President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to deliver the keynote address at the opening of the 2025 Policing Summit on Tuesday at the Emperors Palace Convention Centre in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng. The three-day summit aims to tackle South Africa’s escalating crime levels under the theme “Efficiency in Action: Optimizing South Africa’s Policing Potential.”
The summit will bring together key stakeholders to explore strategies for improving the effectiveness of the South African Police Service (SAPS), with a focus on visible policing, detective work, and crime intelligence.
Among the critical voices ahead of the summit is the South African Policing Union (SAPU), which has raised concerns about chronic under-resourcing within the SAPS.
SAPU spokesperson Lesiba Thobakgale highlighted the shrinking police workforce, stating, “In 2010, SAPS had over 190,000 members, but today, despite population growth, those numbers have dropped. It’s increasingly difficult to win the fight against crime without adequate manpower and resources.”
Thobakgale also urged the summit to address the alarming number of police killings, stressing the urgent need for measures to protect officers on duty.
The summit is expected to generate actionable recommendations for strengthening South Africa’s policing capabilities and restoring public confidence in law enforcement.