The police have earned the dubious distinction of being the arm of government with the highest number of employees illegally doing business with the state.
Parliament's standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) heard the details in a report by the auditor-general.
The AG's report named the most remiss state departments in which officials, or their close family members, traded with their department.
The report said the departments of police, justice and constitutional development, correctional services, trade and industry, public works, and public enterprises were the worst transgressors.
The committee has called on the departments to explain.
"If you look at the figures, you can see that the people who must be arrested are the police," said Themba Godi, chairman of Scopa.
"If you look at this department [police], as well as the Department of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, you see that the very departments that should ensure that laws are enforced are the ones that have gone rogue."
Eugene Zungu, national team leader in the office of the AG, said that the situation had improved since 2008, when 12 departments were named.
Zungu said that in the 2015-2016 financial year the police had 96 suppliers in which employees were directors or shareholders.
Such transactions were valued at well over R8-million.
The police also topped the list in relation to tenders awarded to service providers who were close family members of employees.
This was picked up in transactions valued at R6.7-million.
Public servants are prohibited by law from trading with the state.
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