Mashatile to SAPS: “Don’t Surrender to Criminals – Defend Yourselves”

The Union Buildings in Pretoria stood solemn on Sunday as the nation gathered for SAPS National Commemoration Day, an annual tribute to officers who paid the ultimate price in the line of duty. Against this somber backdrop, Deputy President Paul Mashatile delivered a fiery message to the men and women in blue: do not die with your guns still in their holsters.

A solemn roll call of loss

This year, 27 officers lost their lives, a slight decline from 39 in 2024. Yet each number is not just a statistic, it is a family shattered, a community left vulnerable, and a reminder of the rising dangers police face daily. Families of fallen officers sat quietly during the ceremony, their grief mirrored in the heavy silence that swept across the crowd as their loved ones’ names were read out.

A direct warning to criminals

Mashatile did not mince his words when addressing the reality of organised crime. Syndicates involved in drug trafficking, gang activity, and sophisticated heists are increasingly bold in their attacks, often targeting officers themselves.

“An attack on a police officer is an attack on the state,” Mashatile declared. “And it will be met with the full might of the law.”

His comments struck a chord online, where South Africans voiced both support and frustration. Some argued that officers need greater legal protection to use their firearms without fear of repercussions, while others stressed that trust in SAPS must first be rebuilt before citizens rally behind them.

The shadow within the ranks

Perhaps the most striking part of Mashatile’s speech was his acknowledgment of collusion between corrupt officers and criminals. This is not new to South Africans, who have seen headlines about officers caught aiding syndicates.

“Uncover wrongdoing inside your ranks,” Mashatile urged. “We cannot fight crime when the rot exists within our own walls.”

His words reflect a broader truth: public confidence in SAPS is fragile. Many communities often feel safer forming street patrols and neighborhood watches than relying on police response. For Mashatile, rebuilding this trust means rooting out corruption and inefficiency from within.

Honoring the fallen, investing in the future

Representing President Cyril Ramaphosa, Mashatile sought to reassure grieving families that their loved ones’ sacrifices were not in vain. “Their legacy endures in the safety of our communities and in the freedom of our democracy,” he said.

But beyond words of comfort, the deputy president promised action: better technology, stronger intelligence, specialised units, and tighter laws to protect police officers.

A national responsibility

The battle against crime, Mashatile reminded South Africans, is not one the police can fight alone. Communities must cooperate, not clash, with the SAPS. “We cannot stand by as criminals terrorise our officers and our streets. We must stand united.”

At a time when South Africa grapples with high crime rates and distrust in its institutions, Mashatile’s speech was more than a ceremonial address, it was a call to arms, both literal and symbolic. Whether his words will translate into real change on the ground remains the question.