In 2023/24, IPID received 5,136 cases and finalised 4,669 investigations. But less than half of the finalised cases were from that year — most of them were from previous years. By the end of the year, IPID had a backlog of 19,055 cases actively under investigation.

When IPID finishes an investigation, it is referred to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for criminal prosecution and/or back to South African Police Services (SAPS) for disciplinary processes. About 2,400 were referred to SAPS and 2,000 to the NPA.

Low conviction rate

In 2023, only 84 criminal cases were concluded by the NPA with 43 ending in conviction. The rest ended in acquittal. SAPS finalised 404 disciplinary cases of which 254 ended in conviction and 150 in acquittal.

Most common offences

Assault is the most common offence reported to IPID, with 3,000 cases reported in 2023. This is followed by deaths as a result of police action (460) and rape by a police officer (110).

During the covid lockdowns in 2020, assault cases spiked, with 4,228 reported to IPID.

Of the police officers criminally convicted in 2023, 20 were for assault, 13 for deaths as a result of police action, and three for rape by a police officer.

In SAPS’s disciplinary processes, there were 127 convictions for assault, 22 for deaths as a result of police action, 18 for rape by a police officer, and eight for torture.

Police impunity

GroundUp is following several cases where police officers are accused of breaking the law. Examples include:

A man was shot and killed by an off-duty cop in Khayelitsha, Cape Town. The police officer has been charged with murder, yet SAPS says disciplinary processes are still ongoing and would not confirm whether he has been suspended or dismissed. There are rumours that he has been transferred to another station.
A man died in police custody in Flagstaff, Eastern Cape. IPID is still investigating, and SAPS did not comment on the status of disciplinary proceedings.
The criminal trial of 14 officers accused of torturing and murdering Regan Naidoo in 2018 in Durban has faced multiple postponements.
In 2023, the brutal assault of a man by police officers was caught on CCTV in Mowbray, Cape Town. Three police officers were arrested and charged in April 2024, but the matter has yet to go to trial. SAPS would not to indicate whether the three officers have been suspended or dismissed.
The case of a taxi driver who died in Retreat, Cape Town, as a result of blunt force trauma, allegedly inflicted by police officers in November 2024, is still under investigation by IPID.

Written by GroundUp and the Outlier and republished with permission. The original article can be found here.

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In a written response, Minister Mchunu confirmed that the CMS underwent several internal upgrades during the 2024/25 financial year. These included improvements aimed at tracking gender-based violence (GBV) cases, categorising case priority levels, and expanding oversight mechanisms within provincial management structures.

Internal Upgrades, No Cost Incurred

The upgrades, carried out by IPID’s internal ICT team, introduced the ability to register and report GBV-related cases and classify investigations into three priority levels, Top Priority, High Priority, and General Investigations. An additional reviewer was also added to each provincial management group to strengthen case oversight. According to the Minister, these changes were implemented without external assistance or additional cost to the department.

Manual Input Still Required

Despite the enhancements, the system still relies heavily on manual input from case workers. Kohler-Barnard raised concerns about why case details such as criminal case numbers, classifications, investigator names, and case statuses must be manually entered, information that, in many cases, already exists within the system.

Minister Mchunu explained that while the system is capable of identifying linked cases based on identifiers like ID numbers or force numbers, this functionality is limited when such data is unavailable at the time of case registration. He also noted that physical dockets, which are still required for court processes and inter-agency coordination, contribute to the continued reliance on manual entry.

No Immediate Automation, But New System in Development

Asked whether IPID intends to automate the display of linked case information, the Minister confirmed that the department is working toward a new, modernised system. This platform will aim to integrate with external justice systems, enabling the automatic sourcing of data such as ballistics reports, post-mortem results, biometrics, and DNA evidence.

Although automation of case linking is not yet in place, the Department’s long-term goal is to streamline operations and reduce manual workload through digital integration.

Timeline and Rollout

The development of the new integrated system is expected to take approximately three years. Implementation will be managed through formal project management structures, including IPID’s own System Development Monitoring Committee and the service provider’s project team. The most recent CMS upgrades, covering GBV tracking, case prioritisation, and additional reviewers, were finalised by 30 March 2025.

