LOOMING CRISIS FOR CRIME INVESTIGATIONS

Growing concern over shortage of detectives within SAPS

- TRACY-LYNN RUITERS, ANITA NKONKI and WENDY JASSON DA COSTA

SOUTH Africa's investigative ability is facing a serious crisis with 1.9 million case dockets and detectives sitting with 300 to 500 dockets each. On top of it is a growing concern about the experience of detectives with more and more younger police officers absorbed into the detective services.

Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, described the current backlog as untenable. Mchunu said the shortage of detectives is hampering the timely investigation of cases, which in turn affects the prosecution process.

"The shortage of detectives causes serious backlogs in respect of the investigation of cases and processing of cases for prosecution." "The minister has reported on previous occasions that there is a backlog of 1.9 million case dockets within the South African Police Service, which is untenable," the police ministry shared.

Only 15.1% of SAPS members are currently deployed in detective roles - far below the 20% target... a figure revealed in a November 2024 police briefing, which laid bare the extent of the shortage.

Of the 20 376 officers recruited over the past two years, just 3 142 were assigned to detective services.

Johan Burger, a police expert from the Institute for Security Studies, said there are not enough detectives to deal with the growing crime levels.