Budget cuts force Ipid to dissolve unit

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) has announced the dissolution of its national specialised investigation team (NSIT) unit due to budget constraints.

In a statement yesterday, Ipid spokesperson Ndileka Cola confirmed that some of the investigators under the unit, who temporarily worked at the national office, would return to their provincial offices. This is also an effort to manage their workload.

“Due to the current deteriorating economic circumstances and constrained resources, a decision was taken to return some of the current investigators, who were temporarily transferred to national office under NSIT unit, to their respective provinces and also decentralise the unit.”

Cola said Ipid executive director Dikeledi Ntlatseng had found during her provincial visits that the workload, particularly in the hotspot provinces (Gauteng, Western Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal), could not be handled by the current team of investigators.

“During the consultation meeting with NSIT members, it was established that their workload is far less than that of their colleagues based in the provinces. This is unjustifiable and may result in unfair labour practice.

“Some of these officials were originally employed and stationed in the provinces, hence they are being returned back, their remunerative expenses are still borne from their respective province’s budget,” said Cola.

“In some cases, Ipid was paying about R100 000 a month on accommodation, travel and subsistence expenses for some members who were transferred from various provinces to national office.”

Cola explained that budget constraints, which were worsened by the recent budget cuts, had compelled management to asses its resources.