Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has disclosed that the South African Police Service (SAPS) is currently facing a backlog of about 200 applications from officers awaiting the processing of their medical boarding applications.
Almost half of the total number of the total applications was approved about five months ago.
Mchunu revealed this when he was responding in writing to parliamentary questions from DA MP Lisa Schickerling, who enquired abut delays in the processing of medical boarding applications.
“There are currently approximately 200 applications which are pending adjudication,” he said.
Mchunu disclosed that the most recent medical boarding process conducted by the SAPS was conducted on January 15, 2025.
“A total of 97 members were granted medical boarding.”
The minister said they considered several factors when determining the eligibility of police members to be considered for medical boarding.
These included the nature and severity of illness, optimisation of treatment, feasibility for functional recovery, period of absence from work, as well as the age, rank, years of service, and socio-economic factors of the affected members.
“Medical boarding factors are communicated to affected members through individual telephonic interviews, where applicable, and pre-medical boarding consultation,” Mchunu said.
There is also policy on ill-health retirement that was circulated in all nine provinces and divisions within SAPS.
“The same was uploaded on the SAPS intranet. Road shows are also conducted to capacitate local Human Resource Practitioners.”
Mchunu also said the SAPS was using its internal resources to address the backlogs in processing the medical boarding applications.
“The South African Police Service (SAPS) is employing its internal clinical competencies until such time that the SAPS can procure the services from an external service provider.”
Mchunu said the support and assistance provided to members who have been medically boarded due to injury or ill-health sustained while performing their duties depended on the individual’s eligibility based on their medical condition.
Police members who are medically boarded and whose medical condition prevents them from executing their activities of daily living received a monthly home nursing allowance of R5,460.
They also receive assistive devices such as wheelchairs and accessories, prosthetic limbs, and hearing aids.
Mchunu said motor vehicles and the housing environment were also configured for reasonable accommodation and utility.
There was also the disbursement of boarding and lodging fees for nationalised members.
He said members who were medically boarded but still possessed the capacity to execute their activities of daily living received some form of support and assistance.
This entailed continued disbursement of medical invoices in relation to the injury-on-duty diagnosis.
“This is limited to the legislative window period of two years post-injury and/or acute medical necessities, even if it is after two years. The balance of medical necessities outside SAPS’s jurisdiction is covered by Polmed (medical aid scheme),” Mchunu said.
The minister stated that the SAPS does not have a structured programme or follow-up services in terms of 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 SAPS has a database, and such members continue to receive benefits or services as stipulated above,” he said.
Mchunu blamed the absence of structured programmes on limited resources.
“The reason for the SAPS not having such structured follow-up services for members who are medically boarded is attributable to resource constraints.”
