SAPS spends R1.3 billion on senior management as government defends leadership costs

Government officials defend the R1.331 billion expenditure on SAPS senior management amidst public scrutiny over police salaries.

Government has defended the cost of senior management within the South African Police Service (SAPS) after revealing that R1.331 billion was spent on compensating the service's 722 senior managers during the 2025/26 financial year.

The clarification follows reports suggesting that senior SAPS officials earn annual salaries of R5 million each, a claim government says is inaccurate and misleading.

The government stressed that the R1.331 billion figure covers a range of employment-related costs and should not be interpreted as direct salaries paid to individual officials.

“For the 2025/2026 financial year, compensation to the amount of R1,331 billion was paid to the senior managers in SAPS inclusive of salaries, allowances and state contribution to pension and medical funds,” the government said.