Action Society has formally written to the Acting Minister of Police, Firoz Cachalia, urging him to act decisively in response to South Africa’s violent crime crisis—particularly by delegating policing powers to capable local governments in terms of section 64F(2) of the SAPS Act.
This urgent appeal follows the ongoing crisis facing the SAPS amid ever-escalating crime statistics which confirmed that 26 232 people were murdered in South Africa in the 2023/2024 reporting year—an average of more than 70 per day. By contrast, approximately 10 000 civilians were killed in Ukraine during 2023, despite it being an active war zone.
“The fact that more people are murdered in South Africa than in countries at war is nothing short of a national disaster,” said Juanita du Preez, spokesperson for Action Society. “Minister Cachalia has been handed both the responsibility and the constitutional tools to intervene. It’s time to use them.”
Action Society’s letter outlines several concrete steps that the Acting Minister can take immediately:
- Lead an accountable and effective police service by enforcing operational standards and ending the culture of impunity within SAPS;
- Deploy specialised, intelligence-driven anti-crime units to known hotspots;
- Reform SAPS leadership by removing political interference and appointing skilled, apolitical professionals;
- Delegate core policing powers—such as arrest, domestic violence response, and investigation—to municipalities and provinces that have demonstrated capability.
Cities such as Cape Town and Stellenbosch are already equipped to shoulder more responsibility for local safety and have called for greater cooperation with national police structures. Under section 64F(2) of the SAPS Act, Minister Cachalia can, by regulation, grant them defined and time-bound powers to help fight crime—while retaining oversight and ensuring constitutional compliance.
“South Africans are not asking for miracles—they are asking for protection,” said Du Preez. “Every day that passes without action costs lives. We urge the Acting Minister to act now—not later—to begin restoring law, order, and dignity in our communities.”
SOUNDBITE:
