Four provinces identified as crime hotspots at inaugural National Policing Summit 2025

The three-day National Policing Summit has classified Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern and Western Cape as the country’s crime hotspots. 

Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu said for that reason, the SAPS is focusing on dealing decisively with crime in these provinces, with the priorities being reducing murders, removing unnecessary firearms from communities and drugs, as well as fighting gender-based violence and femicide and organised crime. He was presenting the outcomes of the summit, which took place from 8 to 10 April 2025 in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng. 

“We are very much aware of the increases in crimes such as kidnappings, extortion, cash-in-transit heists and stock theft. There are plans underway to bring those crimes under control,” Mchunu said. “As a means of effectively reducing crime, we have identified several key enablers, including using and improving our technology, strengthening our crime intelligence, capacitating and upskilling our detective services, improving and expanding our forensic services and improving the general environment under which police officers work.” 

He said the Employee Health and Wellness Workshop convened in February 2025 sought to address all the SAPS internal issues, relating to personal health matters and conditions of service. These were processed through various commissions and now endorsed by the summit. “Going forward, we are seized with implementation,” Mchunu said. 

“We have made mention of the budgetary constraints, but we have also committed to maximising the budget allocated and the resources at our disposal. Business has also come on board and through that partnership, there are projects aimed at capacitating, particularly our detective services, improving our technology and increasing our laboratories.” 

He said the people of South Africa demand policing that is efficient, effective, and accountable. “The people of South Africa demand a police service that is worthy of their trust, and most importantly, the people of South Africa demand that we act. I want to reaffirm our commitment. We are committed to realising an efficient, effective, and responsible police service, one that reflects the values and aspirations of our democracy. This is non-negotiable,” Mchunu added. 

National Commissioner of the SAPS, General Fannie Masemola, said participants progressively engaged with seasoned researchers, academic leaders, business sector, subject matter experts and community structures on how to turn the tide, recalibrate and reposition the South African Police Service for the future we collectively envision. 

He said the summit, themed “Efficiency in Action: Optimising South Africa’s Policing Potential,” was convened to address high crime rate, reduced public confidence in law enforcement, and police service that is operating under increasing demands and limited resources. 

Holding SAPS management accountable to the nation

“During the summit deliberations, we assessed the current state and performance of the SAPS, focussed on operational inefficiencies and we identified pragmatic strategies that will improve and advance maximum effectiveness in policing while strategically repositioning the SAPS to ensure long-term relevance, heightened professionalism, and the restoration of public trust.  

“The SAPS will establish a National Policing Summit Operations Room. This facility will house a permanent scoreboard that will track and trace progress on the resolutions of the summit periodically for the next five years.” 

Masemola said they believe that this significant move will hold the management of the SAPS accountable to the nation; as we commit to turnaround the policing direction of this country. “This will equally respond to the directive of President Cyril Ramaphosa, during his address at the opening of the Policing Summit on Tuesday 8 April 2024, when he reiterated the importance of positioning Batho Pele principles at the centre of policing and reduce violent crime by half in the country. 

“In line with the Policing Summit Programme of Action, the South African Police Service in collaboration with other key stakeholders, will outline the implementation plan with clear indication of the immediate and medium to long term deliverables.” 

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