SAPS Shake-Up: Mchunu announces major police reforms, new trainee intake
The National Police boss, Senzo Mchunu, said crime levels in South Africa remain unacceptably high and outlined a series of reforms to strengthen law enforcement.
Speaking on Friday morning at the SAPS Academy in Pretoria, Mchunu reflected on his first year in office and the state of the South African Police Service (SAPS).
'It has been 11 months and 14 days since the new administration was ushered in and the new Ministry took office,' he said.
'Shortly after joining the Ministry, we received an elaborate orientation from SAPS top management, which helped us assess the current crime-fighting programs and the organogram.'
He said it soon became clear that some programs and structures, while helpful, had significant shortcomings.
'Where changes were necessary, we have implemented them - and will continue to do so,' Mchunu said.
Mchunu acknowledged that while crime statistics showed a slight decline, public sentiment suggested otherwise.
'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.
The summit produced several outcomes now being implemented.
'We identified critical enablers to support our fight against crime,' Mchunu said.
These include:
- Adoption of new technologies for better crime detection, response, and analysis
- Strengthening Crime Intelligence to shift toward proactive policing
- Upskilling detectives to improve complex investigations
- Upgrading forensic services to boost prosecution success
- Improving fleet management, infrastructure, and procurement systems
- Enhancing working conditions to boost morale and performance
Mchunu confirmed that consultations with SAPS management and organized labor have been completed through the Safety and Security Sectoral Bargaining Council (SSSBC).
Key structural changes include:
- Splitting the Visible Policing Division into Visible Policing Division, focused on frontline service and visibility
- Operational Response Services Division, focused on specialized units, border, and national security
- Splitting Detective and Forensic Services into two distinct divisions: Detective Services Division and Forensic Services Division
'These changes are not just about form - they're about function,' Mchunu said.
'They enable clearer mandates, better focus, and quicker responses to complex crime challenges.'
Mchunu reiterated SAPS's zero-tolerance stance on corruption.
He said, pointing to a recent case where three warrant officers from the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Taxi Violence Unit were found guilty of soliciting a bribe.
They are currently in custody, with sentencing scheduled for June 19.
'We have stated unequivocally that there is no tolerance for corruption within SAPS, and we repeat that today,' he said.
Mchunu also warned the taxi industry about violence and lawlessness.
'We want to warn police against entangling themselves in taxi affairs, as it compromises law enforcement,' he added.
Meanwhile, National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola announced new recruitment efforts and modernisation of the application process.
'We will soon advertise the recruitment of 5,500 police trainees, who will begin training between January and February 2026,' Masemola said.
'We've also increased the maximum entry age to 35, in line with the National Youth Policy.'
For the first time, SAPS will introduce an online electronic recruitment system to streamline applications.
'We currently have 5,500 trainees in SAPS academies nationwide. Some will graduate in August, and the rest in December. All will be deployed to bolster our crime-fighting efforts,' he said.
simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za
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