South Africa’s Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) is facing a massive national backlog of misconduct investigations, with a staggering 14,907 cases still open as of 31 May 2025. This was revealed in a written parliamentary reply from the Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, in response to a question from Democratic Alliance MP Lisa Schickerling.
The figures, broken down by province and category, paint a grim picture of delayed justice in cases ranging from police brutality and torture to rape, corruption and fatal incidents involving police officers.
KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Western Cape Carry the Burden
The highest number of unresolved cases is in KwaZulu-Natal, with 4,135 active files. This is followed by Gauteng with 3,492 cases, the Western Cape with 2,505, and the Eastern Cape with 2,167. Together, these four provinces account for nearly 80 percent of the total national backlog.
Other provinces such as Mpumalanga, with 1,151 cases, and Limpopo, with 558, also report significant numbers, although considerably lower. The North West recorded 339 cases, Free State 274, and Northern Cape 164. The National Specialised Investigative Team (NSIT) and the Ad-hoc National Task Team (ANTT) reported 94 and 28 cases respectively.
Assault and Firearm Complaints Dominate Caseload
By classification, the vast majority of active cases relate to assault by police officials, making up 9,306 of the total. Complaints about the improper discharge of official firearms follow at 2,312, while 1,486 cases involve deaths allegedly caused by police action. Other disturbing categories include 97 allegations of rape by police officers, two alleged rapes in custody, 1,020 cases involving torture, and 193 incidents of corruption.
There are also 269 other unspecified criminal or misconduct allegations, 61 cases of systemic corruption, and one recorded instance of non-compliance with the IPID Act.
Despite the detailed breakdown of case volumes, Minister Mchunu did not disclose how long the longest-running cases in each province have remained unresolved. This omission leaves uncertainty about how delayed some investigations may be, raising concerns over the prospects of justice being served for victims and affected families.
Backlog Strategy in Motion, Retired Detectives Recruited
In response to the question of how this growing backlog is being tackled, Minister Mchunu stated that IPID has implemented a dedicated backlog strategy. As part of this initiative, six retired detectives have been enlisted to assist with clearing overdue investigations. These specialists are currently deployed in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Western Cape and the Eastern Cape, the provinces with the highest volumes of complex and serious cases.
The deployment is intended as a short- to medium-term measure to boost investigative capacity and fast-track case closures. However, the Minister did not specify performance targets, timelines or the anticipated impact on the backlog.
While the involvement of experienced investigators is a positive step, the scale of the problem suggests that structural changes may be needed to ensure sustainable case resolution rates going forward.
SAPS Not Permitted to Assist
The South African Police Service (SAPS) plays no part in the backlog reduction strategy. Mchunu reaffirmed that IPID’s investigations must remain completely independent, particularly because the cases involve alleged misconduct by SAPS members themselves. Any involvement from SAPS in assisting or influencing investigations would constitute a conflict of interest and undermine the Directorate’s integrity.
As a result, IPID has opted to strengthen its internal capacity without relying on SAPS support. While this approach protects investigative independence, it may also limit the resources and operational reach available to IPID unless additional support or funding is provided by the state.
The sheer volume of unresolved cases raises pressing concerns about institutional accountability, public confidence in law enforcement, and the capacity of oversight bodies to ensure justice in a timely manner.
Civil society organisations and legal advocates have long warned that delayed investigations into police misconduct risk emboldening impunity, especially when serious crimes such as rape, torture and fatal shootings are involved.
