By Phenyo Selinda
Cape Town, 16 July 2024 – In a significant move to combat crime in South Africa, the South African Police Service (SAPS) has announced plans to recruit additional members over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) period. This initiative was revealed by the newly appointed Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu, during the department’s Budget Vote in the National Assembly on Tuesday.
Expansion to Meet Community Demands
Minister Mchunu emphasized the importance of expanding the police workforce to address the growing demands of communities and enhance police visibility. He highlighted that during the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 budget periods, the department successfully enlisted 10,000 new employees each year. For the 2024/2025 financial year, the SAPS plans to recruit another 10,000 police trainees. This recruitment will cover personnel losses due to natural attrition and facilitate workforce growth.
Enhanced Safety and Training
Minister Mchunu underlined the importance of enhancing safety protocols to protect police officers in the line of duty. “This strategic expansion is crucial for addressing the growing demands of the communities and ensuring that we can effectively combat crime across the country,” he said. Comprehensive training programs, advanced protective equipment, and clear operational guidelines are part of the strategy to reduce risks faced by officers. Additionally, there will be a focus on mental health support and regular safety assessments to ensure a safer working environment for the police force.
Strengthening IPID and Budget Allocations
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) is also set to receive attention, with efforts underway to ensure it is adequately staffed to fulfil its mandate. Mchunu stated that the department continues to analyze its organisational structure to optimize the utilization of limited resources. The SAPS Budget for the 2024/25 financial year is R113.597 billion, while the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service has been allocated R155.964 million, and IPID will receive R370.557 million.
Specialised Crime Detection Capabilities
Minister Mchunu stressed the need to strengthen specialised crime detection capabilities to effectively address cybercrime, organised crime, commercial crime, and corruption. Enhanced training, advanced investigative tools, and dedicated task forces will empower SAPS to tackle these complex criminal activities more efficiently. “By capacitating specialised units, the SAPS can ensure targeted, expert responses to specific crime types, leading to higher detection rates and successful prosecutions,” he added.
Protecting Economic Activity
To safeguard South Africa’s economy from criminal activities, the economic infrastructure task teams will focus on combating crimes such as illegal mining, infrastructure-related crimes, and extortion, particularly in the construction sector. These efforts will be supported by organised crime investigation capabilities and will involve collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
Combating Organised Crime
Minister Mchunu reiterated the importance of tackling organised crime, money laundering, and terror financing. He noted that these efforts will continue in line with recommendations from the Financial Action Task Force. The initiatives will be implemented through the Detective Services Programme and the Crime Intelligence Programme, with respective budgets of R71.3 billion and R15.1 billion over the medium term.
Targeting Drug-Related Crimes
To restore safety and order in communities affected by drug-related crimes, SAPS will focus on identifying and removing gangs and criminal groups involved in these activities. Enhanced intelligence gathering, dedicated task forces, and collaborative operations with other law enforcement agencies will play a crucial role in this effort.
By prioritising these comprehensive measures, the SAPS aims to significantly reduce crime rates, disrupt criminal networks, and restore public confidence in law enforcement across South Africa.


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