According to POPCRU, the issue of police mental health is particularly pressing as crime rates surge, and officers face unprecedented levels of violence, trauma, and stress.

POPCRU Nation Treasurer Thulani Nsele warns, “Crime and violence in South Africa is rampant, placing officers’ lives in constant threat – especially given the current levels of understaffing. The horrific situations they encounter and the dangers they face working at the frontlines every day are taking a very heavy toll on their mental well-being. Meanwhile, the psychological support they receive is completely inadequate, and current policies and systems often work to undermine mental health rather than protect it.”

Pointing to the depth of the issue, a 2024 Mental Health Report by Polmed, the medical scheme for SAPS employees and their dependents, reveals that 17.7%% of its members have sought care for mental health conditions, with concerns ranging from depression and anxiety to bipolar disorder and substance abuse. Of these, 50% do not have a registered chronic condition and are considered otherwise healthy.

The Scheme has a 7.4% prevalence of depression, which represents a total of 36 000 individual lives. Of these, 5.4% have been diagnosed with the condition. Additionally, the number of mental health admissions for alcohol use disorder had nearly doubled in 2024 compared to 2021.

In response, POPCRU has urged SAPS leadership, the Department of Police, and relevant stakeholders to prioritise the mental well-being of law enforcement officers by implementing urgent policy changes. Nsele states that the first step needed is to redress the current Employee Health and Wellness Programme (EHWP), which remains critically under-resourced and incapable of managing the growing mental health needs of its members.

The SAPS recently reported that it has as few as 621 health and wellness employees to support its employees. Additionally, the majority of its members are not aware that the SAPS has an EHW programme, do not understand what services it provides, or do not know how to get in contact with support staff.

POPCRU further explains that current policies, such as confiscating an officer’s firearm during debriefings or psychological evaluations, can seem face-threatening, preventing individuals from seeking help – especially as participation in debriefings is voluntary. Many officers also fear that attending debriefings or evaluations will result in stigma, hamper their career progression, or jeopardise their chances of promotion.

“To address the situation, government must increase funding and resources for the EHWP, ensuring that all officers receive the necessary support to cope with the stress of their work,” POPCRU said in a statement.

“dditionally, the union notes that debriefings should be made mandatory for all SAPS members who regularly encounter traumatic events or extreme stress, including senior officials and high-ranking executives. Likewise, debriefings should occur at least quarterly, rather than being treated as once-off events, and policies should ensure that the careers and progression of officers who attend these debriefings is not negatively influenced in any way.

“For example, by making debriefings mandatory, SAPS can better ensure that all police receive the help they need without fear of being marginalised or penalised. But it must also perform a comprehensive policy overhaul to review and remove any barriers that are deterring officers, and to encourage greater openness,” adds Nsele.

“Finally, SAPS must launch a mental health awareness campaign to educate its members on the importance of mental health and to eliminate the stigma often associated with seeking support. POPCRU is willing to partner with the police on this initiative, and to give our input and support to encourage positive change.

“Ultimately, we cannot expect our officers to effectively protect the public if they themselves are not cared for. We are committed to ensuring that the necessary reforms are made and that our officers’ well-being is protected, both physically and mentally. Healthy officers mean a stronger SAPS and a safer South Africa,” he concludes.

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The union had specifically criticised the expeditious process for undermining the principles of natural justice, bypassing fair hearings, and fast-tracking the dismissal of members without due process, it said in a statement on 26 September. “In keeping with another POPCRU proposal, all ongoing cases under this disciplinary process will now be centralised at the SAPS’ head office until disciplinary processes are formally amended by the Minister of Police.”

“This win marks a turning point in the ongoing battle to ensure that SAPS members are treated with the dignity they deserve. The expeditious process was fundamentally flawed, unfairly targeting members and undermining their careers,” said POPCRU President Thulani Ngwenya.

“We are encouraged by the fact that SAPS management has recognised these issues, and we will continue working to ensure that the expeditious process is permanently removed from disciplinary regulations.”

