Ramaphosa vows to clean up SAPS

by SAVIOUS KWINIKA 
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has pledged to strengthen the South African Police Service (SAPS), root out corruption and political interference, and restore public confidence in an institution he says remains central to the fight against crime.

Writing ahead of the annual South African Police Service National Commemoration Day, Ramaphosa said the country must pursue criminals “relentlessly” while being equally determined to eliminate criminality and corruption from the institutions responsible for protecting the public.

His comments come as the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry investigates allegations of criminal infiltration, corruption and political interference within the criminal justice system.

Ramaphosa said South Africans were entitled to know whether people entrusted with fighting crime were themselves working with criminals. He called for the commission, chaired by Judge Mbuyiseli Madlanga, to complete its work “thoroughly and without fear, favour or interference”.

Where wrongdoing is established, he said, there must be consequences and criminal cases must proceed through the law.

The President also sought to distinguish the alleged misconduct of some officers from the work of thousands of SAPS members serving across the country.

The service has more than 180,000 members, alongside more than 3,000 reservists, he said.

Police officers routinely respond to emergencies, investigate violent crimes, search for missing children and confront organised crime, often in dangerous conditions.

However, Ramaphosa acknowledged a serious challenge to public confidence.

Statistics South Africa’s 2025/26 Governance, Public Safety and Justice Survey found that some crime victims chose not to report offences because they believed police would not take action.

He said trust could not be demanded but had to be earned through effective policing, from answering emergency calls and arriving at crime scenes to properly investigating cases and treating victims with dignity.

“Trust is one of the most important weapons we have in the fight against crime,” Ramaphosa said.

The government is seeking to strengthen the SAPS through Project 11,000, with another 5,500 constables due to enter training academies.

But Ramaphosa stressed that expanding the service was not enough.

Recruitment and promotion, he said, must prioritise competence, merit and integrity.

Psychometric and integrity testing have been introduced during the initial recruitment phase, before prospective officers undergo further screening.

He also called for stronger crime intelligence, improved detective and forensic capabilities, greater use of technology and better-equipped police stations.

The President acknowledged the sacrifices made by police officers, noting that 12 SAPS members were killed in the line of duty during the 12 months to March, half the previous year’s total.

He said every death remained one too many, while urging communities to work with police through reporting crime, providing information and participating in community policing.

Ramaphosa said building a professional, capable and accountable police service was essential to creating a safer South Africa and restoring the public’s faith in those sworn to protect them.

– CAJ News