Report
Child Abuse/images
childprotect@saps.org.za
National Firearms Call Centre
+27 12 353 6111
Police Emergency Nr
10111

Operational Response Service

The Operational Response Services Division of the SAPS provides specialized operational response services to the community by -

maintaining public order;
preventing cross-border crime;
providing airborne support during law-enforcement operations; and
carrying out medium-risk and high-risk operations.

This division consists of the Border Police, the SAPS Air Wing, the Special Task Force, Crime Combating units and Intervention units.

Police members of the Area Crime Combating units are responsible for maintaining public order by-

combating serious and violent crime;
policing public gatherings;
giving specialized operational support to other units in the SAPS; and
ensuring the effective management of information.

These units participate in intelligence-driven operations to combat crime in the service areas of police stations. They also manage crowds at, for instance, marches and sports events. National Intervention units stabilize tense crime situations when normal policing is not enough by -

responding quickly to abnormally high levels of crime and public violence;
providing a support function to planned intelligence-driven operations. Mobile deployment focuses on identified areas to address crime;
performing specialized tasks regarding the combating of public violence in urban and rural areas; and
giving operational support to the Area Crime Combating units during high-risk operations.

These units are the link between the police station and the Special Task Force, as they deal with medium- to high-risk situations.

The Special Task Force (STF) is an elite unit that provides a specialized service to the community. The STF carries out high-risk operations that fall outside of the scope of classic policing.

The main duties of the STF are to -

deal with hostage situations on land and sea and in the air;
deal with urban and rural terror;
provide a specialized rescue service;
provide assistance that requires the specialized skills, techniques and equipment of this unit to other divisions of the SAPS; and
assist neighbouring police agencies with specialized policing services.

This unit carries out high-risk operations nationally and internationally. Members of the unit are dedicated and undergo the best training the SAPS has to offer. The training prepares them to deal with high-risk operations effectively. Members must meet certain requirements to be selected for the STF. There are selection programmes for men and women who want to join the STF.

Border Police personnel carry out border control. They prevent the illegal entry and exit of people and goods to and from South Africa. Our borders include those that can be entered by air, sea and land.

The Border Police have the following core operational responsibilities:

To combat organized crime by focusing on -
- criminal organizations’ involvement in crimes relating to firearms, drugs and vehicles;
- corruption; and
- commercial crime.
To combat serious and violent crime at South African borders by focusing on -
- the proliferation of firearms and the impact this has on the incidence of murder, armed robbery, heists and hijackings.
To combat crime against women and children at South African borders.
To improve basic service delivery at South African borders.

Border Police personnel work in cooperation with other Government departments to make our country’s 53 land ports, 10 international airports and eight seaports safe.

The Air Wing enforces the law by means of air support. The main function of the Air Wing is to render air support -

during policing operations aimed at the prevention or investigation of crime;
during quick response to crime call-outs;
for the fast deployment of personnel;
during anti-drugs operations;
for the taking of photographs and videos from the sky;
to monitor public gatherings and big events;
during border patrols;
for communication flights; and
during search and rescue operations.

What are the requirements for becoming a pilot in the SAPS?

Pilots who apply for positions in the SAPS must have -

a South African commercial pilot’s licence; and
a Grade 12 qualification with Mathematics as a subject.

SAPS members who want to become pilots -

must have a Grade 12 qualification with Mathematics as a subject;
should not be afraid of water or heights;
must be medically fit; and
must have 6/6 eyesight without glasses.

Applicants must be younger than 30 years, shorter than 1,90 metres, taller than 1,60 metres and weigh less than 100 kg.

Any SAPS member can apply to join the Air Wing. People who want to join the SAPS with the intention of becoming pilots must first meet all the basic requirements that apply to becoming fully qualified police officials.

Airborne law enforcement officials (ALEO) assist pilots during flights and carry out policing duties. Police members who apply to become ALEO must -

have sufficient experience in operational policing;
be younger than 30 years;
not have a fear of heights or water;
weigh less than 90 kg and be shorter than 1,90 metres; and
be non-commissioned officers.

Technical personnel are responsible for the technical maintenance of aircraft. To apply to become a member of the Air Wing’s technical division, a person must have at least a N3 technical qualification.

National Intervention Units stabilize tense crime situations in cases where normal policing is not enough. The units respond quickly to abnormally high levels of crime and public violence. They provide a support function to planned intelligence-driven operations. Mobile deployment focuses on identified areas to address crime. The National Intervention Units perform specialized tasks regarding the combating of public violence in urban and rural areas. They also give operational support to the Area Crime Combating Units during high-risk operations. These units are the link between the police station and the Special Task Force, as they deal with medium- to high-risk situations.