The expeditious process, also known as Regulation 9 of the South African Police Service Act, was designed to promptly handle cases of serious misconduct. However, its implementation has been marred by controversy, the union said.

“Instead of serving as a tool to ensure swift justice, the regulation has become a mechanism to bypass due process, leading to many unfair dismissals. Members are frequently left without an opportunity to defend themselves adequately, as the process strips them of the right to a fair hearing and the ability to cross-examine witnesses,” explained Ngwenya.

“POPCRU has long argued that the expeditious process is unfair and unconstitutional. South Africa’s Labour Relations Act and the Constitution enshrine the right to fair labour practices, including the right to a fair and impartial hearing. Regulation 9 violates these principles by allowing the SAPS to dismiss members without affording them the protections guaranteed under the law.”

In response, during a Safety and Security Sectoral Bargaining Council (SSSBC) meeting this month, SAPS management agreed to review its disciplinary procedures and to halt the expeditious disciplinary process in the interim. As a result, all ongoing cases under this process have been centralised at the National Head Office of the SAPS, under the Discipline Management office, until such time that the Minister of Police amends the SAPS Act.

The Discipline Management office will determine which cases qualify to be handled under Regulation 9. Many cases are expected to revert to the regular disciplinary process, which provides members with the full spectrum of procedural rights. Meanwhile, the regular disciplinary process, governed by Regulation 8, will continue unaffected, ensuring that members’ rights to a fair trial are upheld, POPCRU said.

“The fight against the expeditious disciplinary process is part of POPCRU’s broader struggle to ensure that all workers, not just those in the SAPS, are treated with dignity and respect in the workplace. While disciplinary procedures are necessary to maintain order, they must be conducted in a manner that respects the rights of all employees.

“We are advocating for a system that balances the need for responsive action with the requirement for fair and thorough hearings. Such a system will protect our members’ rights while ensuring that the SAPS is better equipped to uphold its constitutional mandate to serve and protect,” concluded Ngwenya.

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With at least 300 officers having ended their own lives since 2017, Cameron questioned the SAPS’ “current capacity in providing ongoing safe, confidential, and specialised mental health support to its members.” He further raised concern about the “adequacy of SAPS’ pre-employment mental and psychological screening procedures and whether they are fit for purpose.”

According to the SAPS 2022/23 annual report, the police employs only 138 psychological professionals, 57 “Quality of Work Life” professionals, 205 social workers, and 190 chaplains, a total of 590 Employee Wellness Programme (EWP) workers. These 590 EWP personnel are responsible for the well-being of over 180 000 SAPS employees, many of whom operate in “extremely high-stress and high-risk environments.” Cameron noted there is currently a 28.7% vacancy rate for councillors within SAPS, emphasising that “capacitating this division presents a significant challenge for top management that must be tackled with the utmost urgency.”

With concerns around the Employee Wellness Programmes being raised as early as 2022, Cameron noted his predecessor on the committee expressed his grave concern regarding the “poor health and wellness services.”

Agreeing that SAPS needed to strengthen their operational capacity, he said it is vital that “we must not neglect the health and well-being of the men and women on the ground who put themselves in harm’s way to keep us safe.” Cameron called for the establishment of “effective, confidential and specialised mental well-being programmes within the SAPS,” urging the Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu to set it as a priority.

Stressing the importance of these programmes, Cameron notes they provide SAPS leadership with an opportunity to “understand and engage with the extreme pressures faced by our boots on the ground.” This would allow for leadership to effectively support their staff through the “extraordinary challenges they face on a daily basis.”

The comments by Cameron followed a shooting in which a police sergeant in Polokwane shot and wounded a former police officer at his house before driving to the station where he gunned down a female brigadier. He then took his own life with his service pistol. The incident is believed to have occurred over a love triangle.

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It was reported on Sunday, 28 July 2024, a police sergeant in the Westernburg policing district in Polokwane shot a former police officer, and fatally wounded a Brigadier, before taking his own life with his service pistol following the incident.

