Staff vacancies, resource shortages and organised crime remain among the major challenges facing the South African Police Service (SAPS), as the organisation seeks to restore discipline and improve its operational performance.
The challenges were highlighted during a parliamentary briefing on the SAPS 2025/2026 annual report, where officials outlined priorities under the service’s police reset agenda.
The agenda places renewed emphasis on professionalism, ethical conduct, discipline and operational excellence, amid continued scrutiny of police leadership and accountability.
Major General Leon Rabie said the Madlanga Commission and the parliamentary inquiry into allegations made by Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi had added pressure to the service’s management and operational capacity.
The police service is also grappling with ageing infrastructure and financial constraints, which affect its ability to respond effectively to crime.
National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola said SAPS performance was assessed against established targets, factors influencing the organisation’s control over outcomes and the design of its performance measures.
Despite the operational challenges, the report highlighted a 9.4% decline in murders, providing a key measure of progress in the fight against violent crime.
SAPS has identified strengthening internal discipline and improving professional standards as central to rebuilding the organisation and enhancing its ability to serve communities.
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