Covid-19 wreaks havoc within SAPS ranks

The SAPS has been weakened by the loss of at least 800 of its members due to the deadly Covid-19 virus and an inability to take in new recruits.

“The police service is bleeding members through attrition and the virus has resulted in the inability to take in new police recruits for 2020 and 2021,” police minister Bheki Cele said.

A total of 821 police officers were said to have lost their lives to the virus since its outbreak across the country in March 2020.

One of the officers who lost his life to the virus was deputy national police commissioner Lieutenant-General Sindile Mfazi.

“This virus has infected over 38 000 members,” he said, adding that scores of police stations also had to be closed due to contamination.

“We are appreciative that over 50% of our members have been vaccinated and [are] making a call to all of our members to avail themselves.”

Cele said that while the dedicated SAPS vaccination sites were closed, police officers and support personnel of all ages were urged to vaccinate at health department’s vaccination sites and registered pharmacies.

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