Learn more about what the SAPS ranks mean
NATIONAL – Learn a bit more about the South African Police Service.
The South African Police Service (Saps) is the national police force of the Republic of South Africa.
The country has more than a thousand police stations divided according to provincial borders. A provincial commissioner is appointed in each province and they report directly to the national commissioner. In Gauteng, Lieutenant-General Deliwe de Lange is the current provincial commissioner.
According to the Constitution, the South African Police Service has responsibilities such as preventing, combatting and investigating crime, maintaining public order, and protecting and securing the inhabitants of the country and their property, upholding and enforcing the law, and creating a safe and secure environment for all people in South Africa.
The current ranking system for the police was adopted in 2010 and new ranks such as general and colonel were added, replacing superintendent and deputy commissioner.
The rank structure is divided into senior management who are also commissioned officers, commissioned officers and non-commissioned officers.
Senior management is officers with ranks such as general, lieutenant general, major general and brigadier.
Commissioned officers are colonels, lieutenant colonel, major, captain and lieutenant. Non-commissioned officers are sergeants, warrant officers, constables and student constables.
Since the dawn of democracy in 1994, the country has had seven national commissioners.
- Johan van der Merwe served from 1994 to1995.
- George Fivaz served from 1995 to 2000.
- Jackie Selebi from 2000 to 2009 (Selebi was found guilty of corruption on 2 July 2010.)
- Bheki Cele from 2009 to 2012. (He was suspended in 2011 for corruption.)
- Mangwashi Victoria Phiyega from 2012 to 2015. (She was suspended in 2015 for corruption.)
- Khomotso KJ Phahlane was acting national commissioner from 2015 to 2017. (He was suspended in June.)
- Lesetja Mothiba is the current acting national commissioner starting from June this year.
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