Time to reallocated non-essential functions of VIP Protection Unit - Police committee
Police committee chairperson, Ian Cameron, said that the R2 billion budget allocated to VIP protection was disproportionate and offered little value to broader society.
Chairperson of Parliament's Police Committee, Ian Cameron. Picture: Phando Jikelo/Parliament
CAPE TOWN - Police committee chairperson, Ian Cameron, says it's time to reallocate non-essential functions of the VIP Protection Unit.
Cameron said that the R2 billion budget allocated to VIP protection was disproportionate and offered little value to broader society.
He said that the committee would interrogate the purchase of a hotel by Crime Intelligence for R25 million.
Cameron addressed a security cluster portfolio committee media briefing on Tuesday, where he questioned the budget allocated to VIP protection for Cabinet members.
"We need to consider the reallocation of non-essential functions such as certain VIP protection services, which currently consumes a disproportionate share of the police budget without delivering meaningful value to the broader South African public."
Cameron said the questionable purchase of the multi-million rand property by Crime Intelligence would also be scrutinised by the committee.
"The recent revelation of a purchase of a R23 million hotel in Pretoria will be interrogated by the committee."
Cameron said police must also reconsider the disbandment of its National Inspectorate and Complaints Unit.