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Call for Investigation Into Police Body Cameras in South Africa

Dear Editor

Yesterday, 29 October 2024, the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service (CSPS) presented a performance update to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) Select Committee on Security and Justice, based on their 2023/24 Annual Performance Plan and Budget Allocation.

During this session, the Select Committee endorsed the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) proposal for the CSPS to investigate the potential implementation of police body cameras across South Africa. The DA urged the CSPS to initiate research and develop policy recommendations or amendments that would mandate body camera use, with clear guidelines on when and how cameras should be deployed.

The DA emphasised that this investigation should focus on the potential for body cameras to improve accountability, community trust, transparency in incident reporting, and overall police conduct.

Recently, the DA disclosed alarming statistics from KwaZulu-Natal, where an average of nine suspects were fatally shot each month in exchanges with the SAPS between July 2023 and July 2024. IPID’s 2022/23 report further highlighted that KZN alone saw 108 suspect deaths due to police action that year, while the national figure stood at 364 deaths.

The DA recognises the risks faced by law enforcement but stresses that deadly force should remain a last resort, not a standard response, particularly in a country grappling with high crime rates. Excessive use of force could erode public trust in both law enforcement and the criminal justice system.

The CSPS’s commitment to exploring body camera use marks a positive move, opening the door for an evidence-based review of body camera policies and international best practices, tailored to South Africa’s unique challenges.

The DA firmly believes that body cameras will strengthen transparency, accountability, and public confidence in policing, benefiting both law enforcement officers and the communities they serve.

Regards

Mzamo Billy MP
DA Member on the Select Committee on Security and Justice

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