The South African Policing Union (SAPU) has issued a scathing condemnation of the Independent Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) following the arrest of 12 South African Police Service (SAPS) members in Gauteng this week.
In a press release dated 25 March 2026, the union accused IDAC of prioritising public embarrassment over due processes, labeling the manner of the arrests as a calculated attempt to humiliate police officials rather than a legitimate exercise of the law.
Allegations of double standards
The core of SAPU's grievance lies in what they describe as a lack of consistency in how high-profile arrests are handled. The union pointed out that when politicians face charges, they are often allowed to present themselves to court on the same day without being detained overnight. In contrast, the 12 officers involved in the Bid Committee Evaluation (BEC) allegations were taken into custody overnight.
“The purpose of an arrest is to secure the attendance of the accused person before the court of law,” stated SAPU National Spokesperson Lesiba Thobakgale. “It is in no way to embarrass or to punish anyone.”
The union argued that the officers posed no flight risk, as their residential and workplace addresses are well-documented. SAPU further referenced the 2025 arrest of Crime Intelligence Divisional Commissioner Lt General Khumalo as a prior example of IDAC using “unnecessary” and “embarrassing” tactics.
Defence of dignity and due process
While SAPU clarified that it is not suggesting officers with cases to answer should avoid accountability, it emphasised that all individuals remain innocent until proven guilty. The union expressed concern that IDAC is attempting to “correct a wrong with a wrong” by arresting every participant involved in the BEC process, regardless of individual culpability.
The statement also warned that these methods could lead to costly litigation against the state for unlawful arrests and detentions – a scenario SAPU says should be avoided at all costs.
A message to investigators
The union concluded its statement by offering advice to the investigative body, suggesting that the success of an investigator should be measured by convictions in courts, not by the “media buzz” generated during an arrest.
“We are appreciate the work being done by IDAC,” the statement read, “but it must be for the good course… there is no need to make arrests for embarrassment of the members of police.”
As of Wednesday, the 12 officers remain at the center of the investigation regarding the Bid Committee Evaluation, a case that SAPU insists must be handled with the dignity and legal rigor afforded to any other citizen under the rule of law.