South Africans are being reminded of a crucial legal protection that many still don’t know they have, police may not refuse to open your case, regardless of the crime, the circumstances, or where it took place, Cape {town}Etc reports.
This renewed emphasis comes as part of an ongoing drive to ensure communities understand what assistance they are entitled to when seeking help at a station.
The message centres on National Instruction 3 of 2011, which places a clear responsibility on officers that every complainant must be assisted immediately.
To reinforce that point, police communications stress that the public should challenge unlawful refusals and report them when they occur.
In their latest public guidance, police emphasise that commonly used dismissals, such as ‘You don’t know the suspect,’ ‘It’s a family matter,’ or ‘It didn’t happen here,’ have no legal standing. Officers are not permitted to turn someone away on these grounds.
As the communication highlights, residents deserve support without delay. One section of the notice points out that all excuses listed above ‘are not allowed,’ indicating that assistance is a right, not a privilege.
Officials further stress that people reporting crimes should not be redirected unnecessarily or discouraged from opening a docket.
Instead, members of the public should expect a proper recording of their complaint, clear guidance on next steps, and professional service.
Members of the public who encounter obstruction are urged to escalate the matter immediately rather than giving up. A range of reporting channels has been made available, including the:
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SAPS National Complaints Centre: 0800 333 177
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WhatsApp: 082 759 2590
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MySAPS App: under the Service Complaints section
By providing multiple platforms, police aim to ensure that no resident is left without recourse when seeking help.
Compiled by Lulama Klassen
First published on Cape {town} etc
Also see: 2025 Crime stats unveiled by acting police minister
