Controversy erupts as Popcru calls for Ian Cameron's removal over police 'thugs' comments

A heated dispute has erupted at the highest levels of South Africa’s policing oversight structures, with the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcr) calling for the removal of Ian Cameron as Chair of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Police — a demand Cameron has firmly rejected, stating he “will not sell [his] soul or lose [his] integrity”.

The controversy stems from Cameron’s recent comments on social media, in which he referred to eight members of the SAPS VIP Protection Unit as “thugs” — despite their acquittal in an internal disciplinary hearing. The officers, who serve in the security detail of Deputy President Paul Mashatile, were filmed in 2023 brutally assaulting civilians on Johannesburg’s N1 highway. The footage caused national outrage and drew widespread condemnation.

Their subsequent acquittal by SAPS internal processes triggered renewed debate about police accountability — and provoked Cameron’s pointed response, which has now landed him at the centre of a political firestorm.

Popcru has accused Cameron of defamation, overreach, and inciting public hostility toward police officers. In a strongly worded statement, Popcru President Thulani Ngwenya described the remarks as “reckless and unethical”, adding that Cameron had “undermined the justice system” and should be removed from his post.

“Who is he to question the findings of the courts or proper labour processes?,” Ngwenya asked. “His behaviour delegitimises officers who have been cleared through due process and weakens public trust in the system.”

But Cameron is not backing down.

“Not at all,” he said when asked whether he felt threatened by the growing calls for his removal. “If I am removed for doing the right thing, then I can hold my head up high and leave with my integrity intact.”

“I’ve heard rumours of them wanting to ‘deal’ with me, and SAPU ‘warning’ me on TV the other morning… They can do as they see fit. I have a job to do,” he added. “Certainly not — I stand by what I said, and I’ll say it again.”

Cameron dismissed the backlash as “noise” from a “small group of armchair critics”, insisting he had received significant backing — not only from the public but also from within the SAPS ranks.

“When violent misconduct is captured on camera and internal processes fail to reflect basic accountability, Parliament has an obligation to respond,” he said. “I will not be a rubber stamp. I will not neglect my duties to appease those more concerned with political shielding than public trust.”

He also took aim at the ongoing leaking of SAPS disciplinary documents, saying such actions undermined the integrity of the institution. “Governance cannot be reduced to opportunistic leaks used to serve factional interests,” he said.

Popcru, however, insists that Cameron has overstepped his role. The union has asked the Parliamentary Ethics Committee to investigate the remarks and has urged MPs to consider his removal from the chairpersonship of the Police Portfolio Committee.

“We reject trial by media, political grandstanding, and the scapegoating of police officers,” said Ngwenya. “We advocate for accountability and human rights, but we will not allow our members to be publicly vilified without due process.”

The row comes as Parliament debates the SAPS Amendment Bill — legislation aimed at overhauling the police disciplinary system.

Cameron has linked the current controversy to those reforms, warning that without them, the public will continue to see a lack of meaningful consequence management.

Cameron also in his capacity as Democratic Alliance (DA) spokesperson on police demanded: a full overhaul of SAPS disciplinary regulations to ensure violent misconduct leads to real consequences; immediate parliamentary scrutiny of police unions allegedly obstructing disciplinary processes; suspension and investigation of Major General Wally Rhoode’s leadership and suitability for office; criminal prosecution of the N1 assault officers, regardless of internal acquittal; a review of VIP Protection Unit protocols to dismantle unchecked power structures and the declaration of the R112,000 spent on the disciplinary chairperson as wasteful public expenditure.

tracy-lynn.ruiters@inl.co.za

Weekend Argus