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Police departments

SAPS Faces Backlog of 200 Medical Boarding Applications

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Police Minister Senzo Mchunu revealed that the South African Police Service (SAPS) is facing a significant backlog of approximately 200 medical boarding applications from officers awaiting processing. The majority of these applications, almost half, had been approved about five months prior to Mchunu's response. The backlog is attributed to the SAPS's limited resources, which have hindered the implementation of structured follow-up services for medically boarded members.

Key Takeaways:

  • The SAPS is currently dealing with a backlog of about 200 medical boarding applications from police officers.
  • Almost half of the total applications, approximately 97, were approved about five months ago.
  • The SAPS considers several factors when determining the eligibility of police members for medical boarding, including the nature and severity of illness, optimisation of treatment, and socio-economic factors.
  • Police members who are medically boarded receive a monthly home nursing allowance of R5 460, as well as assistive devices and other forms of support.
  • The SAPS does not have a structured program or follow-up services for the well-being, financial stability, and reintegration to civilian life of medically boarded members, except for those who have been medically boarded due to injuries on duty.
  • The absence of structured programs is attributed to resource constraints, with the SAPS employing its internal clinical competencies until an external service provider can be procured.

Statistics:

  • The SAPS faces a backlog of approximately 200 medical boarding applications from police officers.
  • Almost half of the total applications, approximately 97, were approved about five months ago.
  • Police members who are medically boarded receive a monthly home nursing allowance of R5 460.
  • The SAPS has a database to track medically boarded members who continue to receive benefits or services as stipulated.

Sources:

  • Response from Police Minister Senzo Mchunu to Parliament's DA MP Lisa Schickerling (no source date)
  • Minister's statement regarding the SAPS's internal clinical competencies and resource constraints (no source date)

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