Abstract

South Africa’s unique history impacted significantly on policing. Prior to democratization in 1994, South Africa was infamous for its apartheid regime. The South African Police (SAP) was a paramilitaristic force, regarded by the majority as a tool of suppression for the white minority government. After the previous political dispensation had been toppled in 1994, South Africa underwent major constitutional changes. The introduction of the South African Police Service Act (Act 68 of 1995), implemented the changes envisaged for a human rights-oriented policing service into a legal framework. This article aims to present an overview of the many service delivery initiatives that were introduced in the new police service. The renaming of the South African Police to the South African Police Service (SAPS) in 1995 is also reflected on in this article. Despite the introduction of community policing principles, revised internal policing policies and demilitarizing, it did not address the underlying violent culture of the South African society. In fact, the question is still whether South Africa will ever be able to introduce and accept a truly human rights-oriented police service?