Notably, the service provider currently assisting with the broader system upgrade played no role in these earlier updates.

Ongoing Digital Challenges

The Minister’s responses highlight the ongoing tension between legacy processes and digital transformation within the country’s policing oversight structures. While the latest CMS updates represent progress, the reliance on manual entry, limited case-linking functionality, and dependence on physical documentation continue to hinder operational efficiency.

The long-term success of IPID’s digital overhaul will likely depend on how quickly and effectively the department can transition from fragmented manual systems to a fully integrated, automated platform.

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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.

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This comes after the committee on 21 August met with the Office of the Auditor General (AG) and labour unions to share ideas on finding solutions to the challenges facing SAPS officers in fighting crime.

The Auditor General informed the committee that some of the key targets that were not met over the 2019-2024 Medium Term Strategic Framework include the 1.98% increase in contact crime against the intention to reduce it by 7.48%; crimes against children increasing by 2.57%; and crimes against women increasing by 3.90%.

The committee said in a statement that it agreed with the AG that there is a challenge of ineffective prevention strategies to combat crime coupled with ineffective monitoring of action plans.

The Committee raised particular concern that there has been a significant increase of syndicates and criminal groups including extortions, with these crimes increasing at an average of 38.98% over the medium term. Recent cases of extortion in Mthatha have led to closure of businesses and schools, while the construction mafia has halted much needed infrastructure projects. Further, there has been a worrying increase of kidnapping syndicates, which all point to endemic crimes that threaten the safety and security of South Africans.

“To turn the scourge of crimes around we must confront the current shortcomings within the environment head-on, do the basics right and as a committee enhance our oversight mechanisms. This must be an era of effective, intelligence led policing to ensure that the people of Mthatha, Hanover Park in the Western Cape and Jukulyn in Pretoria feel safe,” said the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Ian Cameron.

To achieve this, the Committee emphasised the two pillars of policing, proactive and reactive policing, must be enhanced. Adequate resources should be directed at areas that will enhance policing such as visible policing, detective services and crime intelligence. In addition, the SAPS must improve enabling platforms such as the 10111 platform to ensure that it is impactful and responsive.

“It is unacceptable that there is [an] average of 26.44% in dropped calls to the 10111 function, and that on average it takes 8 to 35 minutes for calls to be answered. Such platforms are necessary to ensure speedy responses to criminal acts,” Cameron stated.

The Committee reiterated its stance that the wellbeing of members of SAPS is central in ensuring effective policing. In line with this, the SAPS management has been instructed to find solutions to the current lack of appropriate promotion policy, a step to guarantee clearer career pathing. The Committee said hopes a clear growth path will end the current trend of trained SAPS members resigning to join the private sector.

The Committee added that it believes the strengthening of policing requires a strong Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) as an additional oversight mechanism. Currently there are only 120 IPID investigators, out of over 150 000 members of the SAPS, a ratio of 1:1250. The Committee views this resource disparity as something that undermines IPID’s ability to carry out its mandate effectively and measures must be implemented to rectify this.

The Committee said it has further committed to enhanced and focused oversight, especially on critical priority areas.

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In July 2023, eight officers of Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s blue light convoy were captured on video accosting and assaulting civilians they forced off the road for allegedly not obeying orders to move out of the convoy’s way.

Calling for accountability, Action Society raised concerns that despite the seriousness of the charges facing the eight officers involved, “progress on both the internal disciplinary hearing and the criminal court case has been exceptionally slow.” Further, the group said the accused officers’ use of various delay tactics was causing frustration and “eroding public trust in our justice system.”

Juanita du Preez, Action Society spokesperson, said that the accused’s tactics “border on the ridiculous and surreal, and a complete waste of the South African taxpayer’s money.” She further explained “on 7 August they fired their representative only to re-appoint him 20 minutes later. They then promptly informed the chairperson that he must be given more time to familiarise himself with the case as he is now their ‘new representative’.”

