ABSTRACT
This chapter takes stock of recent developments relating to the status and role of women in the South African Police Service (SAPS). By way of introduction, the wider political context of state-rebuilding and transformation of the public service are described. The discussion then shifts to the pursuit of equity. Key initiatives regarding recruitment, training and promotion of women are outlined before turning to a consideration of the role of a staff association, the SAPS Women's Network, in supporting gender-specific endeavours. Descriptive data demonstrate that SAPS has, in a relatively short space of time, affected radical changes in the demographic composition of the organisation. Although closer scrutiny of official reports on gender ratios reveals unevenness of gender representation across ranks, and between provinces, police divisions and specialist units, the gender equity achievements of the South African police organisation surpass those of many advanced democracies. Future prospects for advancing substantive equality of women police, however, are uncertain given the heady mix of internal and external challenges the police currently confront. If state re-building afforded the police organisation opportunities to pursue equity, institutional dysfunctionality now threatens the gains in organisational reforms such as equity, that have been achieved.
