By Lizzy Suping
IPID Spokesperson
IPID’s Acting Executive Director, Dr. Hlengani Bila says he is pleased with the first quarter performance of his department, especially in the core business which is investigations.
However, there is room for improvement.
Addressing the Portfolio Committee of Police in parliament today, Dr Bila says in the first quarter of 2025/26, IPID secured 15 criminal convictions for offences which include amongst others rape by police officers, murder and assault and torture.
The sentences for these offences ranges from penalties or fines to a few months imprisonment for assault, 8 to 25 years for rape by police officers and Life sentences for murder.
IPID’s case intake for quarter one in the current financial year was at 1 171 as compared to 1 361 in the same period of 2024/25.
The case drivers were Assault and Torture, Death due to Police Action and the Discharge of an official firearm.
Most of the cases were in our 4 hotspot provinces namely Western Cape with 213, Gauteng 177, KwaZulu Natal 161 and Eastern Cape at 138.
The province with the least intake is North West with 73 cases.
IPID also experienced an increase in the number of cases of rape by police officers, 22 cases were registered in the first quarter of the last financial year while 27 were reported in the first quarter of 2025/26.
Gauteng continues to lead on rape cases, with 5 recorded in the first quarter.
2025/26’s first quarter also saw IPID refer 390 dockets to the National Prosecuting Authority for a decision to prosecute.
As at the end of the first quarter, 1 090 cases were on the court roll.
The Acting Executive Director also informed the portfolio committee that IPID remains committed to further reduce the backlog cases.
As at May 2025, IPID had a backlog of about 14 907.
Thirty-six (36) retired Detectives will be appointed within a 3 – year period through a phased in approach to investigate and finalise backlog cases where there is high pressure, our hotspot provinces.
To date, ten (10) retired detectives are in the employ of IPID, five (5) will be appointed in this financial year and the remaining appointments will be finalised in the outer year.