PROJECT: THE CRISES IN SOUTH AFRICA'S SAPS DETECTIVE CAPACITY

isabels39
May 30
6 min read

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South Africa’s law enforcement system, particularly the detective branch of the South African Police Service (SAPS),

is facing a crisis of capacity, competence, and coordination. According to specialist investigator Mike Bolhuis,

these deficiencies have been persistent for years and continue to erode the country’s ability to investigate, resolve,

and prevent crime effectively. His assessment highlights deep-rooted challenges that undermine

both public safety and trust in the justice system.

When asked in a recent interview what he proposes as a solution to the collapse of detective services

and broader policing dysfunction in South Africa, Mr. Mike Bolhuis outlined a clear,

multifaceted vision rooted in professionalisation, accountability, and public trust.

THE COLLAPSE OF DETECTIVE CAPACITY IN THE SAPS:

Mr. Mike Bolhuis describes the detective unit in the SAPS as gravely under-resourced and critically understaffed.
The core problem is twofold: there are too few officers, and among those, too few are adequately trained or competent to handle serious investigations.
Many officers view policing as merely a job rather than a vocation.
They lack the drive, training, and capability to perform their duties to the standard that public safety demands.
Additionally, the absence of specialised units further hampers the force’s effectiveness.
Where once elite units dealt with specific crime categories, such as organised crime, cybercrime, or violent crime, many of these have been dismantled or merged into broader, less efficient structures.
This lack of distinction and specialisation means that crimes requiring technical knowledge often go unresolved.

THE LACK OF TRAINING, TOOLS AND TECHNOLOGY:

The modern crime landscape demands technical expertise and access to advanced investigative tools, particularly in areas such as cybercrime, telecommunications interception, and digital surveillance.
SAPS officers are not equipped or trained to use modern technologies such as data grabbers, drones, and cyber forensics equipment.
Even when the state does invest in such technologies, they often go unused owing to a lack of trained personnel.
Physical fitness is another concern.
Many officers are not in good health and are unable to perform basic physical duties.
Moreover, internal dysfunction is common - officers frequently fail to cooperate or work effectively as a team, which is essential for investigative success.
In some cases, toxic workplace cultures lead to animosity, isolation, and intimidation among officers.

UNMANAGEABLE WORKLOADS AND INEQUITABLE CASE DISTRIBUTION:

Mr. Mike Bolhuis offers a startling insight into detective workloads: officers who are competent and motivated are frequently overloaded with hundreds of cases, sometimes as many as 300 to 500 at a time.
This is unmanageable, resulting in many investigations being delayed, poorly handled, or abandoned.
Meanwhile, officers who are less capable or unwilling to engage receive lighter caseloads or allow their dockets to stagnate.
This disparity severely affects case outcomes.
Cases are often closed owing to insufficient evidence . Sometimes cases are delayed beyond the point of prosecution.
Statements are improperly taken, evidence is lost or mismanaged, and procedural missteps compromise investigations.

IMPACT ON CRIME RATES AND PUBLIC CONFIDENCE:

The consequences of under-resourced and mismanaged detective units are profound.
Crime thrives where policing is weak or absent.
Mr. Bolhuis emphasises that in South Africa, crime is often enabled by police corruption and systemic failure.
When officers are involved in or indifferent to crime, or when they fail to act decisively, criminal activity escalates.
In such an environment, “crime pays”—and offenders often act with impunity.
Public confidence in SAPS has deteriorated.
Victims frequently seek help from private investigators or security firms because official channels have failed them.
Mr. Bolhuis’s organisation, Specialised Security Services (SSS), routinely handles cases that SAPS has neglected or mishandled - cases that require complete reinvestigation from the ground up.

THE RISE OF PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS AND SECURITY SERVICES:

Owing to the collapse of state policing in many areas, private security and investigative firms have seen a sharp rise in demand.
Mr. Bolhuis describes SSS as a last resort for desperate citizens seeking justice or safety.
South Africans, he says, live in a constant state of paranoia and fear, driven by crime and compounded by economic instability.
This survival mentality is widespread, with only a small elite able to afford private protection, while the vast majority of citizens remain vulnerable.
The country is thus polarised not only economically but in terms of access to justice and safety.

