At just 29 years of age, the youngest operating Special Task Force (STF) operator in the South African Police Service (SAPS) is making history behind the scenes. Although his name is not for public operational purposes, his input is a certainty. As a member of an STF elite unit, his task each day is simple but extraordinary: to protect the nation from its most dangerous threats -terrorism, hostage situations, high-risk arrests, and criminal syndicates.

The unsung Warriors behind the badge

Commonly referred to as SAPS’ “sharp edge”, the Special Task Force is the country’s most specialised tactical unit. Formed in 1976, the STF has a reputation for fearlessly fighting high-risk threats that conventional policing infrastructure cannot handle.

With fewer than 100 operators within the unit at any given time, it is a select group of officers who become eligible for the extremely coveted STF parachute wings. These aren’t in the sense of symbolic badges of distinction – these wings represent months of merciless selection, physical exhaustion, mind testing, and tactical expertise.

The 29-year-old constable survived the STF’s 37th Selection Training Programme, which opened with over 500 wannabe candidates. Just 13 survived the arduous 18-month ordeal that pushed every candidate to his limits and beyond. He was formally inducted into the STF brotherhood in March 2024.

“It’s a privilege to be able to serve my country as an STF operator, facing threats that others can’t,” said.

“I take great satisfaction in accepting the challenge.”

A life of Discipline and Danger

STF members are trained in close-quarter combat, high-risk hostage recovery, advanced weaponry, parachute insertions, and rural reconnaissance. All these allow STF members to travel easily across South Africa – to raid a hijacked aircraft, to demolish an armed gang, or to rescue hostages deep in the bush.

For this young operator, discipline is a way of life. When he isn’t leaping from aircraft or raiding criminal hideouts, he can be found in the gym, refining his strength and endurance. The physicality of the job is intense, but mental focus is equally vital.

“What drives me is knowing that the skills I’ve acquired can save lives. Every mission is a chance to make a difference,” he explained.

His story is not one of heroism, but of perseverance. STF members work behind the scenes, out of the public eye. The courage of the operator speaks to the modest heroism that runs in the blood of South Africa’s elite troops – rising stars who have no hesitation about endangering everything just to protect the nation.

Youth Month, beyond commemoration

SAPS’ decision to make the spotlight on the youngest STF operator during Youth Month is deliberate. It reminds us that South Africa’s youth are not only inheriting the future but are building it today with courage, commitment, and integrity.

SAPS spokesperson Lt Col Amanda van Wyk praised the operator and his team: “He embodies what Youth Month is all about – youth who serve, lead, and inspire. We are proud of his success and the example he sets for other young South Africans.”

As the country looks back at 1976, when brave youth had defied oppression to struggle for justice, this story of this STF operator is a modern-day reflection. Different battlefield, but the same courage.

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Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, in a reply to Eastern Cape Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) public representative Noluvuyo Tafeni, stated that, “the following specialised capabilities lost an average of 40 members, per financial year, during the last three years, due to resignation: Special Task Force, National Intervention Unit, Tactical Response Teams and the Counter Assault Team.”

This was offset by the fact that an “average of 13 members were appointed to these capabilities during the same period. These capabilities have, therefore, suffered a net loss of personnel during the last three financial years.”

The cost of this specialist police training, according to the reply, was R32.8 million over three years. Tafeni’s request for numbers of personnel who exited the Public Order Policing Unit (POPU) was withheld as it “may compromise the operational effectiveness of the SAPS”.

On what General Fannie Masemola’s SAPS is doing to, as Tafeni states “keep the troops more loyal”, she was told there are initiatives in place to instil and sustain professionalism among members,” a quality that includes a member’s sense of patriotism to the country and loyalty to the Service”.

The SAPS operates a scarce skills policy. It includes scarce skill allowances and a monthly service allocation for policemen and women deployed operationally. The Minister of Police approved an increase in the payment of the scarce skills allowance for qualifying Special Task Force operators, with effect from 1 May 2024, given the highly specialised nature of the skills that these members have.

In order to retain employees, the SAPS also has the option of making a higher salary offers to employees under certain conditions.

“With regard to the increasing of scarce skills allowances, the SAPS is required to remain within allocated budget for the compensation of employees, but does intend reviewing the allocations that are made to retain scarce skills, should the current fiscal pressures ease.”

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The bid, 19/1/9/1/124 TV (23), has a closing date of 10 June.

According to the particulars in the tender document, the contract is for two years and the SAPS will provide the vehicle.

“The armouring must be as light as possible but be B6 compliant and be upgradable to STANAG level 1 on all vertical sides to stop the following calibre bullets and all 1 lesser threats: a) 5,56 x 45 mm Nato Ball Lead core (R4, RS); b) 7,62 x 39 mm Ball Mild Steel Core (AK-47); c) 7,62 x 51 mm Nato Ball Lead Core (R1); d) 7,62 x 39 mm API (AK-47).”

