Cape Town:Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has announced a significant investment in the South African Police Service (SAPS), with R810 million earmarked for the recapitalisation of its vehicle fleet next year. This move is part of a broader strategy to combat crime and corruption within the country.
According to South African Government News Agency, the government will also allocate an additional R2.2 billion over the medium term to bolster the independence of the judiciary. Minister Godongwana emphasized that crime and corruption are detrimental to governance and economic growth, siphoning funds meant for essential services and increasing business costs.
The announcement was made during the presentation of the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS), where the government's revised economic outlook and adjusted expenditure estimates were outlined. Further initiatives include increasing the number of labour inspectors and considering measures to enhance the capacity of the border inspectorate and immigration officers to tackle illegal migration.
Minister Godongwana mentioned the ongoing 18-month Mutual Evaluation process by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which assesses the technical compliance and effectiveness of the country's laws through investigations, prosecutions, and asset forfeitures. These efforts are part of South Africa's commitment to achieving technical compliance with FATF recommendations and are supported by investments in fighting crime and corruption.
The FATF, an intergovernmental organization, aims to combat various financial threats, including money laundering and terrorist financing, by setting global standards and conducting mutual evaluations. In 2026, South Africa was removed from the European Union's list of high-risk jurisdictions, following its removal from the FATF grey list and the United Kingdom's high-risk countries list for money laundering and terrorist financing, effective from 13 October 2025.