SYSTEMIC REFORM AND WHAT MUST CHANGE:

A total overhaul of the SAPS structure and mindset is required. Key reforms should include:

RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING:
- Officers must be literate, physically fit, emotionally stable, and genuinely motivated to serve the public.
- Policing must become a professional vocation, not just a means of earning a living.
SPECIALISATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT:
- Modern crime requires highly trained personnel in areas like cybercrime, forensics, and financial crime.
- South Africa’s cybercrime unit, for example, is vastly under-resourced, with only a handful of operatives equipped to handle this growing threat.
TEAMWORK AND INTERNAL COHESION:
- Effective policing depends on collaboration, not conflict.
- Officers must work together, support each other, and share knowledge and resources.
INFRASTRUCTURE AND TOOLS:
- Even the best-trained officers are ineffective without the necessary tools.
- From vehicles to software, forensics labs to communications systems - the SAPS must be fully equipped to respond to today’s criminal threats.
POLITICAL AND IDEOLOGICAL NEUTRALITY:
- Officers must be apolitical, colourblind, and free from religious or ideological bias.
- They must serve all citizens equally, without fear or favour.
PUBLIC COLLABORATION:
- Crime cannot be tackled by the police alone.
- Authorities, the government, and the public must work together in a transparent manner.
- When community members report a crime, their information must be acted upon promptly and without prejudice.

In Mr. Mike Bolhuis’s view, South Africa stands on the brink of collapse.

Without urgent, holistic reform, crime will continue to escalate, and public trust will erode further.

A police force that cannot protect and serve is not merely ineffective - it is a threat to the social fabric.

The vision he offers is clear: a competent, ethical, and well-equipped SAPS,

working in close collaboration with the public, is the only way to restore stability and hope.

Without this, South Africa risks losing the very foundations of its democracy - safety, justice, and the rule of law.

Specialised Security Services invites the public to the Mike Bolhuis Daily Projects WhatsApp Channel.

This channel is important in delivering insights into the latest crime trends, awareness, warnings and the exposure of criminals.

How to Join the WhatsApp Channel:

1. Make sure you have the latest version of WhatsApp on your device.

2. Click on the link below to join the Mike Bolhuis Daily Projects WhatsApp Channel:

- https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VarjftF8PgsI4pODE929

3. Follow the prompts to join the channel.

4. Make sure you click on "Follow", then click on the "bell"-icon (🔔)

CONTACT MR MIKE BOLHUIS FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY MEASURES, PROTECTION, OR AN INVESTIGATION IF NEEDED.

ALL INFORMATION RECEIVED WILL BE TREATED IN THE STRICTEST CONFIDENTIALITY AND EVERY IDENTITY WILL BE PROTECTED.

Regards,

Mike Bolhuis

Specialist Investigators into

Serious Violent, Serious Economic Crimes & Serious Cybercrimes

PSIRA Reg. 1590364/421949

Mobile: +27 82 447 6116

E-mail: mike@mikebolhuis.co.za

Follow us on Facebook to view our projects -

https://www.facebook.com/MikeBolhuisOfficial

EXTREMELY IMPORTANT: All potential clients need to be aware that owing to the nature of our work as specialist investigators there are people who have been caught on the wrong side of the law - who are trying to discredit me - Mike Bolhuis and my organisation Specialised Security Services - to get themselves off the hook. This retaliation happens on social media and creates doubt about our integrity and ability. Doubt created on social media platforms is both unwarranted and untrue. We strongly recommend that you make up your minds concerning me and our organisation only after considering all the factual information - to the exclusion of hearsay and assumptions. Furthermore, you are welcome to address your concerns directly with me should you still be unsatisfied with your conclusions. While the internet provides a lot of valuable information, it is also a platform that distributes a lot of false information. The distribution of false information, fake news, slander and hate speech constitutes a crime that can be prosecuted by law. Your own research discretion and discernment are imperative when choosing what and what not to believe.

STANDARD RULES APPLY: Upon appointment, we require a formal mandate with detailed instructions. Please take note that should you not make use of our services – you may not under any circumstance use my name or the name of my organisation as a means to achieve whatever end.

POPI ACT 4 of 2013 South Africa: Mike Bolhuis' "Specialised Security Services" falls under Section 6 of the act. Read more here: https://mikebh.link/fntdpv