Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia has confirmed that the long-delayed rollout of body-worn cameras for the South African Police Service has officially entered its first phase.
The project, initially proposed in 2019 under former minister Bheki Cele, has now moved into the procurement stage as of April 2026.
POTENTIAL BENEFITS HIGHLIGHTED
Studies suggest that body cameras can significantly reduce the use of force by police officers and lower the number of complaints from the public. They are also believed to improve efficiency by reducing administrative work.
Authorities say these benefits could outweigh the costs, making the technology a valuable investment for law enforcement.
PROCUREMENT STILL IN PROGRESS
Cachalia confirmed that while funding of around R14 million has been allocated for the initial phase, the cameras have not yet been deployed.
The process remains in the contracting stage, with both body cameras and in-vehicle dash cameras still to be finalised before implementation begins.
DELAYS LINKED TO PROCUREMENT PROCESS
The delay has been attributed to the involvement of the State Information Technology Agency, which is responsible for handling the tender process.
According to Cachalia, the bid is yet to be advertised, and a service provider still needs to be appointed before a full rollout plan can be developed.
ROLLOUT EXPECTED IN PHASES
Previous plans indicated that SAPS aimed to introduce body cameras gradually, with an initial rollout of units each year once the programme is fully operational.
The latest update signals progress after years of delays, though full implementation timelines will depend on the outcome of the procurement process.
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