South Africa’s unique history impacted significantly on policing. Prior to democratization in 1994,
South Africa was infamous for its apartheid regime. The South African Police (SAP) was a paramilitaristic
force, regarded by the majority as a tool of suppression for the white minority government.
After the previous political dispensation had been toppled in 1994, South Africa underwent
major constitutional changes. The introduction of the South African Police Service Act (Act 68 of
1995), implemented the changes envisaged for a human rights-oriented policing service into a legal
framework. This article aims to present an overview of the many service delivery initiatives that
were introduced in the new police service. The renaming of the South African Police to the South
African Police Service (SAPS) in 1995 is also reflected on in this article. Despite the introduction of
community policing principles, revised internal policing policies and demilitarizing, it did not address
the underlying violent culture of the South African society. In fact, the question is still whether
South Africa will ever be able to introduce and accept a truly human rights-oriented police service?