Law enforcement in South Africa

JMPD officers in Houghton Estate

Law enforcement in South Africa is primarily the responsibility of the South African Police Service (SAPS), South Africa's national police force, which is responsible for investigating crime and maintaining safety and security throughout the country. The South African Police Service is established in accordance with the provisions of Section 205 of the Constitution of South Africa.^[1]

Some municipalities also maintain their own Municipal Police units, which are tasked mainly with traffic policing and the enforcement of municipal bylaws. Municipal Police have fewer powers than the South African Police Service, and do not investigate major crimes.^[2] Municipal Police forces exist in a number of major cities, including Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban.

See also

• Law of South Africa

References

Law enforcement in South Africa Department of Police South African Police Service Crime Intelligence Hawks National Intervention Unit NFDD Special Task Force Municipal Police Independent Police Investigative Directorate Department of Correctional Services Prisons Life imprisonment Crime Sexual violence (Corrective rape) Xenophobic violence Farm attacks Taxi wars Terrorism Corruption Human trafficking Kidnapping Commissions of Inquiry Farlam Commission Khayelitsha Commission See also Law Private security industry Gun politics Biometrics use