New reports highlight the alarming trend of criminal activity among law enforcement personnel.
Image: Leon Lestrade/Independent Media
Firoz Cachalia, the Acting Police Minister, has taken a strong stand against South African Police Service (SAPS) police officers who have been accused of criminal activity. He has declared that those found guilty of misconduct, especially bribery and sexual offences, will face severe consequences, including suspensions and dismissals.
His comments come in the wake of alarming statistics regarding misconduct within the police force, highlighting an urgent need for accountability and reform.
Cachalia emphasised the importance of thoroughly investigating allegations of police misconduct. "There are disciplinary allegations of misconduct, and in the latter, I think there is a case for suspension, punitive suspensions, and certainly if a case is proven, members guilty of criminal conduct have to be fired," he said.
This declaration signals a zero-tolerance approach towards any breach of conduct within the ranks of the police service.
Emerging reports draw attention to the troubling pattern of criminal activity among officers. The Star reported earlier this year that over 300 cases of rape allegations against police officers were filed in the past three years, with a number occurring while officers were on duty or while victims were in police custody.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has detailed the rise in such allegations recently, citing 122 cases in 2022-2023, followed by 110 in 2023-2024, and as many as 97 cases reported thus far in 2024-2025. Gauteng province has been identified as the leading region for such allegations, with 27 reported cases, followed by the Eastern Cape with 16 and the Western Cape with 15.
Lizzy Suping, national spokesperson for the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) provided The Star with an in-depth breakdown of sexual assault cases involving police officers during the 2024-25 financial year.
“The intake for rape cases stood at 95, with 51 offences reportedly committed while officers were on duty and 44 while off duty,” she said. Notably, of the 313 disciplinary convictions recorded, 21 were specifically for rape. The figures reveal a concerning trend — with 19 officers dismissed, one receiving a salary suspension, and another issued a final written warning.
Moreover, Suping indicated that 92 cases had been concluded and referred to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for further action.
“Currently, 106 rape cases remain on the court roll, and of 76 criminal convictions in 2024/25, 11 were for rape, with sentences ranging from eight years to life imprisonment,” she said.
As of early 2026, the SAPS is facing severe and widespread bribery and extortion allegations, with multiple incidents reported across Gauteng, particularly involving the extortion of undocumented foreign nationals.
In a disturbing bribery incident in February, SAPS officers, specifically Railway Police at Johannesburg Park Station, were accused of operating a "cash-for-freedom" racket. They allegedly demand bribes of R500 to R5,000 from foreign nationals to avoid arrest or deportation.
In a video shared on X, officers interact with individuals identified as undocumented foreign nationals, with instances of money changing hands. There was another one shared on TikTok
See video link below:
https://www.tiktok.com/@newsnexussa/video/7608832707749121300