The police ministry plans to procure 15 new helicopters at an estimated cost of R1.1bn to rebuild its depleted air fleet and strengthen operations against organised crime.
The procurement, confirmed in a parliamentary response to Rise Mzansi MP Makashule Gana by acting police minister Firoz Cachalia, comes amid growing alarm over the state of the SAPS air wing.
Of the 38 aircraft owned by the service, only 11 are now operational, with 27 undergoing maintenance and two damaged beyond repair.
The fleet includes nine Pilatus Porter PC6B fixed-wing aircraft, a Cessna Citation Sovereign jet, and 17 AS350 B3/H125 helicopters used mainly for patrols, rapid response and search-and-rescue missions. The ministry confirmed the SAPS has not leased any aircraft in the past two financial years.
The planned purchase will be implemented in phases “as and when funding becomes available”, the ministry said.
Wider crisis
The deterioration of the police air fleet reflects a wider crisis within SA’s criminal justice system.
Appearing before parliament last week, KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi described the network of law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies as being under severe strain, citing resource shortages, poor co-ordination and leadership instability.
The Eastern Cape, one of the country’s most violent provinces, is now serviced by only one functioning helicopter.
“The capabilities, or the lack thereof, of the SAPS air wing came under scrutiny when there was a poor response during the deadly Mthatha floods in June of this year. Moreover, during a question session in the Eastern Cape provincial legislature, MEC for community safety Xolile Nqatha said the entire province is serviced by only one helicopter,” Gana said in a statement.
“The dire state of the SAPS air wing does not bode well for the fight against crime, which often requires air support during various operations such as illegal mining, kidnappings, hijackings, natural disasters and theft and damage to critical infrastructure.”
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