Police & Law Enforcement
The purpose of the South African Police Service (SAPS) is to create a safe and secure
environment for all people in South Africa. They are the responsibility of the Minister for
Safety and Security in terms of section 206 (1) of the Constitution (Act no. 108 of 1996).
The Minister is supported by the Secretariat for Safety and Security. The Independent
Complaints Directorate is mandated to investigate all alleged misconduct or offences by
SAPS members.
Also accountable to the Minister is the Private Security Industry regulatory Authority, a
statutory body legislated to regulate the Private Security Industry (PSIRA). In 2008/2009,
6392 active businesses were registered with PSIRA, an increase of 16% from the previous
year. These represented 375 315 registered employee security officers, an 11% increase
from 2007/2008. (PSIR 2008/2009 Annual report on www.psira.co.za)
Other legislated law enforcement agencies include the metropolitan police services
(“metro police”) and the provincial and local traffic departments. The metro police have
three core mandates, in terms of the South African Police Service Amendment Act, 1998
(No.83 of 1998). In terms of section 64E of this Act, the functions of a municipal police
service are:
(a) traffic policing, subject to any legislation relating to road traffic;
(b) the policing of municipal by-laws and regulations which are the responsibility of the
municipality in question; and
(c} the prevention of crime.
Since the Act was promulgated, five metropolitan municipalities established metropolitan
police services, namely Ethekwini (Durban), Cape Town, Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni (Greater
East Rand) and Tshwane (Pretoria). The Act affords municipal police officers the legal
powers of arrest, search and seizure within their area of jurisdiction (i.e. municipal
boundaries) or with permission of another municipality outside their jurisdication. They
cannot investigate cases and are required to had any case over to SAPS for investigation.
However, they can take fingerprints, administer breathalyzer tests and take blood samples.
The Institute of Criminology, University of Cape Town created the following organograms to
describe
a) Structure of Oversight Mechanisms for the Accountability of the South African Police
Service: POLpub_sa_organogramICUCT2005
b) Plural Policing in South Africa: OrganogramofPolicingnetworks[1]ICUCT2005
For more info see
http://www.policeaccountability.co.za/Organograms/organogram_south_africa.asp
The role of the SAPS
The constitutional mandate of SAPS and the Department of Safety and Security speaks
mostly towards security than safety. In Section 205 of the Constitution the mandate is to:
prevent, combat and investigate crime;
maintain public order;
protect and secure the inhabitants of the Republic and their property; and
to uphold and enforce the law.
The Vision of the SAPS
Create a safe and secure environment for all people in South Africa.
The Mission of the SAPS
prevent anything that may threaten the safety or security of any community;
investigate any crimes that threaten the safety and security of any community;
ensure criminals are brought to justice; and
participate in efforts to address the root cause of crime
Also See the Annual Performance Plan for the South African Police Service 2010/2011
SAPS fast facts and figures 2010
SAPS Personnel: 192,240 (March 2010) – up from 131500 in 2003. (SAPS Strategic
Plan 2010 to 2014)
Number of Police Stations: 1117 (March 2010) (SAPS Strategic Plan 2010 to 2014)
SAPS Budget (graph):
Year
2009/2010
2008/2009
2007/2008
2006/2007
2005/2006
2004/2005
2003/2004
Adjusted Appropriation
R'000
R 47 621 995
R 41 492 309
R 36 386 105
R 32 521 231
R 28 480 504
R 24 572 904
R 21 967 926
Police ratio’s:
(A) Total Number Police Officers (excluding civilians): 150459 September 2010 (Source: SAPS)
(B) Total Population: 47849800 (Mid-Year estimate for 2007 - Source: Statistics South Africa)
(C) Ratio of Police Officers
Nationally
1 : 318 (1 police official for every 318 citizens)
Eastern Cape
1 : 407 (1 police official for every 407 citizens)
Free State
1 : 321 (1 police official for every 321 citizens)
Gauteng
1 : 306 (1 police official for every 306 citizens)
Kwazulu/Natal
1 : 467 (1 police official for every 467 citizens)
Limpopo
1 : 510 (1 police official for every 510 citizens)
Mpumalanga
1 : 414 (1 police official for every 414 citizens)
Northern Cape
1 : 196 (1 police official for every 196 citizens)
North West
1 : 413 (1 police official for every 413 citizens)
Western Cape
1 : 275 (1 police official for every 275 citizens)
Source: SAPS
Note: United Nations Guideline: 1:400
Cautionary Note: The Statistics South Africa 2010 Mid Year estimates should yield more
accurate ratios
Publications
SAPS Key Performance Indicators and other Statistics (Excel Download from Annual Report 2008/09)
SAPS Annual Report 2009/10 (SAPS, Download PDF)
SAPS Annual Report 2008/09 (SAPS, Download PDF)
SAPS Strategic Plan 2010 to 2014 (SAPS, Download PDF)
State Response to Crime 2008 (Burger & Boshoff, PDF Download)
GP Aggravated Robbery Strategy (Newham, ISS Presentation, PPT Download)
GP Aggravated Robbery Strategy (Newham, SACQ 29, PDF Download)
BRING THEM INTO LINE Managing corruption in SAPS and metro police departments (Faull, SACQ 23)
ARE WE TAKING PHYSICAL EVIDENCE SERIOUSLY? The SAPS Criminal Record and Forensic Science Service
(Faull, SACQ 23)
Ch 2 The Emergency Response Services of the SAPS (Burger Criminal (In)Justice)
Ch 3 Investigation and Crime Scene Management (Omar, Criminal (In)Justice)
When measuring performance undermines police effectiveness (Faull, SACQ 31)
Inspecting the SAPS, National Inspectorate (Omar, ISS Paper 207)
From stings to wings. Integrity management and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (Faull, SACQ 29)
Need or greed? Corruption and integrity management in a Gauteng police station (Faull)
Courts & Justice
Official NPA Documents
Understanding how the courts work
NPA and DoJ Key Performance indicators and figures (Excel)
NPA Annual Report 2009/2010
General Info & NDPP Introduction
Overview of the Service Delivery Environment
Programme Performance
Sub-Programme 1 Public Prosecutions
Sub-Programme 2 (Witness Protection) and 4 (Asset Forfeiture)
Sub-Programme 5 Support Services
Research & Policy Information
NPA Annual Financial Statements
Notes To The Appropriation Statement
Disclosure Notes To The Annual Financial Statements
HR Oversight Report
Table 6.4 - Promotions
NPA Annual Report 2008/2009