The South African Police Service (SAPS) has confirmed that it does not currently provide police officers with specific training on their legal obligations under key legislation when using body-worn cameras in the field.
This admission relates to the Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-related Information Act (Act 70 of 2002) and the Promotion of Access to Information Act (Act 2 of 2000), both of which have implications for the collection, storage and release of digital footage captured by officers.
In response to a parliamentary enquiry, SAPS stated that training on the use of body-worn cameras, along with the legal framework surrounding surveillance and information access, will only commence once the procurement process for the devices is completed. The training is expected to form part of the broader roll-out plan for the equipment, and will include operational guidance specific to the devices selected.
While no training currently addresses Act 70 of 2002 in the context of body cameras, SAPS noted that ongoing training is provided on the Promotion of Access to Information Act. This includes instruction on the principles for assessing access requests, along with grounds for denying such requests. The learning materials are reportedly updated in line with legislative changes.
Regarding footage management, SAPS indicated that internal policies are being established through the bid specification process. These are expected to define how body-worn camera footage is securely stored, catalogued and protected from tampering or deletion. The framework will include audit trails and will align with SAPS’s existing business processes. However, no current standard operating procedures were disclosed for footage that may be used in criminal or civil proceedings.
The lack of immediate legal training and defined storage protocols raises new concerns about oversight and accountability within SAPS, as the institution moves towards broader deployment of surveillance technology.
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