By Akani Nkuna
National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola on Friday told newly qualified Special Task Force (STF) members that their authority must be exercised with restraint and accountability.
“[T]actical excellence without ethical grounding is dangerous. Your power must always be guided by restraint. Your authority must always be anchored in accountability. You are not above the law but you are its guardians,” he said.
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Masemola was speaking at the Special Task Force Badge Parade at the SAPS Tshwane Academy, where he welcomed 13 members to the STF Wings and 16 to the Operators Badges, bolstering the service’s elite forces after 18 months of intense training.
“Each wing and each badge represents resilience under pressure, mental fortitude under extreme stress, tactical precision under fatigue, and unwavering commitment to the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa,” Masemola told the officers.
“You did not arrive here by chance. You earned your place through grit, discipline and sacrifice. You were tested physically, mentally and emotionally.”
SAPS said the new members would increase the capacity of STF operators who respond to high-risk operations and hostage situations, including kidnappings, cash-in-transit robberies and illegal mining operations across the country.
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The parade was attended by senior police leaders including KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and divisional commissioner for Crime Intelligence Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo, among others.
Masemola emphasised the need for “absolute professionalism” from the new members and urged them to be precise in executing operations.
Masemola said the Wings and Badges were a covenant to protect life and defend the country’s sovereignty, grounded in courage, integrity and human dignity both on and off duty.
He called on the new members to safeguard the STF legacy, built over decades of operational excellence, sacrifice and bravery, saying they were now entrusted with preserving that standard.
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“Let your presence restore confidence. Let your professionalism inspire trust. Let your actions reflect the very best of the South African Police Service,” said Masemola.