Overloaded and Undermanned: SA’s Detective Shortage Is Letting Criminals Walk Free

As violent crime surges, South Africa’s detective units are cracking—not cases, but under pressure.

Thousands of Cases, Too Few Detectives

In a country where crime statistics make headlines almost weekly, two of South Africa’s most dangerous provinces are operating with far too few detectives, the very people tasked with solving serious crimes.

According to a recent response from Police Minister Senzo Mchunu to questions posed by Build One South Africa (BOSA) leader Musi Maimane, the South African Police Service (SAPS) currently has 2,344 unfilled detective posts.

This isn’t just a staffing problem, it’s a public safety crisis.

Cold Cases, Broken Trust

“Every file that gathers dust is a story left unfinished,” said BOSA in a strongly worded statement. “Behind every uninvestigated case is a victim waiting for justice, and a perpetrator walking free.”

Detectives are the backbone of the criminal justice system. They’re the ones collecting evidence, tracking suspects, interviewing witnesses, and building cases that could lead to arrests and court convictions. When they’re stretched thin or missing altogether justice stalls.

In provinces already battling gang violence, drug trade, and gender-based violence, this vacuum means one thing: criminals operate unchecked.

Popcru: This Is Not New

The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) isn’t surprised. They’ve been sounding the alarm for years.

“The shortage has been longstanding,” said Popcru president Thulani Ngwenya, who met with Mchunu earlier this month to revisit the issue. He explained that existing detectives are drowning in caseloads, overworked and overwhelmed.

In one local station, a single detective may be tasked with more than 200 active cases, an impossible workload by any standard.

Hope Incoming: New Trainees in 2025

Minister Mchunu did offer some hope: 5,500 trainees are expected to join the SAPS ranks in August and December 2025, with 4,000 of those allocated to detective work.

But critics warn that the timeline may be too little, too late, especially with a backlog that spans years and an attrition rate that keeps eroding progress.

Parliament Also Watching

The Portfolio Committee on Police has also put pressure on SAPS management to act.

Committee chairperson Ian Cameron called for a complete rethink of how SAPS manages recruitment and retention within its investigative units.

“Without an effective and well-resourced detective service,” said Cameron, “our fight against crime is doomed before it even begins.”

He said detective services would be a central focus for the committee going forward.

On the Ground: Communities Left Vulnerable

South Africans living in crime hotspots like Gauteng and the Western Cape are feeling the effects firsthand. Many report frustration with stalled investigations, delayed justice, and no follow-up after reporting crimes.

“It’s like your case disappears the moment you walk out of the police station,” one Johannesburg resident told IOL.

Social media platforms have echoed the same sentiment, with hashtags like #JusticeDelayed and #SAPSFailingUs trending after each shocking crime incident with no closure.

More Than Numbers, It’s a Lifeline

This isn’t just about filling vacancies. It’s about restoring the trust of communities, ensuring victims are heard, and holding criminals accountable.

Until the detective shortage is addressed, South Africa’s justice system will continue to limp forward and its people will continue to pay the price.