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IOL News
16-06-2025
- Health
- IOL News
SAPS Spent R131. 5 million on sick leave in 2023
Responding to parliamentary questions, Mchunu disclosed that 618 SAPS employees were on paid sick leave for a period exceeding six months during the financial year. Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has revealed that the South African Police Service (SAPS) spent an estimated R131.5 million on paid sick leave in the 2023/24 financial year. The staggering figure covers extended sick leave taken by more than 600 officers, highlighting deep-rooted concerns about the health and welfare of the country's law enforcement personnel. Responding to parliamentary questions, Mchunu disclosed that 618 SAPS employees were on paid sick leave for a period exceeding six months during the financial year. This amount of prolonged absence has placed renewed focus on the physical and psychological toll of policing in South Africa. Each SAPS member is allocated either 22 or 30 annual leave days per year, which are distributed monthly. When leave taken exceeds the accrued amount, it results in overdrawn leave balances, costing the department millions in salary payouts without the corresponding labour. The issue of excessive sick leave within SAPS is not new. As far back as 2012, Parliament flagged it during oversight visits, noting a recurring pattern and raising concerns about the well-being of officers. The matter has since evolved into a broader discussion on the strain policing places on both the body and mind." At the beginning of winter, we often see a spike in sick leave due to seasonal illnesses like colds and flu," SAPS noted in its response. However, they also acknowledged that the nature of police work — ranging from high-risk operations to regular exposure to traumatic events — often results in more serious medical conditions, including hospitalisation and mental health disorders. Mental health, in particular, remains a growing concern. Speaking at the National Policing Summit last month, Minister Mchunu announced that the SAPS would soon roll out new support measures for officers, including a 24/7 toll-free hotline for Employee Health and Wellness services, trauma debriefing, and peer support networks.'Our members are exposed to traumatising situations, and thus require support in respect of mental health,' Mchunu said. 'This is a medium-term measure we will be implementing.' Currently, SAPS employs only 621 wellness professionals to serve over 187,000 staff members nationwide—a ratio critics say is inadequate to address the urgent needs within the force. Between 2019 and 2022, the police service recorded a total of 102 suicides among its members, with an additional 38 homicide–suicide cases during the same period. The trend has shown little sign of abating, with three suicides and one attempted suicide already recorded since April 2025. In a related development, Parliament was told earlier this year that around 5,300 officers leave the SAPS annually, prompting a recruitment drive that includes hiring more detectives to fill the growing gaps. While the financial burden of extended sick leave is cause for concern, officials and analysts agree that it reflects deeper systemic issues — including inadequate mental health support, high job stress, and operational trauma — that must be addressed to ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of the SAPS. As the debate continues, all eyes are on whether the planned reforms will provide meaningful relief for police officers on the front lines.
The Citizen
15-06-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Saps spends more than R100 million on paid sick leave
Since April 2025, one Saps member has attempted suicide, while three have died by suicide. Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has revealed that the South African Police Service (Saps) spent R131.5 million on paid sick leave in the last financial year. The money was spent on the paid sick leave of more than 600 police officers during the 2023/24 financial year. According to the Saps, at the beginning of the calendar year, an official is allocated 22 or 30 annual leave days for the entire year, which are prorated on a monthly basis. In cases where officials take leave that exceeds the accumulated leave for a particular period, the leave will result in the pro-rated days of that particular period being exceeded. ALSO READ: About 5 300 police officers leave the Saps annually, parliament told 'The total number of Saps employees who were on paid sick leave for a period exceeding six months, during the 2023/24 financial year, is 618,' Mchunu was quoted as saying by Sunday Times. The Saps sick leave has been a concern as far back as 2012, when parliament's oversight visits to police stations identified the extensive use of sick leave by Saps members. Parliament said the sick leave raised questions about the health and welfare of the Saps members and pointed to a need for health and welfare programmes for service members. The Saps explained that they experience an increase in the amount of sick leave taken at the beginning of the winter season, when the members catch colds and flu. ALSO READ: Here's how much government paid capped, sick leave to employees in the public service The type of duties they perform could also result in Saps officials being hospitalised or suffering mental illness caused by the effects of duty in the field. Saps and mental health Addressing the National Policing Summit last month, Mchunu announced that the Saps would establish programmes to support its members. 