder, attempted murder, extortion, robbery, kidnapping, hijacking and possession of unlicensed firearms.
Salaries continued to be paid during suspension, amounting to R13.1m in 2024/25 and R12.1m in the seven months to October 2025. This brings the total cost to more than R25m in just 19 months, adding to earlier disclosures that 163 suspended officers in 2023/24 cost the state more than R8m. Separate replies have revealed that individual senior officers, including lieutenant-generals, have drawn millions in salaries while suspended for extended periods, with one case exceeding R3.4m since 2022. The continuation of full pay during suspension is mandated by labour law and constitutional provisions on fair employment practices, but it has become a recurring point of contention in parliament.
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