Build One South Africa (BOSA) has sounded the alarm over what it describes as a deepening “collapse of accountability” within the country’s law enforcement agencies. The outcry follows new parliamentary data revealing that fewer than 5% of South African Police Service (SAPS) officers accused of murder and rape have been referred for prosecution.
A Shocking Picture Of Police Misconduct
In a written parliamentary response, Acting Minister of Police Firoz Cachalia disclosed that the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) had 14,907 open misconduct cases involving SAPS members as of 31 May 2025. Among these, 1,486 deaths were linked to police action, while 97 cases involved allegations of rape committed by officers.
BOSA spokesperson Roger Solomons said the statistics paint a grim picture of systemic abuse and a justice system failing to deliver for victims.
“Each of the almost 15,000 open misconduct cases reflects a violation of citizens’ rights by those sworn to uphold the law,”
Solomons said.
Accountability Missing In Action
Despite the seriousness of these allegations, IPID has referred only 59 death cases and 9 rape cases to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). This equates to less than 5% of all ongoing investigations.
“What is unsettling is that justice remains elusive for victims,”
Solomons stated.
“IPID has managed to refer just 59 death cases and 9 rape cases to the NPA, which is less than 5% of the cases under investigation.”
Minister Cachalia’s parliamentary reply confirmed that no convictions have yet been secured from these newly reported investigations. Although eight convictions were recorded between April and June this year, BOSA noted that these related to older cases, doing little to address the growing backlog of more than 14,000 pending matters.
Thousands Of Victims Without Justice
Solomons said the figures expose a disturbing reality for South Africans who continue to suffer at the hands of those entrusted to protect them.
“This means that hundreds of South Africans have died at the hands of police or been sexually assaulted by officers, yet the overwhelming majority of perpetrators remain unpunished,”
he said.
“There is an accountability deficit within SAPS and the oversight bodies meant to police them.”
Calls For Urgent Parliamentary Intervention
In response to the findings, BOSA announced plans to write to Ian Cameron MP, Chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police, demanding urgent hearings with IPID leadership. The party wants senior IPID officials summoned to explain the apparent breakdown in investigations and to present a clear reform plan to address systemic failures.
The proposed parliamentary session, BOSA said, must specifically tackle two issues:
- Capacity shortfalls within IPID that cause prolonged delays in investigations and case referrals.
- Institutional reforms to ensure faster prosecutions and more robust oversight of police misconduct.
Restoring Public Trust In Law Enforcement
BOSA warned that public confidence in the police cannot be rebuilt while serious cases of abuse remain unresolved.
“The South African public cannot be expected to trust a police service that appears unable or unwilling to police itself,”
Solomons warned.
“It is time for Parliament to step up and step in.”
The growing chorus for accountability places renewed pressure on Parliament and the executive to restore faith in law enforcement. As the number of unresolved cases rises, South Africans await not only justice for victims but a decisive shift toward transparency and reform within the country’s policing institutions.
