SAPS facing civil claims of more than R14 billion for unlawful arrests, detentions

CAPE TOWN - The South African Police Service (SAPS) is facing civil claims of more than R14 billion for unlawful arrests and detentions.

The police are also facing R741 million worth of civil claims for shooting incidents involving members of the public.

The figures were released by suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu in a written parliamentary reply before going on special leave as he faces allegations of police corruption.

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The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP)’s Inkosi Russel Cebekhulu posed the question to the police minister because of "the significant financial strain" that civil claims against the state place on public resources, particularly those arising from police misconduct.

The civil claims are for just over 15,000 arrests and detention incidents during the 2023/24 financial year.

In his response, the minister said it must be noted that the figures reflected only the total number of new claims received during the financial year.

He said this was not the amount paid by the state during the financial year, but the number of claims received and the amounts claimed.

The minister said that in terms of amounts paid out for unlawful detention, the figure stands at R466 million, and this includes both payment through a court order and payment by settlement.

For shooting incidents, the state has paid out R62 million, which covers 180 individual claims.