A recent disclosure from the minister of police, requested by Bosa, has revealed a key weakness in South Africa’s fight against crime. 

The reply from the Minister states a shortage of 2,344 detectives across the police. Detectives are responsible for investigating serious crimes, gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and building cases that lead to arrests and successful prosecutions. 

Without them, crimes remain unsolved, gangsters operate with impunity, and public trust collapses, said Bosa. The party advocates for a nationwide recruiting campaign that includes specific training for new investigators. 

This demand impacts the root of both the crime and South Africa’s ongoing unemployment crisis. The most affected areas are the Northern Cape with 231 vacancies and the Free State with 180 vacancies, said Bosa.

Beyond recruiting and training, it requires enough resources, equipment, and cars for investigators. Finally, the party advocates for a transparent public tracking system for case backlogs and progress. 

This call by Bosa is for accountability, ensuring that the public can track the effectiveness of police operations and hold authorities accountable for delivering justice.

With 180 detective openings in the Free State alone, the ability to examine these various crimes, whether they are on the rise or showing a little drop, is significantly hindered. This provincial reality underscores Bosa’s broader concern that a national detective shortage directly feeds the country’s crime rates and breakdown in law and order.

“This scarcity implies that even when a crime is reported, necessary follow-up investigations, evidence collecting, and witness interviews are severely hampered. 

Urgent action needed

Detectives are responsible for investigating serious crimes, gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and building cases that lead to arrests and successful prosecutions. Without them, crimes remain unsolved, gangsters operate with impunity, and public trust collapses, said Bosa. 

Detective shortage cripples South African justice, emboldens criminals. Bosa urged urgent action to restore law and order and protect communities. 

It further asserts their statement by concluding with a powerful and stark warning: “Every detective post left vacant is a criminal given a free pass.”

OFM News mvh