The surviving victim, a former police officer residing within the same vicinity as the senior officer, was rushed to a nearby hospital where he received medical attention.

The reports suggest the Police Sergeant went to the former Police Officer’s residence, where an altercation ensued. The Sergeant opened fire on him before turning to the female Senior officer, who tried to escape to her car. Unfortunately, the suspect fired several shots at her, killing her. The enraged Police Sergeant climbed into the senior officer’s car before turning the gun on himself.

Since 2017 the SAPS has lost over 300 officers due to suicide and murder-suicide incidents. POPCRU believes “this situation underscores the profound mental and emotional stress that officers experience in their line of duty,” with reports indicating SAPS has one of the highest suicide rates among police services globally.

POPCRU stated the wellbeing of officers cannot be disconnected from the broader environment in which they operate. While the SAPS has introduced Employee Health and Wellness (EHW) programmes aimed at improving the mental well-being of members, results indicate the programs have failed to achieve their objectives.

In their statement, POPCRU indicated their belief that EHW representatives, usually psychologists and priests, “are not doing what is required of them or they do not understand their roles.” The statement further adds, “there are claims of lack of confidentiality, and that there are no regular visits to victims.” There is additionally a stigma amongst officers to make use of the services, due to claims that it will limit “individuals’ upward mobility within the ranks.”

Calling the services “reactive in discharging their duties,” POPCRU stated those who deliver the EHW services “are only seen at the station when there is a problem.”

Another issue facing the EHW services is the lack of familiarity by officers around the services offered. POPCRU calls for “collective responsibility to ensure we promote these services,” hoping members will then understand the impact on their personal lives and at their workplaces.

“We need to work together in ensuring these services are revived and effective.”

Some recommendations made by POPCRU to improve services include ensuring EHW representatives are not reactive in approach, with more frequent visits to police stations, “as opposed to inconsistent visits that are only conducted when there are challenges.”

Confidentiality is another aspect to be strengthened, to assure police officers that their information won’t be compromised.

Lastly, POPCRU urged Police management “to play their role in attending to stress caused by the lack of resources, staff shortages, unfair disciplinary issues and over-indebtedness among others.”

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The union in a statement said the staff complement that stood at 40 000 in 2009 is currently standing at 38 000 with only 27 000 officials working at the coalface of correctional centres, and demanded the employment of more custodial officers.

“We have on various occasions expressed that the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) must not renew the contracts of private prisons in the country, and should develop a clear plan that will include admitted trade unions within the department on the winding-up process,” stated POPCRU’s Media and Communications Officer Richard Mamabolo.

“As there is already a decision to absorb of all personnel employed by the two private prisons into the DCS as these officials were initially employed under the Correctional Services Act 111 of 1998, we are of the view that this process must be fast-tracked.”

For the DCS to fulfill its rehabilitation mandate as directed by the constitution, POPCRU is of the view that the following measures should be urgently undertaken:

· Promotion policy and shift system should be prioritised

· Correctional centres should be self-sufficient

· Correctional centres should be built in rural areas

· The employment of more personnel is vital

· The dilapidated infrastructure should be refurbished

Meanwhile, National Commissioner of the Department of Correctional Services, Samuel Thobakgale, has welcomed the new minister and deputy ministers to the department. Groenewald will be deputised by Lindiwe Ntshalintshali.

“We are committed to working in tandem with the Ministry in our quest to bring about change through the implementation of innovative policies and programmes that promote rehabilitation, reduce overcrowding, and strive for the safety and security of our communities,” Thobakgale said.

In a statement, DCS said it is confident that with the new leadership it will continue to build on strides it has made.

“The department…is dedicated to the principles of justice, accountability, and respect for human rights. The wealth of experience brought by the new leadership will be crucial in driving forward our strategic goals and ensuring that we continue to be the best correctional service for a safer South Africa.

