The police union wants an investigation into how R24-million was spent on "wasteful" police day festivities, and called for the event to be cancelled.

South Africans and police critics should give the country’s officers "a break for one day", Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said on Friday.

Helen Zille has accused Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa of breaching his duty by taking cops off the street to attend a morale-boosting event.