President Cyril Ramaphosa has implored the South African Police Service (SAPS) to explore the use of technology to fight crime in the country.
He said the police must be proactive, innovative and solutions-oriented in their approach, to fight crime head-on.
Ramaphosa was delivering a keynote address at the 2025 National Policing Summit in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni.
“We need to harness modern technologies to support crime-fighting.
We therefore welcome the focus of this summit on exploring the role of technology in modern policing, investigation and intelligence.
Technology is particularly crucial when analysing crime trends and patterns.
It is also valuable in empowering citizens,” said Ramaphosa.
In addition, Ramaphosa said he’s delighted that the summit will explore innovative digital platforms such as mobile apps, online reporting systems and virtual communication channels to improve the public’s interaction with the police.
The president has also called for a coordinated and community-driven approach to fight crime.
“It is therefore encouraging that this summit has as one of its key objectives adopting a more holistic approach to law-enforcement, encompassing not just the police but the entire policing system.
It is also encouraging that this summit brings together stakeholders from the safety and security establishment, communities and civil society, business, the interfaith sector, labour and other sectors.
Just as crime is an all-of-society problem, overcoming crime must be an all-of-society effort,” explained Ramaphosa.
The president also highlighted that crime is both a cause and symptom, as it causes insecurity, instability and has a direct impact on the economy.
“Crime has a direct impact on the economy.
It discourages investment, disrupts business activity and leads to increased security costs for companies.
Crime is also a symptom of wider problems in a society.
Poverty and inequality, unemployment, lack of opportunity, patriarchy and misogyny, and broken family structures are just some of the issues that contribute to crime and criminality,” explained Ramaphosa.
He urged the police to first understand the root causes of crime, before embarking on plans to address it.
Ramaphosa acknowledged that the men and women in blue are working under extreme, dangerous conditions and must be supported.
“The policing terrain of today is complex and multi-faceted.
The police strive to fulfil their mandate in the context of emerging threats.
And yet, even in this extremely challenging environment, the South African Police Service continues to register successes in fighting crime in its various operations.
To build on these successes, we need to restore public trust and faith in the police,” said Ramaphosa.
Furthermore, the president called for authorities to improve the morale of SAPS members, adding that many of them are battling heavy workloads, insufficient resources and outdated systems.
Ramaphosa bemoaned SAPS members to stay away from corrupt activities, adding that it erodes the trust that the community has on them.
