The Independent Policing Union of South Africa says poor decision-making by senior management is to blame for the high rate of police suicides.

The union is calling for urgent intervention.

Ipusa spokesperson Mpho Kwinika said, "for the past 30 years we've been talking about this with the senior management of police."

"They need to detach the issue of the ranking system... their general practitioners should refer them to private hospitals, but employee health and wellness is an important and integral part of the police."

"Police battle with a range of issues and bring them to the working environment, they should be referred to relevant structures."

eNCA