“Having registered significant strides in redefining the purpose of corrections, the Department is confident that it will continue to build on its successes and address the challenges facing correctional facilities.

“We extend our warmest congratulations to Minister Groenewald and Deputy Minister Ntshalintshali on their appointments. Correctional Services is poised for a stimulating tenure,” the department said.

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POPCRU said the appointment of new Ministers within the Criminal Justice Cluster (CJC) are critical as they can influence the direction of law enforcement, corrections and the overall justice policies.

“We outrightly stress the need to have a capable, efficient and ethical CJC leadership that can optimally meet the needs and expectations of its staff complement and the populace at large by ensuring the allocation of sufficient resources in combating crime and maintaining safety and security,” POPCRU’s Media and Communications Officer Richard Mamabolo stated.

The CJC has for the longest time been under immense strain, with continued infightings, high levels of crime rates, police killings, overcrowding and understaffing – all coupled with huge levels backlogs in various areas, the union said, with the new era bringing about an opportune moment to remedy this past trend, and to bring about much needed confidence through cooperation with all stakeholders in working towards achieving stability.

“We therefore expect that the newly appointed ministers to be committed to transformative leadership that addresses historical injustices and contemporary challenges within the criminal justice system. We anticipate the insurance of policies that promote fairness, transparency, and efficiency in law enforcement, corrections, and judicial processes,” POPCRU said in a statement.

“We advocate for better working conditions for law enforcement officers, including adequate remuneration, safe working environments, and comprehensive support systems. The union expects new ministers to prioritize ongoing training and professional development to equip these officers with the skills needed to handle modern-day challenges effectively.

“We further put emphasis on community policing strategies that foster cooperation between law enforcement agencies and communities, thereby enhancing trust and effectiveness in crime prevention. This will require proper allocation of resources to ensure that law enforcement and correctional facilities are adequately staffed, equipped, and maintained,” POPCRU stated.

POPCRU said it is concerned about maintaining stability and continuity in crucial reform processes such as the Criminal Procedure Act already underway, and therefore stresses the importance of a long-term vision that transcends individual tenures and focuses on sustainable improvements.

Internally, there have been outstanding challenges which are yet to be addressed. Within the South African Police Service (SAPS), POPCRU is extremely concerned about continued killings of law enforcement officers in the country, “a phenomenon which remains highly regressive in addressing the proper functioning of the Criminal Justice System in South Africa. Law enforcement officers have become targeted victims of the worst crime, with attacks and killings escalating in the country.”

It said this unfolding national crisis has the potential of threatening the country’s peace and stability as the majority of men and women are killed on duty while preventing, combating or solving a crime whilst some are attacked while guarding inmates, traffic and police officers ambushed when conducting patrols, with their official firearms and uniforms being stolen with the probable intention of committing further crimes.

“We reaffirm our call for government to publicly declare war against cold-blooded criminals by amending current legislations to classify this barbaric act as treasonous, and expect the newly appointed Minister to push for legislative amendments in this regard,” Mamabolo stated.

Additionally, the police to population ratio also remains a challenge; with the current police-population ratio of 1:450; which still fall short of the UN ratio of 1:220 officer to the population.

“The following remedial measures should therefore be considered to curb the cold-blooded murder of men and women in blue:
· Review our police safety strategy and plan
· With the current reviewal of the Criminal Procedure Act, the killing of law enforcement officers should be considered treasonous
· Criminal Procedure Act must be amended to classify killing of police officers as treason
· Improve the compensation for killed police officers to sustain a better life for the dependents
· Various stakeholder within the Criminal Justice Cluster must collaborate to effectively resolve this deep-rooted challenge
· Employment of professionals
· The increase of a service allowance

“We also call for a review of the SAPS salary structure and the introduction of two streams, one being for Police Act members and the other for Public Service Act appointees, that will allow them to be grade-progressed and promoted up to salary level 15. The promotion of Public Service Act appointees will ensure we have more boots on the ground.”

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