Build One South Africa (BOSA) can today reveal that as of 31 May 2025, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) had 14,907 open misconduct cases involving South African Police Service (SAPS) officers, including 1486 deaths linked to police action and 97 cases of rape by police officers.
This data is contained in the Acting Minister of Police, Firoz Cachalia’s written reply to a question by BOSA Leader Dr Mmusi Maimane MP. Each of the almost 15,000 open misconduct cases reflects a violation of citizens’ rights by those sworn to uphold the law.
What is unsettling is that justice remains elusive for victims. IPID has managed to refer just 59 death cases and 9 rape cases to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), which is less than 5% of the cases under investigation.
In the Minister’s reply, he confirms that not a single conviction has been secured from these newly reported cases. While the Minister confirmed that eight convictions were achieved between April and June 2025, those relate to older investigations, not the current backlog of over 14,000 cases.
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. There is an accountability deficit within SAPS and the oversight bodies meant to police them.
BOSA will today write to the Chairperson of Parliament’s Police Portfolio Committee, Ian Cameron MP, requesting that the IPID leadership be summoned to explain and account to the people of South Africa for these shortcomings. This must include:
- The capacity shortfalls within IPID that are stalling investigations and referrals, and
- A clear set of reforms to ensure faster prosecutions and improved oversight of police conduct.
The South African public cannot be expected to trust a police service that appears unable or unwilling to police itself. It is time for Parliament to step up and step in.
Media Enquiries:
Roger Solomons
BOSA Spokesperson
072 299 3551