Cassel Mathale blames detective shortage for delays in crime cases

Deputy Police Minister Cassel Mathale has attributed the lack of progress on some reported crime cases to a shortage of detectives in the South African Police Service (SAPS). He says they are working on capacitating the police service with skilled detectives.

WATCH | Deputy Minister of Police Cassel Mathale has urged the Ga-Mphahlele communities to unite in the fight against crime in their area. pic.twitter.com/PYoxGiyXUn
— SABC News (@SABCNews) March 14, 2026

Mathale was speaking during a community crime prevention campaign in Maralaleng village outside Lebowakgomo in Limpopo on Saturday.
“From our side as police, what we are going to do is strengthen our stock theft unit but also capacitate our detective capability because there is a challenge within the detective space. We need personnel and I am happy that the PC and the national commissioner have embarked on a programme to strengthen our detective capabilities to ensure that any crime that happens – be it stock theft or crime generally – we are able to bring the perpetrators to book.”
 
www.sabcnews.com, https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/cassel-mathale-blames-detective-shortage-for-delays-in-crime-cases/