Surge in SAPS Payouts: Billions Spent on Wrongful Arrests & Assaults Over Four Years

In a stark demonstration of the ongoing issues within law enforcement in South Africa, the South African Police Service (SAPS) has disbursed a staggering R1.66 billion in compensation over the past four years—funds directed towards claims made by individuals for wrongful arrests, detentions, and assaults while in police custody.

The disheartening statistics were disclosed by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu in response to a parliamentary inquiry which also underscored a troubling upward trend in both the number of claims made against SAPS and the corresponding compensatory amounts paid out to claimants.

Starting from the fiscal year 2020/2021, SAPS faced 3,303 claims for wrongful arrests and detentions, settling these for R239 million. The trend worsened in each consecutive year, peaking in 2023/2024 with 5,533 claims, costing the service R491 million. Over these four years, wrongful arrest and detention claims alone cost the state a monumental R1.62 billion, revealing a systemic issue within the police service regarding the handling of arrests.

Claims relating to assaults while in police custody, though fewer in number, also indicated a severe accountability issue within SAPS. From a total of just 74 assault claims in 2020/2021, the number has grown to 125 by 2023/2024, with the total cost over four years reaching R48.1 million.

Minister Mchunu further highlighted that a total of 52,032 general claims were made against SAPS during this period, with approximately 18,078 resolved. This workload not only reflects the gravity of grievances held against the police force but also underscores the financial and administrative burden borne by the state in settling these claims.

In addition to the figures provided by Mchunu, a recent ruling by the Free State High Court further illustrated the severity of the issue. Three men were awarded a combined total of R4 million after being wrongfully detained and maliciously prosecuted, having been subjected to charges ranging from murder to robbery before their eventual acquittal.

These cases and the surging claim payouts challenge SAPS to introspect and reform, identifying and correcting the underlying causes of such legal missteps. There is a clear need for enhanced training, better supervision, and perhaps more crucially, a robust internal accountability mechanism that prevents such infringements from occurring in the first place.

Addressing these concerns is imperative not only for the fiscal health of the department but, more critically, for the protection of the civil liberties of South African citizens.