By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The 2025 National Policing Summit kicked off at the Emperors Palace Convention Centre in Boksburg, East of Johannesburg on Tuesday.
The inaugural Police Summit takes place under the theme “Efficiency in Action: Optimising South Africa’s Policing Potential”, aligning with Chapter 12 of the National Development Plan (NDP) on Building Safer Communities.
The Summit will address the high levels of crime in South Africa by reflecting on current policing approaches and developing more effective methods for the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu revealed that the Saps was reconfiguring its organisational structure to fight crime more effectively.
Mchunu said the implementation of a “reconfigured organisational structure”, in form and functionality, was part of efforts to transform the police service to be more proactive.
Eight months into his leadership as head of the Police Ministry, Mchunu said this time was used to understand the work done by previous administrations, as well as the challenges in the policing system.
“Among the first things to master, is exactly how to police the country effectively and efficiently amid shortages in terms of police numbers to the population, budgetary constraints, and where there is a high rate of crime and corruption, especially in the four biggest provinces, namely: Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Eastern and Western Cape.
The overall test we must pass is for the citizens to say we feel safe at any time and almost everywhere in our space, especially where we live – urban and rural areas, “he said.
The Summit will focus on proactive policing, partnerships, infratructure, crime intelligence and increasing the usage of technology.
President Cyril Ramaphosa in his opening address, said police need to be guided by the Batho Pele principles of high service standards, consultation, equal access to services, and treating citizens with respect, dignity, and empathy.
Ramaphosa said addressing crime without understanding its root causes is like a doctor treating a patient for a fever without diagnosing the underlying illness.
“Crime is both a cause and a symptom. It is a cause of insecurity and instability in communities. It weakens the social fabric.
“Crime has a direct impact on the economy. It discourages investment, disrupts business activity, and leads to increased security costs for companies.
Ramaphosa said that the fundamentals of policing needed to be strengthened, and a culture of honesty and integrity needed to be instilled in the police.
“It is our expectation that this summit will devote the necessary attention to promoting ethical behaviour, accountability and measures to rebuild confidence in law enforcement. Respect for the rule of law and of the authority of the State is a cardinal priority for this summit. Instilling a culture of ethics forms part of wider efforts to professionalise the Saps,” Ramaphosa said.
He noted that police resources were stretched thin and called for support for Saps members. He further noted that police numbers were dropping as the country’s population grew and suggested programmes that attract the “right calibre” of Saps candidates, as well as training, education and career development.
The President further stressed the need for collaboration between law-enforcement agencies for better coordination and data sharing.
He said he was encouraged that the Summit planned to address ways to integrate digital platforms into policing to improve public interaction. He said it was important to empower citizens.
“We know that communities are the most potent resource for fighting crime. Crimes happen in communities and criminals are often known to communities. From this summit we need a clear plan on how to better involve communities in crime prevention and detection, and on harnessing the potential of community policing forums (CPFs) in line with relevant legislation and regulations. Citizens must be empowered to actively participate in crime prevention efforts through collaboration, awareness and community-driven initiatives to create safer neighbourhoods. This can no longer be seen as an add-on. It is critical to an effective policing strategy,” Ramaphosa said.
Other partnerships must involve the private sector, he added, and must include support for CPFs, private donations for victims support centres and equipment and services.
“As government we remain committed to turning the tide against crime and to making our communities safer. It is our hope that the recommendations emerging from this summit translate into deeper collaboration, more effective methods and a promising future for policing in South Africa,” Ramaphosa said.
He expressed hope that the summit would focus on promoting ethical conduct, restoring public trust in law enforcement, and upholding the rule of law.
Key initiatives include protecting whistleblowers, implementing the National Anti-Corruption Strategy, and improving recruitment and training to attract the right calibre of candidates to the SAPS.