SAPS` COSTLY RESTRUCTURING A Review of Public Order Policing Capacity

This introductory chapter of a 2007 monograph by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) outlines the methodology and scope of a study assessing the capacity of South African Police Service (SAPS) Crime Combating Units (CCUs) to manage public order. The research focuses on the impact of 2001 and 2006 restructuring processes on the units' ability to handle protest marches and security for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

• The research evaluates the effectiveness of SAPS Crime Combating Units (CCUs) specifically regarding their capacity to ensure security for protest marches and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
• Public order policing capacity is determined by several factors, including legislation, training and its maintenance, available equipment, and the fitness, experience, and age of the members.
• The study examines the role of other agencies in crowd management, noting that metro police often act as first responders to spontaneous incidents, while the SAPS Visible Police (VISPOL) division is trained to assist CCUs with medium to low risk gatherings and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
• The research methodology involved interviews with police members and managers, observations of gatherings, and analysis of protest march data from the SAPS database and the Incident Registration Information System (IRIS).
• The public order policing units have undergone multiple name changes since the early 1970s, evolving from the Riot Unit to the Internal Stability Division (1992), Public Order Police Unit (1996), Area Crime Combating Unit (2002), and finally the Crime Combating Unit (2006).

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-1-introduction-and-methodology

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-1-introduction-and-methodology.

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-1-introduction-and-methodology |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-1-introduction-and-methodology}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }