111 SAPS officers convicted of serious crimes, including rape

A total of 111 South African Police Service (SAPS) members were convicted of crimes during the 2025/26 financial year, including offences involving deaths resulting from police action and rape.

On Thursday, 15 October, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) revealed the figures during its latest reporting to Parliament.

The figures include 28 convictions in cases involving deaths resulting from police action and 10 rape convictions.

The revelations come as IPID battles a growing caseload, with more than 14 000 active cases and fewer than 200 investigators.

SAPS OFFICERS CONVICTED IN DEATH AND RAPE CASES

According to the report, convictions in cases involving deaths resulting from police action increased from 22 in the previous reporting period to 28.

IPID also recorded 464 new cases involving deaths resulting from police action during the 2025/26 financial year.

The directorate investigates criminal allegations against police officers, including deaths in custody, rape, assault and torture.

IPID registered 5 259 new cases during the reporting period.

Of these, 3 468 involved assault and torture allegations, while 669 concerned the discharge of official firearms.

RAPE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST POLICE OFFICERS INCREASE

The report also revealed that 10 police officers were convicted of rape.

In one case, a police officer stationed at Matlelerekeng Police Station in Limpopo received a 10-year prison sentence for rape and an additional two years for child pornography offences.

Meanwhile, IPID recorded 116 new rape allegations against police officers, up from 95 during the previous financial year.

Of the 116 reported incidents, 72 allegedly involved officers on duty, while 44 involved off-duty members.

The increase has raised further concerns about sexual violence involving officers entrusted with protecting the public.

IPID FACES BACKLOG OF MORE THAN 14 000 CASES

IPID continues to struggle with a heavy workload and limited investigative capacity.

The directorate has fewer than 200 investigators handling more than 14 000 active cases.

The figures prompted MPs to question how officers accused of serious crimes entered the police service.

DA MP Dianne Kohler challenged SAPS recruitment and vetting procedures.

“What is your theory on how these rapists, fraudsters, torturers, thieves, and even murderers get into the SAPS in the first place?” Kohler asked.

IPID’s official annual reporting also recorded 84 criminal convictions secured through its investigations, compared with 43 during the previous financial year.

The directorate reported 281 arrests and 994 cases before the courts at the end of March 2026.

The 84 convictions in IPID’s official reporting and the 111 SAPS members cited in the SABC report represent different reported measures.

PARLIAMENT RAISES CONCERNS OVER POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY

Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police has called for stronger oversight and urgent action to address failures within SAPS.

On Thursday, the committee raised concerns about criminal investigations, forensic services and financial management.

The committee adopted its Budgetary Review and Recommendation Reports on SAPS, IPID and other policing bodies on Wednesday.

MPs warned that continued failures in policing and accountability threatened public safety.

The committee called for corrective measures to address weaknesses in the criminal justice system.

IPID must now confront its mounting caseload while investigating fresh allegations of criminal conduct against police officers.