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The latest Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) Annual Report (2023/24) reinforces the urgent need for the Private Member’s Free State Community Policing Bill, which the DA submitted to the Legislature last year to improve SAPS accountability and strengthen community relations.

The report reveals that the Free State accounted for the third highest, a staggering 633 cases of police misconduct reported to IPID.  The increase in deaths in police custody in the Free State from 11 to 19 between the 2022/23 and 2023/24 financial years is cause for alarm. Rape by police officers on duty increased from 4 to 5 and assault from 425 to 456 in the same time frame.  While torture by police officials decreased from 36 to 32, it remains unacceptably high.

Despite 338 cases being referred to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), only seven resulted in prosecutions, with 133 cases declined and 197 still awaiting decisions. Additionally, of the 305 cases recommended for disciplinary action, only 32 officers were convicted.

The DA commends the many SAPS officials who do sterling work in our communities but remain concerned by the few bad apples who continue to tarnish the service. The high numbers of reported transgressions and the backlog in disciplinary hearings is bad for morale and is cause for concern. The SAPS in the Free State need to improve training and accountability. We need an ethical, professional and accountable SAPS to serve our people in the province.

Issued by Roy Jankielsohn - DA Community Safety Spokesperson in the Free State Legislature