SAPS Profile | History
(SINCE 1994)
South Africa became an internationally accepted
democracy in 1994 when President Nelson Mandela was elected as the
first President of the new South Africa, bringing the era of
"apartheid" to an end. This new democratic order brought
about many changes in the country and also had a substantial
impact on policing. Mr Sydney Mufamadi was appointed as the first
Minister for Safety and Security in the new South Africa. He was
assisted by Deputy Minister Joe Matthews.
Prior to 1995, South Africa was divided into the
so-called TBVC States, Self-Governing Territories and Development
Regions (old South Africa). The TBVC States had independent status
but were not widely recognized by the international community. The
TBVC States and Self-Governing Territories were also referred to
as Homelands (see map). These so-called
Homelands were the following:
-
TBVC States: Transkei, Bophuthatswana,
Venda and Ciskei
-
Self-Governing Territories: Gazankulu,
Kangwane, Kwandebele, Kwazulu, Lebowa and Qwaqwa
Every homeland had its own policing agency,
bringing the total number of policing agencies in the country to
eleven (10 homelands + the old South African Police). All
eleven
policing agencies had different uniforms, rank structures and
conditions of service and were established under different pieces
of legislation.
With the adoption of the interim Constitution in
1994, the Homelands and old development regions were abolished and
integrated into a united South Africa with nine provinces. The new
Constitution established a single National
Police Service for South Africa under the executive command and
control of a National Commissioner who is appointed by the
President.
On 29 January 1995, General
George
Fivaz was appointed by President Nelson Mandela as the first
National Commissioner of the new South African Police Service
(click
here for his inauguration speech). George Fivaz had the
responsibility to first and foremost amalgamate the eleven
policing agencies into a single united South African Police
Service and secondly to align the new Police Service to new
legislation and the process of transformation in South Africa.
South Africa held elections in 1999 and Minister
Sydney Mufamadi was succeeded by Minister Steve Tshwete as
Minister for Safety and Security when he was appointed in that
position by the country's new President, Thabo Mbeki.
Mr Joe Matthews remained as Deputy Minister for Safety and Security.
National Commissioner George Fivaz's term of
office expired during January 2000 and he was succeeded by Jackie
Selebi (click
here for his inauguration speech). Minister Tshwete paid
tribute to Fivaz and indicted that policing in South Africa had
entered a new era with the appointment of Jackie Selebi as the
second National Commissioner of the South African Police Service
(click
here for his official speech at the handing over of command at a
special parade).
Fate dictated that Minister Steve Tshwete should
depart on the eve of the anniversary of Freedom Day, our new
beginning.
Minister Tshwete was succeeded by Minister Charles
Nqakula
during May 2002. During the Election of 2004 Deputy Minister Joe
Matthews was succeeded by Deputy Minister S Shabangu when she was
appointed as Deputy Minister for Safety and Security. A decade
and a half after Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was formally elected
as the first President of a democratic South Africa, and after
President Mbeki took the oath of office, as the second President
of the Republic in June 1999, Mr Jacob Zuma became the fourth
President of the Republic of South Africa on 9 May 2009.
After the Inauguration President Jacob Zuma on 10 May 2009
announced the appointment of a new cabinet. Minister Nathi
Mthethwa was appointed as Minister of Police and Deputy Minister
Fikile Mbalula was appointed as Deputy Minister of Police. As
one of the priorities in his Medium Term Strategic Framework
President Zuma outlined the importance of working together with
all South Africans, so as to intensify the fight against crime
and corruption. He stressed the need to build cohesive, caring
and sustainable communities. The name of the Ministry for Safety
and Security was also changed to Ministry of Police to emphasise
real operational energy in police work that will contribute to
the reduction of serious and violent crimes.
General Bheki Hamilton Cele was appointed by President Zuma as
Police Commissioner of the South African Police Service on 2
August 2009. General Cele who worked in this related field since
1994 was, until his appointment, serving as the MEC for
Transport, Community Safety and Liaison in KwaZulu-Natal. The
President expressed no doubt that General Cele would lead the
SAPS efficiently and effectively in forging ahead to improve its
capacity to fight crime. (Click here for the announcement of the new National Police Commissioner)
On 31 October 2010 President Jacob Zuma announced changes to the National Executive.
Changes were guided by the mission of our government, which is to improve the quality of
life for all South Africans especially the poor, working with all our people, providing
access to basic services and addressing the need to see a visible improvement in safety
and security and a host of other basic needs. Deputy Minister Makhotso Magdeline Sotyu
replaced Deputy Minister Mbalula, who now became the Minister of Sport and Recreation.
Deputy Minister Sotyu has been involved in various Parliamentary Committees including the Portfolio Committees
on Water and Environment as well as Police. (see media release on welcoming of deputy minister)
On 12 June 2012, the President of the Republic of South
Africa, Mr Jacob Zuma, announced the appointment of a new
National Commissioner of the South African Police Service.
The Minister of Police, Mr Nathi Mthethwa, has welcomed
General Phiyega to the police family on behalf of all
employees and said that "we will give her all the necessary
support to ensure that we collectively continue to deal a
blow to crime". (Click
here to see media release on welcoming of new National Commissioner)
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