Law enforcement in South Africa

[1] The mid-seventeenth century marked the beginning of European interest in the Western Cape, in what is currently South Africa.

The Dock and Harbour Police (1860-1913) were established with the intent to enforce the law in the Table Bay harbor.

Because this force was primarily used as a standing army, the Union required the formation of a formal police agency.

After the first World War, SAP took over the role of the Riflemen—who were later disbanded—and had the task of policing the vast territory that made up the union.

With the rise and subsequent election of the conservative National Party in 1948, the new government began passing legislation that allowed for a closer relationship between the police and military.

There were moves to militarize the police force and SAP became heavily armed, most notably for its interactions with crowds that were deemed unruly and hostile.

7), Section 5This Act broadened the function of the SAP beyond the standard police operations of maintaining law and order, investigating and preventing crimes.

These zones were gradually expanded in 1979 and 1983; ultimately, the SAP were permitted to conduct a search and seizure within South Africa without restriction.

The SAP were taking many liberties in their interactions with the population of South Africa and instances of abuse and human rights violations were abundant.

13) to retroactively protect the government and the SAP from civil and criminal litigation due to acts committed between June 16, 1976, and March 16, 1977.

The act placed police and government action during this period beyond public and legal scrutiny and prevented victims from seeking criminal or civil claims.

While the police presence in the homelands were legally independent of the SAP, they were still very much an extension of the national organization in action.

The SAP presence was mostly focused on a counterinsurgency approach that aimed to diminish the amount of retaliation and revolt in the homelands.

"[13] Despite the vision of a new South Africa with a security force that upholds the ideals of serving and protecting the entire public, unlike the previous law enforcement agencies, there have been numerous accounts and accusations of police brutality.