In December last year, 2 699 newly trained constables joined the ranks of the South African Police Service (SAPS), which has deployed more than 20 000 new police officers over the last three years.

This is according to National Commissioner for the South African Police Service, General Sehlahle Fannie Masemola, who was gave a briefing on nationwide Safer Festive Season Operations on Sunday 2 February.

“In keeping with our promise to increase personnel and ensure more boots on the ground to keep our communities safe, I’m pleased to announce that this week, we will be welcoming an additional 5 500 new police trainees into our academies,” Masemola said.

“These recruits will undergo the Basic Police Learning Development Programme and those who are in possession of a matric certificate or a National Qualifications Framework (NQF) level 5 qualification will undergo the nine-month training programme and those that are in possession of a NQF 6 qualification or higher will undergo the six-month training programme,” the National Commissioner said.

Of the nearly 3 000 new police officers who joined in December, Masemola said they arrived during a significantly busy period for the SAPS, and contributed to the crime combatting operations that were aimed at ensuring the safety and security of communities, holidaymakers, and tourists alike.

During the festive season, the police arrested 244 951 people for various crimes, including among others, murder, rape, assault, illegal possession of firearms, drug dealing, driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, and entering the country illegally.

The SAPS safer festive season operations commenced on 11 October 2024 and ended on Friday, 31 January 2025.

Masemola also noted that nine on-duty police officers and 12 off-duty police officers, were killed, as of October last year to date.

“The ongoing attacks and killing of our men and women in blue cannot continue. This is a crime that requires all of us to stand against and prevent it from happening. What is encouraging to note is that we have categorised the killing of police officers as a national priority offence which is investigated by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), also known as HAWKS.

“It is thus reassuring to note that during the festive period, thirty police killers were arrested with seven convicted to 22 life and additional 725 years imprisonment sentences,” Masemola said.