South African Police Service

South African Police Service
Abbreviation	SAPS
Logo of the South African Police Service
SAPS flag - 1994 to present
Agency overview
Formed	1995
Preceding agencies	South African Police Homeland police agencies
Employees	193,692 (2014/15)
Legal personality	Governmental: Government agency
Jurisdictional structure
National agency	South Africa
Size	1,219,090 km2
Population	53,491,133 (2015 est)
Constituting instruments	Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1996, Chapter 11, Section 205 South African Police Service Act 68 of 1995
General nature	Law enforcement Local civilian police
Operational structure
Officers	150,950 (2014/15)
Civilians	42,792 (2014/15)
Minister of Police responsible	Mr. Fikile Mbalula
Agency executive	Lt. Gen. Khomotso Phahlane, National Police Commissioner (Acting)
Divisions	6 Visible Policing Cluster Coordination Detective Service Crime Intelligence Criminal Record and Forensic Science Services Protection and Security Services
Provincials	9 Eastern Cape Free State Gauteng Kwazulu-Natal Mpumalanga Northern Cape Limpopo North West Western Cape
Facilities
Stations	1,138 (2014/15)
Website
www.saps.gov.za
Footnotes
See the reference below for the source of the above data.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) is the national police force of the Republic of South Africa. Its 1,138 police stations in South Africa are divided according to the provincial borders, and a Provincial Commissioner is appointed in each province. The 9 Provincial Commissioners report directly to the National Commissioner.

The Constitution of South Africa lays down that the South African Police Service has a responsibility to prevent, combat and investigate crime, maintain public order, protect and secure the inhabitants of the Republic and their property, uphold and enforce the law, create a safe and secure environment for all people in South Africa, prevent anything that may threaten the safety or security of any community, investigate any crimes that threaten the safety or security of any community, ensure criminals are brought to justice and participate in efforts to address the causes of crime. However serious concerns have been expressed about police brutality in South Africa.Amnesty International has expressed serious concerns about brutality, including torture and extrajudicial killings, at the hands of the police in South Africa. Former Constitutional Court judge Zak Yacoob has argued that the post-apartheid police force is no better than the apartheid police force. Sipho Hlongwane, writing in Business Day, has argued that "South Africa is a brutal police state."

Between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2010, 107 SAPS officers died while on duty.

The South African Police Service traces its origin to the Dutch Watch, a paramilitary organisation formed by settlers in the Cape in 1655, initially to protect civilians against attack and later to maintain law and order. In 1795 British officials assumed control over the Dutch Watch and in 1825 they organised the Cape Constabulary, which became the Cape Town Police Force in 1840. In 1854 a police force was established in Durban which would become the Durban Borough Police and in 1935 the Durban City Police (DCP). Act 3 of 1855 established the Frontier Armed and Mounted Police Force in the Eastern Cape, restyled as the Cape Mounted Riflemen in 1878.