State Expenditure and Corruption – A Personal Reflection on Police Integrity

This reflective essay juxtaposes the staggering irregular expenditures reported in the 2024/25 audit outcomes of the South African Police Service (SAPS) with the author’s lived experience of integrity and accountability within the former SAP. Drawing from a Facebook post by Brigadier Fanie Bouwer, the author highlights R3.2 billion in irregular spending, including unresolved cases from previous years. Against this backdrop, the narrative recalls a time when the SAP operated with frugality, discipline, and meticulous record-keeping—from weighing lucerne bales to maintaining tire registers. Through vivid anecdotes, the author contrasts the Spartan conditions of police service with the relative luxury of other state departments, emphasizing the erosion of expertise, command, and accountability in contemporary governance. The piece serves as both a lament and a call to remember the values of honesty, stewardship, and public service once held dear.