Including some of Action Society’s suggestions on the IPID Amendment Bill is a step in the right direction, but for the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) to be a genuinely independent institution as an effective watchdog over the police, it should also be a Chapter 9 Institution. Action Society proposed measures to preserve the integrity and credibility of the institution and to fulfil its mandate of ensuring accountable policing effectively and presented these suggestions in Parliament in October last year.
The Bill is now again open for comment until 2 February after it was referred to the National Council of Provinces for consideration by the National Assembly’s Select Committee on Security and Justice.
“Establishing IPID as a Chapter 9 Institution through our proposed amendments is a decisive step towards securing its independence and efficacy. Such enhancements in its constitutional status, governance structure, and operational autonomy will empower IPID to execute its mandate diligently, uphold the rule of law, and contribute significantly to the reformation and fortification of South Africa’s democratic framework,” said Ian Cameron, Director of Community at Action Society.
“Any provision that infringes upon IPID’s autonomy challenges its foundational principles and compromises its ability to act as police watchdog, thereby undermining the broader goals of fostering transparency, accountability, and justice within the policing system.”
Read Action Society’s submission here.
