SAPS Code of Conduct for Enforcement Officers during the State of Disaster
19 May 2020
19 May 2020
We, as Police Officials of the South African Police Service commit ourselves to the creation of a safe and secure environment for all people in South Africa by –
participating in endeavours to address the root causes of crime in the community;
preventing action which may threaten the safety or security of any community; and
investigating criminal conduct which has endangered the safety or security of the community and bringing the perpetrators thereof to justice.
In realization of the aforesaid commitment, we shall at all times –
uphold the Constitution and the law;
be guided by the needs of the community;
give full recognition to the needs of the South African Police Service as my employer; and
cooperate with the community, government at every level and all other related role-players.
In order to achieve a safe and secure environment for all the people of South Africa we undertake to –
with integrity, render a responsible and effective service of high quality which is accessible to every person and continuously strive towards improving this service;
utilize all the available resources responsibly, efficiently and cost-effectively to maximize their use;
develop our own skills and participate in the development of our fellow members to ensure equal opportunities for all;
contribute to the reconstruction and development of, and reconciliation in our country;
uphold and protect the fundamental rights of every person;
act impartially, courteously, honestly, respectfully, transparently and in an accountable manner;
exercise the powers conferred upon us in a responsible and controlled manner; and
work actively towards preventing any form of corruption and to bring the perpetrators thereof to justice
participating in endeavours to address the root causes of crime in the community;
preventing action which may threaten the safety or security of any community; and
investigating criminal conduct which has endangered the safety or security of the community and bringing the perpetrators thereof to justice.
In realization of the aforesaid commitment, we shall at all times –
uphold the Constitution and the law;
be guided by the needs of the community;
give full recognition to the needs of the South African Police Service as my employer; and
cooperate with the community, government at every level and all other related role-players.
In order to achieve a safe and secure environment for all the people of South Africa we undertake to –
with integrity, render a responsible and effective service of high quality which is accessible to every person and continuously strive towards improving this service;
utilize all the available resources responsibly, efficiently and cost-effectively to maximize their use;
develop our own skills and participate in the development of our fellow members to ensure equal opportunities for all;
contribute to the reconstruction and development of, and reconciliation in our country;
uphold and protect the fundamental rights of every person;
act impartially, courteously, honestly, respectfully, transparently and in an accountable manner;
exercise the powers conferred upon us in a responsible and controlled manner; and
work actively towards preventing any form of corruption and to bring the perpetrators thereof to justice
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New police guidelines for South Africa’s lockdown – including what to do when a person is not wearing a mask
“Complaints of torture, excessive use of force, inhumane treatment and punishment of the community by enforcement officers (including members of the SAPS) during the State of Disaster have come to the attention of the national commissioner,” Sitole said.
“Conduct of this nature by members of the SAPS is unacceptable and will be dealt with in terms of the criminal law and the disciplinary process of the SAPS.”
Some of the key points outlined in the directive includes:
* Members refers to SAPS members and personnel.
- The relief commander should instruct members during each parade on their functions and duties, cautioning them regularly and strongly against any use of unnecessary violence;
- A member may only arrest a person if he or she has the power (authority) to arrest that person;
- Members must ensure that a particular offence exists in law before arresting a person for the commission of an offence;
- The directive notes that where certain conduct has not been criminalised (such as the wearing of mask or social distancing), members must sensitise ‘transgressors’ that their conduct is endangering their health and that of others;
- The directive also notes that the country’s lockdown regulations change often, and that members should always be up to date with the latest rules;
- Members may arrest a person without touching them by ‘forcibly confining’ them. However, the directive notes that members may use force to effect an arrest only in certain limited circumstances;
- Members may not use private equipment not issued by the SAPS such as ‘sjamboks’;
- The directive sets out a clear zero-tolerance approach to torture, and notes the actions which are defined as torture under the Prevention and Combating of Torture of Persons Act;
- The directive also outlines the complaints procedure for members of the public where they believe that an SAPS member has acted unlawfully.
You can read the full directive below:
Police Directive May 2020
Read: Concern that townships are not following South Africa’s lockdown regulations
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