South African Police Service Special Task Force

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The South African Police Service Special Task Force (SAPS STF) is the special operations element of the South African Police Service (SAPS).The STF is considered to be among the best of such units in the world. Its formation was based on the Israeli Sayeret Matkal. The STF has a formidable reputation in counter terrorism, counter insurgency and hostage rescue. The STF, like their military special forces counter parts, are internationaly regarded has being deadly exponents in the art of bush warfare.

The Task Force falls under operational control of the Division: Operational Response Services and is responsible for dealing with all high-risk operations, such as hostage situations on land, sea and air, including rescue-related operations.

All Task Force applicants are volunteers and have to comply with stringent physical requirements before being admitted to the basic training and selection course. The basic training course is twenty-six weeks long and includes weapons, rural and urban combat as well as basic parachute training courses. Compulsory advanced courses include special skills such as diving, VIP protection, explosives and medical training. The total initial training period is nine months, but completing all the requisite advanced courses to become a fully-fledged Special Task Force operational member may last up to three years.

Membership of the Special Task Force open to all male and female SAPS members with the rank of constable, sergeant or inspector.

In 2004 it was reported [1] that the SAPS STF may have lost nearly 60 percent of its active members to private companies recruiting security personnel to work in Iraq.