'Our members are exposed to traumatising situations, and thus require support in respect of mental health. We will be establishing a toll-free number (hotline) for 24/7 access to Employee Health and Wellness services and programs (trauma debriefing and peer support networks). This is a medium-term measure we will be implementing,' said Mchunu. ALSO READ: Saps hires more detectives as it faces voluntary resignation The Portfolio Committee on Police has previously heard that the entire Saps structure has only 621 employed health and wellness employees, servicing about 187 278 personnel. Police management told the committee that 33 suicides occurred within the police force in the 2019/20 financial year, 30 in the 2020/21 financial year and 39 in the 2021/22 financial year. Furthermore, 38 homicide–suicide incidents occurred from 2019 to 2022. Since April 2025, one Saps member has attempted suicide, while three have died by suicide. READ NEXT: R67.4 billion in civil claims against Saps, here's where it's going wrong
IOL News
13-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Police union celebrates pivotal SAPS reforms aimed at boosting officer morale
Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) president, Thulani Ngwenya. Image: Timothy Bernard / Independent Newspapers Beyond SAPS detectives, three specialised groups, namely K9 handlers, mounted patrol officers, and armourers, will at last see their roles reflected in a formal rank structure, which could mark a turning point, said the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) on Friday. Popcru President Thulani Ngwenya described a joint meeting in Pretoria with the Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, and the SAPS leadership as a milestone in South Africa's criminal justice landscape. Ngwenya said the largest union in the criminal justice cluster, Popcru, was instrumental in securing a host of reforms aimed at improving working conditions, addressing rank stagnation, and boosting morale across the police service. He said this included the scrapping of the controversial expeditious dismissal process, new promotion pathways for officers and civilian staff, and the reopening of enlistment for experienced former members. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Mchunu discussed issues related to human resources in the police and strategies for improvement. He said that in April, the SAPS convened the National Policing Summit under the theme: Efficiency In Action: Optimising South Africa's Policing Potential. 'The summit brought together key stakeholders and role-players in policing and crime prevention. From it emerged a number of outcomes which are already being implemented. I want to assure the public that we will keep them informed on our progress every step of the way.' According to Ngwenya: 'This day marks the halfway point of a long-fought struggle to reclaim the dignity so often denied to public protectors who serve at the coalface, safeguarding our nation against a violent criminal element. For the first time, police management and labour shared a single platform to give the country a line-by-line account of changes coming to the SAPS.' Ngwenya added that an enduring pain point for police officials has been the controversial expeditious dismissal regulations that allowed for the abuse of disciplinary procedures to unfairly punish officers. The union has criticised the expeditious process for undermining the principles of natural justice, bypassing fair hearings, and fast-tracking the dismissal of members without due process. 'This flawed and biased system has now been discontinued, ensuring that officers will not be dismissed without a proper hearing and a reasoned decision,' he said. The SAPS is further finalising a promotion pathway for officers who have gone 20, 24, or 28 years without promotion. The union has repeatedly drawn attention to the fact that the lack of regular promotion opportunities drained morale and loyalty, as members felt their dedication was not recognised. Ngwenya welcomed the number of 30,393 officers who have been appointed in the past three years, but cautioned that far more police officers are needed. 'South Africa's criminal element is growing faster than the SAPS can manage. While appointing 11,000 units this and next year is a good start, we need more than double that to catch up," he said. Ngwenya said that Popcru has also successfully pushed the SAPS to review the scarce-skills benefits offered to members with specialised expertise – including hostage negotiators, divers, airborne units, coastal skippers, and vessel handlers. The union again highlighted a mass exodus of highly skilled officers to better-paying jobs as evidence that the SAPS must improve incentives. The National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, said that between 2018 and 2023, more than 57,000 police officers have progressed to higher ranks. These promotions include: Constable to Sergeant: 35,639 Sergeant to Warrant Officer: 6,107 Warrant Officer Band 1 to Warrant Officer B2: 15,405
IOL News
13-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
SAPS Shake-Up: Mchunu announces major police reforms, new trainee intake
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu addresses officials at SAPS Academy in Pretoria, unveiling major crime-fighting and structural reforms. 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. IOL News
IOL News
13-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
SAPS Shake-Up: Mchunu announces major police reforms, new trainee intake
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu addresses officials at SAPS Academy in Pretoria, unveiling major crime-fighting and structural reforms. 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. IOL News
