The South African Police Service (SAPS) is the national police force of the Republic of South Africa. Its 1,165 police stations in South Africa are divided according to the provincial borders, and a Provincial Commissioner is appointed in each province. The nine Provincial Commissioners report directly to the National Commissioner. The head office is in the Wachthuis Building in Pretoria."Contact Us ." South African Police Service. Retrieved on 21 November 2017. "SAPS Head Office Wachthuis Building 231 Pretorius Street Pretoria[...] GPS Coordinates: S25.74790 E28.18901"
The Constitution of South Africa lays down that the South African Police Service has a responsibility to prevent, combat and investigate crime, maintain public order, protect and secure the inhabitants of the Republic and their property, uphold and enforce the law, create a safe and secure environment for all people in South Africa, prevent anything that may threaten the safety or security of any community, investigate any crimes that threaten the safety or security of any community, ensure criminals are brought to justice and participate in efforts to address the causes of crime.
In 2013, Amnesty International expressed concern over South African police brutality, including torture and extrajudicial killings.No end in sight for police brutality in South Africa, Justice Malala, The Guardian, 21 February 2013Footsoliders in a social war: the police, crime and inequality in South Africa CHRISTOPHER MCMICHAEL, Open Democracy, 25 October 2013Amnesty International South Africa Report, 2012
History Colonial years The South African Police Service traces its origin to the Dutch Watch, a paramilitary organisation formed by settlers in the Cape Province in 1655 to protect civilians and to maintain law and order. In 1795, British officials assumed control over the Dutch Watch, and in 1825 established the Cape Constabulary (which became the Cape Town Police Force in 1840).
In 1854, a police force was established in Durban which would become the Durban Borough Police, and in 1935 the Durban City Police (DCP). Act 3 of 1855 established the Frontier Armed and Mounted Police Force in the Eastern Cape, restyled as the Cape Mounted Riflemen in 1878.
1913-1994
The South African Police (SAP) was created after the establishment of the Union of South Africa in 1910. Four years later, the Mounted Riflemen's Association relinquished its civilian responsibilities to the SAP as most of its riflemen left to serve in the First World War. The SAP and the military maintained a close relationship even after the SAP assumed permanent responsibility for domestic law and order in 1926. Police officials often called on the army for support in case of emergencies. During the Second World War, one SAP brigade served with the 2nd Infantry Division of the South African Army in North Africa.
When the National Party (NP) edged out its more liberal opponents in nationwide elections in 1948, the new government enacted legislation that strengthened the relationship between the police and the military. Police subsequently became heavily armed, especially when facing unruly or hostile crowds.
The Police Act (No. 7) of 1958 broadened the mission of the SAP beyond conventional police functions, and allowed police to quell civil unrest and conduct counterinsurgency operations. The Police Amendment Act (No. 70) of 1965 allowed police to detain any person, receptacle, vehicle, aircraft, or premises within one mile of any national border, and to seize anything found without a warrant. This search-and-seize zone was extended to within eight miles of any border in 1979 and to the entire country in 1983.
Post-apartheid (1994–present) The new Minister of Safety and Security, Sydney Mufamadi, obtained police training assistance from Zimbabwe, the United Kingdom, and Canada and proclaimed that racial tolerance and human rights would be central to police training in the future. By the end of 1995, the SAPS had incorporated the ten police agencies of the former homelands, and had reorganised at both national and provincial level.
The Investigative Psychology Unit (IPU), also referred to as Investigative Psychology Section (IPS), was founded by forensic psychologist Micki Pistorius in 1996. Elmarie Myburgh was a founding member. It was then a division of the Serious and Violent Crimes Unit, later being moved to the Detective Service, and from June 2008 to the Criminal Record and Forensic Science Service (CRFSS). At that time, it comprised only three members at national head office level, led by Gerard Labuschagne.
Organisation
South African Police Service headquarters in located in Pretoria.
Divisions , there were three Deputy National Commissioners, with each of these split into divisions as follows: Policing: Visible Policing and Operations Protection and Security Services Crime Detection: Detective and Forensic Services Crime Intelligence Support Services Human Resource Management Human Resource Development Legal and Policy Services Technology Management Services
Rank structure A new ranking system of the South African Police Service was adopted in April 2010. The change caused some controversy as new ranks like "general" and "colonel" have a military connotation. Furthermore, the new rank system mirrors the system used by the South African Police during the apartheid era. In 2009, Deputy Minister of Police Fikile Mbalula spoke of making the police a paramilitary force by changing the SAPS ranking system so that it would closely mirror the military ranking system. This created a significant amount of controversy from people critical of what they called the "militarisation" of the police.The professor and the police minister. Paul Trewhela, 25 October 2009Asmal: Militarisation of police is "craziness" Mail & Guardian, 19 October 2009Green Zone Nation: The South African government’s new growth path, Open Democracy, 19 March 2012
The ranking system was amended in 2016. The role of regional police commissioner was introduced, with the rank of lieutenant general. The major and lieutenant ranks were eliminated, with lieutenants assuming the rank of captain and majors assuming the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Current senior staff
the National Commissioner is Lt. Gen. Sehlahle Fannie Masemola, who was appointed on 31 March 2022. Leon Mbangwa is Chief of Staff.
