Police Hierarchy in South Africa

South African Police Service is normal abbreviated as SAPS. This is the national police force of South Africa, actually the Republic of South Africa. There are total 1116 police stations in Republic of South Africa which are equally divided according to the provincial borders.

In each province, a Provincial Commissioner is appointed. Total of 9 Provincial Commissioners are there in Republic of South Africa and they all report directly to the National Commissioner.

There is a specific hierarchy which describes each and every rank of police force of Republic of South Africa. These ranks are described in a well organized hierarchy below in this article starting from the highest rank and moving down with the lowest one. The ranks are described as from April 1st, 2010. Let us take a quick look at this hierarchy now.

Police Hierarchy in South Africa
Police Hierarchy in South Africa

Senior Management: Commissioned Officers

This is the highest group of police rank in the police hierarchy of Republic of South Africa. This category is further divided into four main sub categories which are explained as below with a brief detail:

  • General – This is highest police rank in the police hierarchy of Republic of South Africa. This is a commissioned officer rank but of senior management category.
  • Lieutenant General – Subordinate to general and in command in absence of general, next rank in the police hierarchy of Republic of South Africa is lieutenant general. This is the second highest police rank.
  • Major General – Senior to the rank of brigadier, the next rank in the police hierarchy of Republic of South Africa is of major general.
  • Brigadier – This is the lowest senior management commissioned officer rank in the police hierarchy of Republic of South Africa.

Commissioned Officers

The mid level officer rank of the police hierarchy of Republic of South Africa is commissioned officers. Just take a look at the sub categories of the commissioned officers category.

  • Colonel – Highest level in the category of commissioned officers. Came into form after April, 2010’s changes in the police hierarchy of Republic of South Africa
  • Lieutenant Colonel – Takes the command in the absence of colonel, this is a mid level commissioned officer rank.
  • Major – Leads the team of captains and lieutenants and subordinate to the category of lieutenant colonel.
  • Captain – A rank higher to lieutenant, captain is among commissioned officers’ rank in the police hierarchy of Republic of South Africa.
  • Lieutenant – Lowest rank in the commissioned officer category in the police hierarchy of Republic of South Africa.

Non–commissioned Officers

The lowest category in the police hierarchy of Republic of South Africa is non – commissioned officers described as below:

  • Warrant Officer – This is a category of officers who are hired as officers by a warrant from the government.
  • Sergeant – The mid level non – commissioned officer rank and handles the team of constables for law and order in the town.
  • Constable – The lowest level rank of the in the police hierarchy of Republic of South Africa.

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