In the annual IPID report for 2025/2026, presented by Police Minister Phizor Kachalia to the National Assembly, 5,259 registered cases were recorded, of which 332 were linked to gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).
The National Portfolio Committee on Police stated that a police badge cannot serve as a shield against accountability, emphasizing the need for thorough vetting of police officers amid the rise in gender-based violence and femicide across the country.
Furthermore, the Forum on Crime Operations and Justice called for stringent psychiatric evaluations, noting that keeping police weapons at home is no longer safe.
The IPID report indicated that out of the total 5,259 registered cases, 332 were related to GBVF. Two recent incidents in the Western Cape and Limpopo were recorded where police officers were arrested and charged with murder and attempted murder, allegedly connected to GBVF.
The Ministry informed Weekend Argus that psychological and psychiatric support is provided to police officers working under stressful conditions or facing mental health challenges. Kamogelo Mogotosi, Kachalia's press secretary, confirmed that the ministry offers such support because officers are subjected to immense pressure and traumatic situations. He specified that the SAPS Employee Health and Wellbeing Social Services exist for this purpose, offering medical, psychiatric, and psychological assistance.
IPID also reported 84 criminal convictions for various offenses, representing an increase of nearly 50% compared to the previous year when 43 convictions were issued. Of these 84 convictions, 26 related to GBVF cases. The sentences varied from several months to life imprisonment.
A total of 122 cases were referred, predominantly related to domestic violence. Other categories included 116 cases of sexual assault by police, 58 cases of assault and torture, 24 cases of murder, and 10 cases of illegal use of official firearms.
IPID spokesperson Lizzy Supin noted that the stations with the highest number of registered GBVF cases are Kimberley in the Northern Cape and Mariannhill in KwaZulu-Natal, each with seven cases. They were followed by Madadeny and Phoenix in KwaZulu-Natal, with six cases each, as well as Hhumud in the Eastern Cape and Velkom in the Free State, with five cases each.
Earlier this week in the Western Cape, police officer Keegan Petersen appeared before the Blou-downs Magistrates Court, where he is accused of two murders, three attempted murders, and illegal possession of ammunition. The investigation may lead to additional charges.
Eric Ntababazila, Regional Communications Manager for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), stated that the state would object to Petersen's bail. According to him, the accused took his girlfriend from home and drove her to his place, after which her brother and another man came looking for her. The state alleges that Petersen fatally shot the girlfriend's brother and the man she was with, and also attempted to kill three others, including the girlfriend herself. During the investigation, police found four shotgun pellets in a safe at his home. The case has been postponed until October 6, 2026, for the bail application, and the state intends to object to such an application.
In Limpopo, a police sergeant allegedly killed a man during a road conflict, raped a teenager, and then committed suicide in Ga-Masha, near Jane Furse, in September. Additionally, in June, a shooting incident occurred resulting in three deaths, two injuries, and one police officer killed in Henneman. The Free State Police reported that a 47-year-old rural security coordinator based in Henneman was involved in this incident.
Another case occurred in Parsonsville, Gqeberha, in July 2026, when a 44-year-old sergeant working at New Brighton SAPS allegedly shot his wife, a 34-year-old sergeant working at Mount Road SAPS, in a case of domestic homicide and suicide. Two minors remained unharmed.
In August 2025, a police officer from Brackenfell opened an investigation after committing suicide along with his wife following a domestic dispute.
The Chairperson of the National Portfolio Committee on Police, Jan Cameron, questioned the vetting procedures for police officers before they were issued weapons and badges. He cited the example of Natasha Boize, aged 32. In January 2022, she was with her family in Pietermaritzburg when her boyfriend, SAPS member Richard 'Macca' Smith, found her. When she refused to go with him, he shot her. Later, the court found that Smith already had previous charges of assault, yet he remained in the SAPS and had access to firearms, raising questions for the judge. Ultimately, Smith was convicted of the premeditated murder of Natasha and sentenced to life imprisonment. This case served as a warning about the importance of vetting, discipline, and weapon control, as well as the consequences of inadequate response to red flags from police officers. As Cameron noted, 'A badge cannot be a shield against accountability.'
Zonah Morton, Director of the Forum on Crime Operations and Justice, stated that it can no longer be considered safe for police officers to take their weapons home. She pointed to a disturbing pattern of inconsistency in actions against police officers accused of murder, attempted murder, and sexual crimes. In her view, those surrounding SAPS members who take service weapons home are in danger. Morton emphasized that disciplinary measures alone should not be relied upon, as this does not guarantee any other outcome. While acknowledging the immense stress experienced by SAPS officers, she believes there is no justification for simply taking a weapon and killing someone. She insists on the urgent review of the vetting process and the implementation of stricter psychiatric assessments to hire only the best professionals.
