Police Body Cameras: A Promise Years in the Making

What’s the Big Deal?

Imagine if every interaction with the police was recorded. That’s the idea behind body-worn cameras—small cameras officers wear to film what happens during their shifts. For nearly a decade, South Africa’s police force (SAPS) has been talking about rolling them out to improve transparency and safety. But the plan has been stuck in slow motion.

A Timeline of Delays

The Original Promise (2019)

It all started in 2019. Back then, the police minister said body cameras were coming soon to make policing more accountable.

More Planning, Less Action (2021-2024)

In 2021, SAPS did some homework—asking tech companies for info and drafting plans. But the final specifications kept getting pushed back. By late 2024, the then-minister said they’d test different cameras first and aimed to buy about 100 per year, with each camera costing around R28,818. The catch? It all depended on whether there was enough money.

The Current Status (2025)

Fast forward to now. Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia recently gave an update in Parliament. Here’s the straight truth:

• No cameras have been bought yet for the Western Cape or anywhere else.
• The buying process is stuck in the “contracting stage.”
• R14 million has been set aside for the first phase in the new financial year (starting April 2025). This will pay for a small pilot program, getting the tech to work with other systems, and setting up secure storage for all the video footage.
• The whole national rollout plan depends on picking a company to supply the cameras first. That bid hasn’t even been advertised yet because the original request was rejected. Now, a state tech agency (SITA) will handle the bidding.

What About Other Tech?

It’s not all delays everywhere. The Border Management Authority (which guards borders) has already been using drones and body cameras since last year. But for regular SAPS officers on the street, the wait continues.

On the CCTV front, SAPS hasn’t installed new public surveillance cameras in crime hotspots in the Western Cape in the last three years. The only new CCTV cameras went inside police stations for security there.

Why Has This Taken So Long?

The process involves complex government buying rules, changing ministers, budget questions, and the need to make sure the tech actually works for police in real-life situations. Each step—research, specifications, bidding, funding—has hit a snag.

What Does This Mean for You?

Body cameras are meant to build trust. They can protect both citizens and officers by providing clear evidence if something goes wrong. The long delay means that tool isn’t available yet. While other parts of government are using modern tech, the front-line police force you see in your community is still waiting for a promise made years ago to become reality.

The Bottom Line

The first tiny step—a pilot with a few cameras—might finally happen in the next financial year. But a full rollout to all officers? That timeline is still unknown and will only be decided after a supplier is chosen and more money is found. For now, the cameras remain a plan on paper, not a tool on the streets.