SAPS To Recruit More Members To Fight Against Crime In South Africa

The South African Police Service (SAPS) said it plans to hire more officers over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) to strengthen their efforts against crime.

During his Budget Vote presentation in the National Assembly on Tuesday, newly appointed Police Minister Senzo Mchunu emphasized the department's commitment to increasing police numbers.

This includes boosting police presence, improving how they respond to communities, detection rate, crime intelligence capability and building public confidence in the police service.

"This strategic expansion is crucial for addressing the growing demands of the communities and ensuring that we can effectively combat crime across the country. During the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 budget periods, additional funding allowed us to enlist 10,000 employees, respectively," Mchunu said, SA News reported.

He added, "For the 2024/2025 financial year, this additional funding will enable us to appoint another 10,000 police trainees, covering personnel losses through natural attrition and facilitating workforce growth."

Mchunu highlighted the need to improve safety measures for police officers to enhance their well-being and effectiveness on duty. He noted the importance of training programs, better protective gear and clear operational guidelines to reduce risks faced by officers.

The minister also mentioned plans to provide more mental health support and conduct regular safety checks to create a safer working environment for police. Regarding the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), Mchunu mentioned efforts to ensure it has enough staff to fulfill its responsibilities.

The department continues to review its structure, extensively analyzing current functions and reorganizing units to optimize limited resources, as per the minister.

For the 2024/25 financial year, SAPS has been allocated a budget of R113.597 billion while the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service will receive R155.964 million and IPID R370.557 million.

Mchunu emphasized the importance of aligning department budgets with policing priorities including personnel deployment, skills development and operational needs.

To combat cybercrime, organized crime, commercial crime and corruption effectively, Mchunu stressed the need to enhance specialized crime detection capabilities. This involves providing advanced training and forming dedicated task forces within SAPS.

By strengthening these specialized units, SAPS aims to respond expertly to different types of crime, boosting detection rates and successful prosecutions. This approach not only disrupts criminal networks but also rebuilds public trust in law enforcement.

Earlier this week, Mchunu shared a strong plan to improve the country's police forces, with a promise to combat crime, rebuild public confidence and make the police more effective.