What you might not have known about police ranks
The country has more than a thousand police stations divided according to provincial borders.
The SAPS is the national police force of the Republic of South Africa.
The country has more than a thousand police stations in different provinces.
A commissioner is appointed for each province and they report to the national commissioner.
The current ranking of the police was adopted in 2010.
The rank structure is divided into senior management who are also commissioned officers and non-commissioned officers.
Senior management are officers with ranks of general, lieutenant-general, major-general and brigadier.
Commissioned officers are colonels, lieutenant-colonel, major, captain and lieutenant.
Non-commissioned officers are warrant officers, sergeants, constables and student constables.
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Senior management: Commissioned officers
This is the highest group of police rank in the police hierarchy of the Republic of South Africa.
This category is further divided into four subcategories which are explained below:
General – This is the highest rank in the police hierarchy. This is a commissioned officer rank in the senior management category.
Lieutenant-General – subordinate to general and in command in absence of the general, next rank in the hierarchy. This is the second highest police rank.
Major-General – Senior to brigadier, the next rank in the police hierarchy.
Brigadier – This is the lowest senior management commissioned officer rank in the police hierarchy.
Subcategory of commissioned officers
The mid-level officer rank in the hierarchy is commissioned officer.
Colonel – Highest level in the category of commissioned officers. Came after the April 2010 changes in the police hierarchy of the republic of South Africa.
Lieutenant-Colonel – Takes the command in the absence of colonel, this is a mid-level commissioned officer rank.
Captain – A rank higher than lieutenant is captain and is among commissioned officers in the police hierarchy of the republic.
Police ranks. Photo: SAPS website
Non–commissioned Officers
This is the lowest category in the police hierarchy and comprises:
Warrant Officer – This is a category of officers hired by a warrant of government.
Sergeant – The mid-level non – commissioned officer rank and handles the team of constables for law and order in the town.
Constable – The lowest level rank in the police hierarchy of the Republic of South Africa.
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