SAPS organisational profile +SAPS organisational profileRankNumber of officers/employeesMarch 2023March 2025Ministerial personnel3034National Commissioner (General)11Deputy National Commissioner (Lt. Gen.)45Div. Commissioners/National Head/Deputy Nat. Head (Lt. Gen.)1213Provincial Commissioners (Lt. Gen.)97Major General156134Brigadier623641Colonel2,4172,504Lieutenant Colonel5,9755,799Captain12,15510,790Non-commissioned officers123,896135,337Public Service Act employees34,22632,413Total employees179,502187,681
+Police ranks of South Africa: Commissioned OfficersGroup Senior Management RankGeneral (Gen)Lieutenant General (Lt Gen)Major General (Maj Gen)BrigadierRoleDesignation ofNational CommissionerActg. National Commissioner,Deputy National Commissioner,Regional Commissioner,Provincial Commissioner,Divisional CommissionerInsignia +Police ranks of South Africa: Commissioned OfficersGroup Junior ManagementRankColonel (Col)Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col)CaptainInsignia
+Police ranks of South Africa : Non-commissioned OfficersGroup Other RanksRankWarrant Officer (WO)Sergeant (Sgt)Constable (Const)Insignia
Resources Vehicles Through the early-1990s, the police were equipped with smoke and tear-gas dispensing vehicles, tank trucks with water cannons, vehicles that dispensed barbed wire or razor wire to cordon off areas, and a number of rotor and fixed wing aircraft for surveillance, ground force management, rapid deployment of Task Force and specialist teams to crime scenes and VIP personnel movements.
The RG-12 'Nyala' is one of the most commonly used armored vehicles of the service. The Casspir Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle is another notable vehicle used by SAPS.
Aviation , the SAPS Air Wing operates a fleet of 38 aeroplanes and helicopters. The Air Wing has about 50 pilots and 300 other personnel.
Fleet The SAPS Air Wing fleet consists of:
Airplanes 8 x Pilatus PC-6/B2-H4 1 x Beech King Air C90A 1 x Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign 1 x Pilatus PC-12/47
Helicopters 16 x Eurocopter AS350 B3 6 x Robinson R44 2 x McDonnell-Douglas 369E 1 x MBB Bk 117B1 2 × Airbus H125
Firearms
South African Police Service officers generally carry a Vektor Z88 9mm pistol and pepper spray. Each patrol car is usually also equipped a R5 rifle. To quell disturbances a variety of firearms are used, including BXP sub-machine gun, Musler 12 gauge shotgun (capable of firing anti-riot rubber bullets contained in standard 12 bore shotgun cartridges), as well as tear gas and pencil flares.
The R1 rifle has been withdrawn from all front-line police armories since the mid-1990s, but is still used by elements of the Special Task Force.
Criticism and controversies
Administration Since the departure of democratic South Africa's first National commissioner George Fivaz in January 2000, a number of successive commissioners have been unable to complete a single term in office, most implicated in and charged with misconduct.
The distribution of personnel has been controversial, with local legislators questioning why areas most in need of policing resources are being neglected.
The department was criticised by the Western Cape Government for providing the lowest number personnel (adjusted for population) with a shortage of 2,392 officers, despite having the highest murder rate. This was the subject of the Khayelitsha Commission in 2012.
Brutality and repression
Amnesty International has expressed concerns about police brutality, including torture and extrajudicial killings, in South Africa.Amnesty red flag police brutality, Craig Dodds, 13 May 2011Amnesty International South Africa Report 2011See for instance this statement by Abahlali baseMjondolo There has also been concern about brutal training methods for the police. According to Peter Jordi from the Wits Law Clinic "[Police] Torture is spiralling out of control. It is happening everywhere."'Predator police' in reign of terror GRAEME HOSKEN, The Times, 30 April 2012 Brandon Edmonds argues that "The cops prey on the poor in this country."The New Toyi Toyi, Brandon Edmonds, Mahala, 12 May 2012 Independent studies have confirmed that the SAPS has been used to repress peaceful marches.
In April 2009, SAPS attempted to ban unFreedom Day and was implicated in support for September 2009 ANC mob that attacked the elected leadership of the shack settlement at Kennedy Road, Durban. Police officers have also been accused of excessive policing in Blikkiesdorp in Delft, Cape Town, by suppression of freedom and ordering illegal curfews.
In 2011, 630 police officers from Gauteng Province were arrested for fraud and corruption, rape and murder.Global Post, South Africa troubled by corrupt cops, 10 May 2012 An April 2012 editorial in The Times opined: "It seems torture and outright violation of human rights is becoming the order of the day for some of our police officers and experts warn that the line between criminals and our law enforcement officers is "blurred"."If the police are no better than thugs, who will save us?, Editorial, The Times, 30 April 2012
In February 2013, police in Daveyton, Gauteng were caught on video brutalising Mido Macia, a Mozambican taxi driver accused of parking illegally. Macia was handcuffed to a police van and dragged through the streets, later succumbing to his injuries. Eight police officers were arrested and later convicted of murder.
Three police officers were arrested for the controversial shooting of Nathaniel Julies, a 16 year-old boy with down syndrome, in Eldorado Park.
Marikana massacre