SAPS prepares for the long-awaited rollout of body-worn cameras

Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia says the procurement of body-worn cameras has not yet been finalised because the process is at a contracting phase. The SAPS is set to implement a first phase of the long-awaited body-worn cameras rollout, following nearly a decade of delays since the initiative was first proposed in 2019. This emerged when Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia indicated that the procurement of the cameras is at a contracting stage, which is estimated to cost R14 million and is expected to commence in the new financial year beginning in April.

Cachalia was asked by DA MP Ian Cameron about the number of body-worn and in-vehicle dash cameras that have been procured by the SAPS for use in the Western Cape. Cameron also wanted to know whether the body-worn cameras have been deployed and were currently operational. In response, Cachalia confirmed that there has been no procurement of body‑worn cameras or in‑vehicle dash cameras for use in the Western Cape.

“The procurement of body-worn cameras has not yet been finalised, as the process remains in the contracting phase,” he said. However, Cachalia revealed that the SAPS application for deviation to publish the bid was not approved. He said the process will now be handled by the State Information Technology Agency (SITA).

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Once a service provider is appointed, the SAPS will develop a comprehensive national rollout plan, which will determine the full implementation timeline,” said Cachalia. The promise of body-worn cameras dates to 2019 when the SAPS announced its intention to roll them out while former minister Bheki Cele was still at the helm of the department. In 2021, the SAPS issued a request for information “to determine the impact of infrastructure, operations technology, and the aspects of society and business, which will have a direct influence on how technology supports and delivers services to the business over the next five years and to conduct market research on the matter”.

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