The floor and roof must be armoured.

There must be a multilayer transparent armoured windshield with a no-spall; an inner layer to protect occupants against glass spatter to windows, doors and roof, and multilayer transparent armoured windows and doors.

“The side windows must be able to slide down halfway into the door. Hinges and lifters must be custom made and reinforced for all doors. Fuel tank, radiator, battery, and firewall must be ballistic protected. Communication jacks for intercom system must be installed. Three fire extinguishers to be provided and fitted in easily to reach places.”

The armouring must give a good ergo-metric internal height.

“The armoured conversion must not hamper nor impair the driver’s ability to handle the vehicle safely and with ease. Heavy-duty shocks and adjustable air-suspension system must be fitted. Heavy-duty torsion bars/ shafts must be fitted. Reinforced front sway bars must be fitted.”

The tender document states that there must be a high-performance brake – custom-made brake rotors to disperse heat effectively and to accommodate the additional weight of the armour; and high-performance brake pads to maintain brake performance with high heat at high speed.

The SAPS said it will not provide any materials for the conversion and that all spare parts must be readily available in the country.

The first completed unit will be considered a prototype.

“Members of Division Supply Chain Management, Vehicle Fleet Management and · Division Visible Policing and Operations of the South African Police Service will subject all materials, workmanship, and construction to inspection and acceptance.”

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POPCRU President Thulani Ngwenya said the South African Police Service skills drain was now reaching critical levels as members retire or leave the service for better paying positions in the private sector.

“This represents a serious threat to our national security, as our most skilled officers in are leaving faster than we can train replacements. Law enforcement is already understaffed and underequipped, and this exodus from specialised divisions means that we cannot properly deal with serious crimes that fall beyond the scope of classic policing.”

“While private security firms are luring away our highly trained personnel with lucrative offers, our country has been left vulnerable to security breaches. Additionally, the migration of some of our most experienced and valuable officers to the private sector is not only weakening our law enforcement capabilities, but also undermining the principle of state responsibility for protecting all citizens.”

He said active police numbers across the SAPS have been “unsatisfactory” for years.

“For example, the total number of officers fell by 17 470 in the decade between 2012 and 2022, as revealed by the Annual Performance Plan for the 2023/2024 period. Meanwhile, the country’s population grew by more than eight million people during that time.”

Despite the recent addition of new police recruits, Ngwenya noted that years of neglect meant that there would be a gap in terms of suitably experienced personnel to replace those retiring. “This will disproportionately impact specialised units, which have substantially higher appointment requirements.”

“Even if the SAPS trains and hires the 10,000 new recruits pledged by government this year, this will have little immediate impact on higher-level crimes. Dealing with these crimes requires the abilities of far more experienced officers, who take years to train and upskill to reach their positions.”

He said the skilled and highly trained Special Task Force members were jumping ship for better salaries in private security companies, where they are employed as bodyguards for individuals such as taxi bosses and the wealthy,

“This is very dangerous, as private security should not outnumber police in any country. It is not correct that private security’s numbers are stronger than the state’s, because private security’s concern is for the rich people who can pay for their services, not for the poor or for protecting our communities.

“The responsibility for protecting the country cannot be privatised – it must remain in the hands of the state in accordance with our Constitution.”

POPCRU said its solutions would requires political and administrative will from government to implement its proposals.

“For example, due to the limitations in the SAPS’ current promotion structures, many members feel that there is little recognition for performance, or room in the organisation for their career growth. By comparison, private security work often offers better hours, working environments, and pay.”

“POPCRU has therefore advocated for changes to the SAPS’ organisational and promotion model to allow for better upward mobility, especially for those seeking to join the Special Task Force and National Intervention Unit ranks. These include setting stronger and clearer guidelines for promotions to senior positions based on skill and experience.”

“Next, government can offer highly trained and experienced special forces officers better financial incentives that correspond to the work they do and the risks they face, such as increasing their danger allowance from R6 000 to R20 000 per month.”

Considering the two-year length and difficulty of the training programme, coupled with a considerably low pass rate, POPCRU further advocates for successful Special Task Force candidates to receive the rank of colonel once finished. This will provide an additional incentive for more officers to join the programme,” said Ngwenya.

He said highly skilled officers should be contracted to serve the state for 10 years as training costs for each officer amounted to over R1-million over the two-year period.

“Only once their service period is complete should they be allowed to leave the department for the private sector, taking their experience with them. This would ensure that the SAPS recoups its investment and keeps its most valuable officers for longer,” says Ngwenya.

“This, in turn, will allow law enforcement to better address criminal activity, and allow enough time for train officers to take their place, rather than being given a few months.”

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