President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for a unified, society-wide effort to tackle crime in South Africa, urging a holistic, community-led, and technologically advanced approach to policing. Addressing delegates at a national policing summit convened by the Ministry of Police, the President commended the ministry for hosting what he described as a “critical summit”.
Ramaphosa emphasised the evolving and complex nature of crime, stating that effective policing must go beyond traditional methods and address the root causes of criminality.
“Safeguarding our nation’s safety and security requires that we are proactive, innovative, and solutions-oriented in our approach,” the President said. He noted that the South African Police Service (SAPS), as a frontline institution, engages directly with communities on a daily basis and must be guided by Batho Pele principles, delivering high service standards, ensuring accessibility, consulting with the public, and treating all citizens with dignity and respect.
The President reiterated SAPS’s mission: to investigate and prevent crime, bring offenders to justice, address threats to public safety, and work towards resolving the underlying causes of criminal behaviour.
“Crime is both a cause and a symptom,” he said. “It weakens the social fabric and contributes to community instability. It also affects the economy, deterring investment, disrupting business activity, and increasing security costs.”
Ramaphosa highlighted societal issues that often lead to crime, including poverty, inequality, unemployment, patriarchy, and fractured family structures. “Addressing crime without understanding its root causes is like a doctor treating a fever without diagnosing the illness,” he said.
He welcomed the summit’s inclusive nature, noting the participation of government departments, civil society, community leaders, business, labour, and faith-based organisations. He stressed that since crime impacts every part of society, the response must be equally collective.
“Communities are our most powerful resource in fighting crime,” he said. He urged greater involvement of Community Policing Forums (CPFs) and encouraged citizens to take part in crime prevention through education, awareness, and neighbourhood initiatives. “This can no longer be seen as a supplementary effort, it is essential to an effective policing strategy.”
Ramaphosa also acknowledged the increasingly sophisticated threats facing the police, including organised crime, illegal mining, extortion syndicates, economic infrastructure theft, money laundering, and terror financing. Despite these challenges, he praised SAPS for achieving notable successes in its operations.
To build on these gains, he called for efforts to restore public trust, improve police-community relations, and support SAPS officers struggling with heavy workloads, limited resources, and outdated systems.
He pointed out that while the SAPS budget has increased over the past decade, the number of personnel has declined, even as the population has grown. “The resources of the police are stretched extremely thin. We must work smarter and make more effective use of what we have.”
Highlighting the importance of data in modern policing, the President said data must be analysed through a socio-economic lens to identify patterns and inform strategy. He cited examples such as the links between substance abuse and theft or alcohol abuse and gender-based violence, advocating for targeted interventions involving municipalities and community groups.
Ramaphosa expressed strong support for using modern technology to support police work, analyse crime trends, and improve engagement with the public. He welcomed the summit’s focus on digital tools, including mobile apps, online reporting systems, and virtual platforms to enhance access to SAPS services.
“There must be stronger collaboration between law enforcement agencies,” he added, noting the growing presence of organised criminal networks involved in drug manufacturing, kidnapping for ransom, illegal mining, and public infrastructure theft. Specialised police units need intelligence support and traditional detective work, which requires greater inter-agency cooperation and information-sharing.
On corruption within law enforcement, the President said, “Corruption is a scourge that has touched every corner of our society, including the SAPS.” He reaffirmed government’s commitment to accountability, whistleblower protection, and the National Anti-Corruption Strategy. However, he stressed that deeper cultural change is needed.
“It’s not enough to prosecute corrupt officers. We must build a culture of integrity and professionalism in the police service,” he said, urging the summit to focus on ethical leadership, recruitment of quality candidates, rigorous training, and meaningful career development.
Ramaphosa concluded his speech with a firm call to action: “If SAPS is to fulfil its vital mandate, we must emerge from this summit with a concrete plan to address the systemic issues hampering policing.”
“As a country, we owe the SAPS our full support. As government, we are unwavering in our commitment to turning the tide against crime and creating safer communities for all South Africans.”
The summit is expected to result in actionable recommendations to reform policing, enhance partnerships, and restore confidence in South Africa’s law enforcement system.
