Ramaphosa Sends Stern Message to Police Killers As SAPS Deaths Drop to 12 in 2025/26
- President Cyril Ramaphosa and senior law enforcement officials gathered at the Union Buildings in Pretoria to honour fallen SAPS members
- Acting Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane confirmed 12 officers died in the line of duty — down significantly from 27 the previous year
- Ramaphosa warned that those who attack police officers will face the full might of the law, including maximum penalties
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PRETORIA — President Cyril Ramaphosa joined senior law enforcement leadership at the SAPS Memorial Site at the Union Buildings on Wednesday to pay tribute to 12 police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty between April 2025 and March 2026.
The annual SAPS Commemoration Day ceremony recognised each fallen member by name, with the occasion serving as both a solemn tribute and a platform for senior officials to address the ongoing challenge of police killings in South Africa.
Line-of-duty deaths show downward trend
Acting Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane confirmed that the number of officers killed in service has declined steadily over three consecutive years, from 39 deaths in 2023/24, to 27 in 2024/25, and now 12 in the 2025/26 period. Eleven of the 12 officers commemorated this year died from gunshot wounds sustained during shift operations or responses to robberies. One member drowned while pursuing a suspect.
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Dimpane identified four provinces as persistent high-crime hotspots, with Gauteng accounting for nine of the 12 deaths recorded during the period. She called on officers across the country, particularly those deployed in Gauteng, to exercise heightened operational awareness at all times.
On the investigative front, Dimpane said the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, commonly known as the Hawks, has treated police killings as a top priority. Over the past 12 months, more than 20 suspects were arrested in connection with such killings, and 11 have been convicted, with courts imposing sentences that include life imprisonment.
Ramaphosa vows relentless prosecution
In his keynote address, President Ramaphosa framed attacks on police officers as a direct assault on the authority of South Africa's democratic state and the rule of law itself. He stated that when criminals point weapons at officers, they are confronting the Republic of South Africa as an institution.
Ramaphosa assured the families of fallen officers that those responsible, including both perpetrators and planners, would face sustained prosecution and the harshest penalties available under the law.
The President also called on SAPS leadership to strengthen member safety through practical measures, including proper equipment, bulletproof gear, tactical intelligence, and mandatory debriefs following high-risk operations.
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