Saps To Roll Out 100 Body Cameras By April

The South African Police Service SAPS says it plans to fast-track the implementation of phase one of the body cameras for use by its members immediately at the beginning of the 2025/2026 financial year.

Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu announced last week that SAPS will begin rolling out the use of 100 body cameras as early as April 1.

Mchunu told Parliament that the total investment for the rollout will cost nearly R2.88 million in the first year. He said this is projected to reach R14.4 million over the next five years.

Divisional Commissioner for Technology Management Services at SAPS, Lieutenant General Edith Nonkululeko Mavundla elaborates on the reasons for this approach:

The police indeed have an intent to roll out the body cameras on a smaller scale because its a new technology that we have to learn through as well. But at the moment, there are still processes that need to be followed so that we get to a point where we have gone through supply chain management processes for us to be able to get a contract and be able to implement such. Yes, the intent is to implement from the coming financial year, which is 2025 and 2026, yes gradually, on a smaller scale.