The South African Police Service (SAPS) has disclosed details of VIP protection provided to individuals outside the executive branch and diplomatic corps over the past five financial years, following a parliamentary question from Rise Mzansi’s Makashule Gana to the Minister of Police.
According to the SAPS, three categories of people have received such protection. The first covers members of the legislature, including Speakers and Deputy Speakers of national and provincial legislatures, as well as the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces. The second covers senior members of the judiciary such as the Chief Justice, Deputy Chief Justice, Judge Presidents, and heads of key courts. The third category consists of ad-hoc VIPs, defined as individuals of strategic importance whose protection is based on confirmed security threats. Such protection is temporary and withdrawn once threats are deemed to have subsided.
From 2020/21 to 2024/25, SAPS protected 22 members of the legislature and 14 members of the judiciary annually. The number of ad-hoc VIPs fluctuated, with 11 in 2020/21, peaking at 25 in 2022/23, and dropping to 14 in 2024/25.
The total costs, excluding salaries for close protection officers, travel expenses, and the cost of vehicles (provided by relevant departments), amounted to R71.27 million for legislature members, R45.35 million for judicial figures, and R53.13 million for ad-hoc VIPs over the five years.
SAPS stated that the protection of provincial premiers, members of the executive council, and the judiciary is mandated under Cabinet Memorandum 1A of 2004 and SAPS divisional directives. Ad-hoc protection is determined by threat and risk assessments conducted by the intelligence community.
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