Respecting that IPID did not have control over the “protracted nature” of the criminal proceedings, du Preez noted IPID does have control over the internal disciplinary investigation into the SAPS Members actions.

“We therefore urgently request detailed feedback regarding IPID’s investigation into the conduct of the VIP Protection Unit members involved in this case. Specifically, we seek to understand the current status of IPID’s probe, including any findings that have been made and the steps IPID intends to take against these officers,” said du Preez

Action Society again called for the immediate suspension of the eight accused officers. “We wish to remind IPID that their mandate is to investigate police misconduct independently and that it is not necessary to wait for the conclusion of either the internal disciplinary hearing or the criminal court case to take decisive action,” noted du Preez.

Further, she sought to remind those at IPID that the directorate “has an obligation to act against perpetrators, particularly when there is clear evidence of wrongdoing.”

The letter issued by Action Society additionally called for IPID to be decentralised, with the group stating it would “go a long way in combating corruption, incompetence and brutality within the police.”

Action Society has repeatedly advocated for IPID to be granted status as a Chapter 9 Institution, with du Preez saying “without that type of authority, IPID is more of a bouncer than a watchdog.”

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As law, the bill entrenches the “institutional and operational independence of IPID and makes it clear that the directorate must be independent, impartial and must exercise its powers and functions without fear, favour or prejudice.”

The law further amends provisions regarding certain appointments, along with what the IPID can investigate. The Executive Director responsibilities have been broadened, regarding referral of disciplinary matters, and make provisions for pre-employment security screenings.

IPID is now further empowered to investigate any rape offences and any deaths by police action, in instances where the SAPS or Municipal officers were on or off duty.

The President noted “the newly enacted Independent Police Investigative Directorate Amendment Act is an outcome of a comprehensive review of the principal IPID Act of 2011 initiated by the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service,” adding further that “the Civilian Secretariat provides the Minister of Police with policy advice and research support; develops departmental policy; provides civilian oversight of the South African Police Service and mobilises stakeholders outside the department around crime prevention and policing matters.”

Many hope these new amendments will allow for IPID to be more effective in investigating police abuses. Kwa-Zulu Natal has for the previous decade had one of the highest rates of deaths by police action. In the 2020/21 period, KZN saw 104 deaths as a result of police action, the highest for the year, 29.46% of the year’s total of 353. The 2021/22 period saw an increase to 106, although this was a percentage decrease to 25.85%, as Gauteng rose from 89 to 107.

However, deaths by police action accounted for only 65% of the deaths investigated by IPID, with 35% being deaths while in police custody. Here, KZN again leads, with a total combined count of 114 in 2020/21 and 129 in 2021/22, the highest in both years.

Furthermore, in the 2021/22 annual report, IPID notes that 51% of rapes committed by police officers occurred on duty, and 49% occurred off duty. While KZN does not lead the count in 2020/21, when 10 occurred, placing the province 3rd, the following year saw an increase of 100% to a total of 20, making KZN the province with the highest reported rapes by police in 2021/22.

In 2021/22, 85 cases were allocated to IPID in KZN, within 72 hours of receipt. 21 cases were allocated after 72 hours. This brought the total number of cases allocated to the branch to 3 685. However, only 10% of cases, 360, were ready for decision. 435 cases of deaths by police action were active, with only 85 deemed decision ready. For deaths in police custody, 52 remained active, with 24 deemed decision ready.

The main concern is IPID’s ability to investigate these offences and pass on the cases to the National Prosecuting Authority. The report indicates 112 cases were referred to the NPA by the KZN IPID branch, 38 for deaths by police action, and 3 for deaths in police custody. The Free State and the Northern Cape referred 420 and 249 cases respectively.

Of the 112 KZN cases referred, 87 were awaiting response, and 25 were rejected for prosecution. No cases were prosecuted. Only five cases saw disciplinary action taken, with one withdrawn and four deemed guilty.

Given the recent reporting on the killing of suspects by KZN SAPS, many question abound whether these actions are legitimate cases of officers acting in self-defence, or evidence of officers killing with impunity.

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