Recent upgrades to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate’s (IPID) Case Management System (CMS) have come under scrutiny following a parliamentary question posed by Democratic Alliance MP Dianne Kohler-Barnard. The inquiry, directed to Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, sought clarity on the CMS’s current limitations, manual processes, and the future of digital integration in IPID operations.
In a written response, Minister Mchunu confirmed that the CMS underwent several internal upgrades during the 2024/25 financial year. These included improvements aimed at tracking gender-based violence (GBV) cases, categorising case priority levels, and expanding oversight mechanisms within provincial management structures.
Internal Upgrades, No Cost Incurred
The upgrades, carried out by IPID’s internal ICT team, introduced the ability to register and report GBV-related cases and classify investigations into three priority levels, Top Priority, High Priority, and General Investigations. An additional reviewer was also added to each provincial management group to strengthen case oversight. According to the Minister, these changes were implemented without external assistance or additional cost to the department.
Manual Input Still Required
Despite the enhancements, the system still relies heavily on manual input from case workers. Kohler-Barnard raised concerns about why case details such as criminal case numbers, classifications, investigator names, and case statuses must be manually entered, information that, in many cases, already exists within the system.
Minister Mchunu explained that while the system is capable of identifying linked cases based on identifiers like ID numbers or force numbers, this functionality is limited when such data is unavailable at the time of case registration. He also noted that physical dockets, which are still required for court processes and inter-agency coordination, contribute to the continued reliance on manual entry.
No Immediate Automation, But New System in Development
Asked whether IPID intends to automate the display of linked case information, the Minister confirmed that the department is working toward a new, modernised system. This platform will aim to integrate with external justice systems, enabling the automatic sourcing of data such as ballistics reports, post-mortem results, biometrics, and DNA evidence.
Although automation of case linking is not yet in place, the Department’s long-term goal is to streamline operations and reduce manual workload through digital integration.
Timeline and Rollout
The development of the new integrated system is expected to take approximately three years. Implementation will be managed through formal project management structures, including IPID’s own System Development Monitoring Committee and the service provider’s project team. The most recent CMS upgrades, covering GBV tracking, case prioritisation, and additional reviewers, were finalised by 30 March 2025.
Notably, the service provider currently assisting with the broader system upgrade played no role in these earlier updates.
Ongoing Digital Challenges
The Minister’s responses highlight the ongoing tension between legacy processes and digital transformation within the country’s policing oversight structures. While the latest CMS updates represent progress, the reliance on manual entry, limited case-linking functionality, and dependence on physical documentation continue to hinder operational efficiency.
The long-term success of IPID’s digital overhaul will likely depend on how quickly and effectively the department can transition from fragmented manual systems to a fully integrated, automated platform.
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