Over 700 SAPS Generals and Brigadiers in Government Are Millionaires

• Ian Cameron, chairperson of Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Police, revealed that 722 SAPS generals and brigadiers earn an average of R4.99 million each per year
• Cameron raised serious concerns about the bloated senior structure, noting that nearly 400 of those officers are stationed at national head office rather than on the ground
• The revelations sparked fierce debate among South Africans questioning whether taxpayers are getting value for money from the police service

South Africa is spending R3.6 billion every year to pay 722 brigadiers and generals within the South African Police Service (SAPS), working out to roughly R4.99 million per senior officer annually.

Ian Cameron, chairperson of Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Police, made the disclosure during an interview with BizNews, drawing on figures obtained through recent parliamentary questions. Cameron said the numbers pointed to a leadership structure that had grown far beyond what a functional police service should carry.

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"In total, the South African Police Service has a number of 722 brigadiers and generals. The long and the short of it is that we spend on those senior officers nearly R3.6 billion to pay them and to maintain them."

To illustrate the disconnect between cost and delivery, Cameron compared SAPS to a luxury vehicle that performs like a broken-down car. He argued that frontline units were bearing the consequences of this top-heavy structure, with the Cape Town Flying Squad operating at roughly 40% vehicle capacity and officers in the Cape Flats confronting extortion gangs armed with AK-47s while carrying only old pistols. A backlog of nearly 300,000 outstanding DNA cases added to his list of operational failures.

Where are the senior officers?

Of the 722 generals and brigadiers, Cameron noted that close to 400 are based at the national head office, with another 166 at provincial head offices. SAPS currently has one full general, National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola, alongside 20 lieutenant generals, 123 major generals and 578 brigadiers.

Lifestyle audits raise red flags

Cameron also pointed to evidence presented at the Madlanga Commission showing that only five of 823 senior SAPS officers underwent lifestyle audits during the 2024/25 financial year.

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As a remedy, Cameron called for broad integrity and competency audits across the senior leadership, arguing that identifying who delivers real value was the starting point for any meaningful reform.

Check out the TikTok post with reactions below:

Mzansi say their tax is funding high salaries

South Africans reacting online were equally blunt, with many questioning the value they receive from the police and directing their frustration at the government.

ȚĤÊ ƁÀĹƊ & ȚĤÊ ŔŐTŦẀÉÍĽÉŘ asked:

"Why are we paying tax?"

Spikkels wrote:

"How is that possible?"

User7686641962615 said:

"People who vote for them are suffering."

barny_2.5🇿🇦 added:

"And when you call the police you're lucky if they answer the phone."

Kawa King summed it up simply:

"One word, UNSUSTAINABLE!"

3 Other Briefly News stories about millionaires

• Zimbabwean millionaire Wicknell Chivayo visited Jacob & Co's headquarters in Geneva, hosted by founder Jacob Arabo.
• Chartered accountant Carla shared her strategy for building generational wealth for her seven-week-old and three-year-old.
• The self-proclaimed millionaire who insulted a BMW dealership security guard was spotted shopping at a Tembisa Shoprite store.

Source: Briefly News