Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996
Control of police service
- Jurisdiction
- South Africa
- Provision
- 207
- Source language
- English
- Recorded status
- in force
More details
- Recorded status
- in force
Provision text
Official source(1) The President as head of the national executive must appoint a woman or a man as
the National Commissioner of the police service, to control and manage the police
service.
(2) The National Commissioner must exercise control over and manage the police
service in accordance with the national policing policy and the directions of the
Cabinet member responsible for policing.
(3) The National Commissioner, with the concurrence of the provincial executive, must
appoint a woman or a man as the provincial commissioner for that province, but if
the National Commissioner and the provincial executive are unable to agree on the
appointment, the Cabinet member responsible for policing must mediate between
the parties.
(4) The provincial commissioners are responsible for policing in their respective
provinces—
(a) as prescribed by national legislation; and
(b) subject to the power of the National Commissioner to exercise control over and
manage the police service in terms of subsection (2).
(5) The provincial commissioner must report to the provincial legislature annually
on policing in the province, and must send a copy of the report to the National
Commissioner.
(6) If the provincial commissioner has lost the confidence of the provincial executive,
that executive may institute appropriate proceedings for the removal or transfer
of, or disciplinary action against, that commissioner, in accordance with national
legislation.
Source record
Source and verification
Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 · justice.gov.za · Retrieved 17 August 2026.
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