KNOW
Y UR
RIGHTS
HOW DO I REPORT A CRIME?
When reporting a crime at a police station, you should be attended to by a police official who
will interview you, take a statement, open a case docket and give you a case number.
The crime will be investigated and the detective assigned to the case must keep you
updated.
You should be treated with respect, and communicated with in a language you can
understand.
If you are a victim of domestic violence:
You should be treated with special care.
You should be treated with regard for your dignity and you should not be blamed for the
crime.
Your statement should be taken in privacy.
The South African Police Service should ensure that a medical officer collects and records
any medical evidence in support of a criminal charge.
You may apply for a protection order.
Where possible, police should help you access medical attention, shelter and victim
counselling.
If you are a victim of rape:
If you are a female, you can ask to speak to a female officer.
You should be taken to a private trauma room to give
a statement.
You should be taken for a medical examination, usually
at a hospital, to collect forensic evidence.
WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN AT A
TRAFFIC STOP?
You may be pulled over by a police officer for a routine check of the vehicle and driver, for
committing a traffic offence, if your vehicle is suspected to be stolen, if you are suspected
to be involved in criminal activity or if the vehicle is suspected to contain contraband.
Police can check your driver s license, identification, vehicle s identification and the car s
’ ’ ’
roadworthiness.
Police can search your person or your vehicle with a warrant, or if they have reason to
believe that you are conducting illegal activity. A body search can only be conducted by a
police officer who is the same gender as you.
A K78 roadblock is authorised by the national police commissioner, and is usually set up in
order to find a specific vehicle or criminal. You may ask to see written authorisation for the
roadblock, which includes the date, duration and purpose of the roadblock.
If an officer says that you have outstanding fines, you cannot be asked to pay them on the
spot. You can be detained if there is a warrant of arrest.
You cannot refuse to be breathalysed.
·
What can I do if I feel unsafe?
Take note of the police vehicle registration and identification code, and the date and time.
Put your hazard lights on, slow down, and ask the police officer to follow you to the nearest
police station.
You can film the police, and they may not confiscate or destroy your equipment.
GENERAL POLICE CONDUCT
A police officer must adhere to rules and orders, and must not
behave in an ill-disciplined manner. The public should be
treated with utmost respect, and an officer should rise
when approached by a member of the public.
A police station must be manned at all times.
A police officer may not eat or smoke in public while in uniform.
A police officer may not enter a place that sells liquor while in uniform, unless it is in the
exercise of policing duties.
Not all police officials wear name tags, but you have a right to ask an officer to identify
themselves by asking to see their appointment card. If they refuse, you can request to speak
to their supervisor or commander.
How do I report police misconduct?
Misconduct can be reported at a police station, where your complaint will be noted in a
register. The station commander should take disciplinary steps against the member
involved. The report may also be referred to the Independent Complaints Directorate.
If you cannot report misconduct at a local police station, you can contact the National
Service Complaints Call Centre on 0800 333 177 or send an e-mail to
complaintsnodalpoint@[Link].
You can also report misconduct to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate
(IPID), by filling in a complaint reporting form which can be obtained from any IPID
office or from their website [Link]. You can also send them an e-mail at
complaints@[Link] or call them on 012 399 0000.
You can report incidents of police corruption to Corruption Watch on our contact
information below:
[Link] 011 242 3900 WhatsApp +2772 013 5569
