South African police reform awaits Madlanga findings
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on IOL
South Africa’s parliamentary police committee supports withdrawing the bill reforming the national police service to incorporate recommendations from the Madlanga Commission and a special parliamentary committee. Its chair, Ian Cameron, says a comprehensive overhaul would avoid unnecessary spending and a costly restart of the legislative process.
South Africa’s parliamentary committee responsible for police said on Wednesday 11 November 2026 that it supported withdrawing the South African Police Service (SAPS) Amendment Bill to allow consideration of recommendations from the Madlanga Commission and the ad hoc parliamentary committee, IOL reports. The committee’s chair, Ian Cameron, believes the recommendations could alter provisions of the bill.
The committee considers that reform of SAPS, South Africa’s national police service, should be carried out comprehensively rather than through isolated stages. It believes continuing the process before the recommendations are published could lead to additional spending, as the legislative process would have to be restarted to incorporate possible amendments, according to IOL.
Bill B18-2026, introduced on 10 June 2026, notably proposes amending the 1995 SAPS Act, strengthening rules applicable to municipal police services and providing for municipal policing capabilities responsible for public order. It also provides for new municipal recruits to provide a DNA sample, according to IOL.
The parliamentary committee nevertheless maintains that the bill remains necessary and urgent, but believes its adoption should await the recommendations of the Madlanga Commission and the ad hoc committee. On 10 November, the Madlanga Commission had notably examined allegations concerning police officials, including those reported in the Matlala and Sibiya case.
