By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu announced structural changes to the South African Police Service (SAPS), including the creation of new divisions and a crackdown on corruption, in a bid to improve policing and restore public trust.
Mchunu, together with the Deputy Ministers of Police, Cassel Mathale and Polly Boshielo briefed the media on the significant changes to enhance service delivery within the SAPS.
The minister said the changes are aimed at realigning the police force with the priorities of the seventh administration, with a strong emphasis on visible policing and intelligence-led investigations.
Mchunu confirmed the restructuring of the Visible Policing division to enhance visibility and frontline service.
“We now introduce two separate divisions: Visible Policing and Operational Response Services,” he said.
The latter will be tasked with specialised operations, border security and national safety.
The Detective and Forensic Services division will also be split to improve efficiency.
“These structural changes are not just about form, they are about function,” Mchunu said. “They will allow for clearer mandates, improved focus and more agile responses to complex crime challenges.”
He stated that the recent crime statistics indicate a decrease in the number of crimes, but the sentiments expressed by citizens, which he agreed with, are that the crime levels in the country are far too high.
“Murder, the proliferation of illegal firearms, and drug trafficking are among the critical crimes we’ve prioritised,” he said.
“These crimes continue to rob families of their loved ones, destabilise communities, and undermine our nation’s development.”
He pointed to the April 2025 National Policing Summit, themed Efficiency in Action: Optimising South Africa’s Policing Potential, as a turning point for SAPS strategy.
Mchunu is advocating for the adoption and improvement of technology to:
- enhance the police service’s ability to detect, respond to and analyse crime;
- strengthen crime intelligence “so we can move from reactive to proactive policing”;
- expand forensic services; and
- ensure additional resources for detectives.
“This will allow for clearer mandates, improved focus and more agile responses to the complex crime challenges SA faces,” he said.
Technological innovation is central to this shift, with the piloting of fully automated police stations in several provinces and improved integration of policing technology, done in partnership with Business Against Crime South Africa.
Mchunu reiterated SAPS’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption.
Mchunu revealed that 392 police officers were dismissed in the last financial year for corruption, warning that unethical behaviour would not be tolerated.
“We have stated unequivocally that there is no tolerance for corruption within SAPS, and we repeat that today,” he said.
National police commissioner General Fannie Masemola announced a major recruitment drive, with 5 500 new police trainees to be enlisted by the end of June.
“Training will commence early in 2026 and for the first time in our history, we’re introducing an online electronic recruitment system, “he said.
Masemola warned against scammers demanding bribes during recruitment. “Applying is free and no one should pay to secure a spot in the SAPS.”
Two fraudsters were recently arrested for trying just that.
He added that 5 500 recruits are in training and will be deployed in phases later this year. “They’ll bolster our crime-fighting efforts at police stations and specialised units.”