1 087 NEW VEHICLES TO STRENGTHEN SAPS FRONTLINE SERVICE DELIVERY AND CRIME-FIGHTING CAPACITY

The National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), General Fannie Masemola, today handed over 1 087 vehicles to strengthen policing capacity at grassroots level and enhance the Service’s ability to respond to crime and the needs of communities.

General Masemola was accompanied by the Acting National Commissioner for Support Services, Lieutenant General (Dr) Bongiwe Zulu, and the Acting Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection, Lieutenant General Hilda Senthumule.

Of the 1 087 vehicles, 739 have been allocated to Detective Services, while 290 have been allocated to the Visible Policing and Operations environment.

A further 58 vehicles will be retained at Head Office as a reserve fleet for special interventions.

The vehicles will be deployed to 70 of the 140 identified high-crime police stations, as well as to Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Units, 10111 emergency call centres and Flying Squads.

A total of 200 vehicles have been allocated to FCS Units to strengthen the SAPS’s capacity to provide timely, professional and compassionate services to victims of sexual offences, gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).

These vehicles will support the work of members who investigate these sensitive cases and assist victims in accessing the services they need.

The provincial distribution of the vehicles is as follows:

– Eastern Cape – 163
– Gauteng – 151
– Mpumalanga – 147
– KwaZulu-Natal – 135
– Western Cape – 113
– Free State – 103
– North West – 84
– Limpopo – 79
– Northern Cape – 54

Speaking at the handover ceremony, General Masemola emphasised that the additional vehicles represent an investment in SAPS members, the communities they serve and the future of policing in South Africa.

He stressed that this investment must be matched by accountability, responsible resource management and an unwavering commitment to improving policing outcomes.

“As we hand over these vehicles, we must recognise that public resources come with a responsibility of stewardship. These vehicles belong to the people of South Africa.

They are not instruments of personal convenience or symbols of privilege.

They are operational assets entrusted to the SAPS to protect lives, uphold the law and serve our communities,” said General Masemola.

The new fleet, comprising sedans and double-cab bakkies, forms part of the SAPS’s ongoing efforts to enhance frontline service delivery, improve operational efficiency, increase police visibility and strengthen crime-fighting capacity.

The additional vehicles are expected to support police members in responding to complaints, conducting investigations, attending to victims and intensifying crime-prevention and law-enforcement operations.

The SAPS remains committed to ensuring that resources are deployed effectively to improve service delivery, strengthen public confidence and create safer communities.