The Western Cape is operating with a shortfall of 791 detectives and thousands of vacant SAPS posts, according to provincial policing data and oversight reports, as crime-fighters and political parties continue to raise concerns over policing capacity in gang-ridden communities.
Figures in the Western Cape’s Policing Needs and Priorities report show that of 3 606 allocated detective posts in the Western Cape, only 2 815 are filled, a vacancy rate of about 28%.
The province also recorded 1 757 vacant SAPS posts as of March 2024, contributing to mounting pressure on frontline policing services across the province.
The detective shortages come amid continued debate around Operation Prosper, the joint SAPS and SANDF deployment introduced to tackle gang violence and organised crime on the Cape Flats.
Fight Against Crime SA spokesperson, Jay Jay Idel, recently questioned the impact of the deployment, saying communities continued to experience gang shootings and violent crime despite the military presence.
He said between April 6 and May 3, they recorded around 238 serious incidents across the Flats through the community-based reporting platform.
This involved 67 fatalities or serious injuries, 48 involving critical violence, and over 131 still being classified.
“These are community-reported figures and official records may differ, but they reflect what people on the ground are actually living through while the government pats itself on the back for showing up,” he said.
GOOD secretary-general Brett Herron also criticised the operation, saying the deployment of soldiers into communities affected by violent crime was producing a “totally predictable outcome”.
“The presence of the military may give a sense of comfort but the extra boots on the ground is not reducing violent crime or deaths,” Herron said.
“We cannot police people to safety. We have to cure the disease.”
The DA in the Western Cape said the detective shortage was severely affecting the ability of police to investigate crime and secure convictions.
Benedicta van Minnen, DA Western Cape spokesperson on Police Oversight and Community Safety, said the shortage of detectives was undermining the province’s ability to effectively respond to crime.
“The shortage of detectives is particularly alarming. As of August 2025, the allocated number of detectives stood at 3 606, yet only 2 815 posts were filled – leaving a shortfall of 791 detectives, or 28%. This severely undermines the ability of SAPS to investigate crimes effectively, secure convictions, and deliver justice for victims,” she said.
Van Minnen also raised concern over staffing shortages within the SAPS Inspectorate division, saying oversight capacity had weakened significantly.
DA NCOP Member on Security and Justice, Nicholas Gotsell, said “while SAPS stations battle detective shortages, broken vehicles and collapsing K9 capacity which severely hamper the fight against crime on the Cape Flats, taxpayers are funding two Police Ministers at the same time and billions continue flowing into VIP protection for politicians.”
This comes as taxpayers are continuing to fund more than R2.2 million in salary costs for suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, who remains on special leave pending an inquiry while receiving full remuneration under public service regulations.
Mchunu was placed on special leave following allegations of serious corruption and interference in police investigations in July 2025.
However, despite performing no ministerial duties for the past 10 months, Mchunu has continued to earn a salary of approximately R2.69 million annually, translating to about R224 166.67 per month, with a 3.8% increase effective April 2026.
Mchunu was implicated by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi in 2025 regarding the alleged infiltration of law enforcement agencies by criminal syndicates, specifically involving the disbanding of a task team investigating political killings – the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT).
The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) said although special leave is not the same as dismissal or suspension without benefits, “politics is getting in the way of this matter”.
“It is a concern that we have people on long-term suspensions throughout the government as it is. We have this far too often in various departments, just as we have it with the Presidency. This indicates an inability to hold people to account, to follow due process, and to address these issues promptly. Obviously, it is a little different when it comes to cabinet members, but in this case, with Mchunu, we believe the President is taking far too long,” said OUTA CEO, Wayne Duvenhage.
Liesl van der Schyff
iol.co.za