The National Assembly’s Committee on Administration and Internal Security has backed the Independent Policing Oversight Authority’s (IPOA) call for financial autonomy and the arming of its investigators. The move is expected to strengthen accountability within the police service and boost IPOA’s capacity as it prepares to hire over 300 new investigators.
Lawmakers said giving IPOA direct control of its budget and operational mandate would allow it to enforce discipline more effectively across the police service.
The Treasury, however, requested a detailed breakdown of staffing and costs before granting full budget approval.
Following a benchmarking visit to South Africa, the committee recommended that IPOA draft a bill seeking amendments to the IPOA Act, specifically Section 34(3), to guarantee budgetary independence and remove the requirement for Cabinet Secretary approval.
“In regards to amendments to the IPOA Act, IPOA should present to the Committee on Administration and Internal Security a draft Bill with the proposed amendments to Section 34(3) of the IPOA Act to ensure IPOA’s budgetary autonomy without the budget approval requirement by the Cabinet Secretary in the budget-making process in addition to other proposed amendments related to the operations of IPOA,” the report stated.
The committee further noted that budget independence would enable IPOA to expand its team of investigators and legal officers, ensuring higher-quality investigations and better compliance with its regulations.
“IPOA needs to increase staffing requirements through prioritizing the hiring of investigators to meet 404 approved posts and legal officers for quality assurance in compliance with the IPOA regulations,” the committee recommended.
Currently, IPOA has only 77 investigators overseeing a police service of more than 120,000 officers. The shortage has limited the authority’s effectiveness at a time when concerns over abductions, police brutality, and excessive force are rising.
Lawmakers also cautioned that reliance on donor funding undermines IPOA’s independence, emphasizing that arming officers and boosting staffing would significantly enhance its ability to hold rogue police accountable.
The recommendations come after IPOA engaged with South Africa’s Independent Police Investigative Directorate and the African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum, in a bid to strengthen regional collaboration and improve cross-border policing oversight.
 call for financial autonomy and the arming of its investigators. The move is expected to strengthen accountability within the police service and boost IPOA’s capacity as it prepares to hire over 300 new investigators.){kind=link}