SAPS` COSTLY RESTRUCTURING A Review of Public Order Policing Capacity

This report chapter examines the 2006 restructuring of the South African Police Service (SAPS), specifically focusing on the transition of Area Crime Combating Units (ACCUs) to Crime Combating Units (CCUs) in Gauteng. The author argues that the restructuring significantly diminished public order policing capacity, disrupted specialist teamwork, and negatively impacted member morale and well-being due to a lack of transparency and increased commuting distances.

• The 2006 SAPS restructuring eliminated the area level of management to address duplication of functions and poor service delivery, moving management to national, provincial, and station levels. This resulted in the decentralization of specialist units, including the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) and the Serious and Violent Crimes Unit (SVC), to police stations.
• In Gauteng, the restructuring drastically reduced the capacity of crime combating units. The seven Area Crime Combating Units (ACCUs), which previously had 1,383 operational members, were reduced to three Crime Combating Units (CCUs) consisting of only 614 crowd management members. The remaining 769 members were redeployed to police stations for ordinary crime combating.
• The reduction in units led to severe logistical inefficiencies and extensive commuting for members. For example, some members of the Johannesburg CCU travel 30 km from Krugersdorp to the Diepkloof base, while others in the East Rand travel 103 km from Vereeniging to Springs. This has led to some members failing to participate in daily debriefings or failing to check in firearms.
• Public order policing capacity was diminished just as the demand for it increased; mass gatherings rose by 50% and violent incidents at gatherings rose by 64% between 2002 and 2005. Consequently, the CCUs now deploy smaller 'sections' of about ten members for events that previously required a full platoon of 36 members.
• The restructuring damaged specialist teamwork and the loss of established informer networks. Members reported a loss of trust in partners and a fear that redeployed specialist members would be used to do the work of 'lazy' station members, leading to a loss of specialist skills.
• Member morale and well-being declined significantly due to a lack of consultation and transparency. Many members viewed the transfers as punishment, and some considered leaving the SAPS. The process was described by some as 'one of the biggest mistakes ever made by the SAPS management'.
• Operation Trio, launched in February 2007 to reduce residential robberies, business robberies, and vehicle hijackings, further strained CCU capacity by deploying almost all operational members to priority police stations. This left CCUs with only commanders and support staff—some of whom lacked recent operational experience and danger allowances—to handle crowd management.

APA

Omar, B. (2007). SAPS` COSTLY RESTRUCTURING A Review of Public Order Policing Capacity. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.org/01-oct-2007-monograph-no-138-saps-costly-restructuring-a-review-of-public-order-policing-capacity-bilkis-omar/chapter-4-saps-restructuring-in-2006

Chicago

Omar, Bilkis. SAPS` COSTLY RESTRUCTURING A Review of Public Order Policing Capacity. Institute for Security Studies, 2007. https://issafrica.org/01-oct-2007-monograph-no-138-saps-costly-restructuring-a-review-of-public-order-policing-capacity-bilkis-omar/chapter-4-saps-restructuring-in-2006.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Omar |first1=Bilkis |title=SAPS` COSTLY RESTRUCTURING A Review of Public Order Policing Capacity |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=October 2007 |url=https://issafrica.org/01-oct-2007-monograph-no-138-saps-costly-restructuring-a-review-of-public-order-policing-capacity-bilkis-omar/chapter-4-saps-restructuring-in-2006 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{omar2007saps, author = {Omar, Bilkis}, title = {{SAPS` COSTLY RESTRUCTURING A Review of Public Order Policing Capacity}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2007}, month = oct, url = {https://issafrica.org/01-oct-2007-monograph-no-138-saps-costly-restructuring-a-review-of-public-order-policing-capacity-bilkis-omar/chapter-4-saps-restructuring-in-2006}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }