Over the medium term, a number of initiatives have been lined up in order to address the need to professionalise the police.

It is envisaged that partnerships will be established with academic and research institutions for curriculum development and to strengthen the internal research capacity in the service, the police service code of conduct will also be incorporated into disciplinary regulations; performance appraisals and basic training programmes. Focus areas for training will include: basic policing; public order policing; crime investigations; forensic services; aspects pertaining to contact crime; and leadership development.

A matter also requires urgent attention as part of professionalising the police is to address the annual mass exodus of experienced police officers from the service. For instance, in 2014/15, the SAPS lost 7000 members, while in 2016/17, 1 100 detectives left the SAPS, a crucial resource that the police can ill afford to lose (Newham, 2015). Another area requiring attention is dealing police brutality and corruption which contributed to the 137% increase in civil claims against the police paid since 2013 (Newham, 2015).