SAP STF
about
/ 01
overview & history
The soldier is the Army
THE SOLDIER IS THE ARMY
The necessity for the South African Police to establish a unit capable of handling high risk operations was identified during the early 1970’s.
Due to other commitments of the SAP, the Special Task Force could however only be established on the 1st of February 1976.
Since inception, selection courses have been the sole source of operational manpower.
Applicants must be permanent members of the South African Police, they must be a minimum of twenty-one years of age, must have served at least two years in the Police Service and must be physically and mentally stable so as to endure the rigorous and demanding training. Applicants must furthermore demonstrate maturity, have sound judgement and display leadership qualities. Basic training is conducted approximately 230 kilometres North Pretoria at the Special Task Force Training Centre and, on average, only ten percent of applicants pass the selection phase.
The Special Task Force has participated in numerous operations including the tracing and elimination of terrorists, terrorist bases and arms caches, the rescuing of hostages, underwater searches for bodies and exhibits, protection of VIP’s, provision of specialised training to other Police units and various rescue operations.
Many training practices and operational tactics successfully used by special units in other countries have been adapted for use within our prevailing circumstances. However, the majority of special techniques and training employed by the Special Task Force were developed and perfected locally within the unit.
In 1993, the South African Police’s Efficiency Services Department approved the restructuring of the unit and, based on operational needs, two further components were established, one in Durban and another in Cape Town.
On several occasions similar specialized units in other countries have been visited by Special Task Force members to ensure the alignment of structures and procedures to international trends and in order to keep abreast of changes in training and various other specialised fields.
Members of the Special Task Force have played a pivotal role in the combating of serious crime in South Africa these duties place heavy demands on each of these individuals.
TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THIS UNIT, PERSEVERANCE AND DEDICATION ARE TWO OF THE MAIN CHARACTERISTICS WHICH NEED TO BE ESPOUSED.
To become a member of this unit, perseverance and dedication are two (2) of the main characteristics which will need to be espoused.
/ 02
mission
No army is better than its soldiers
NO ARMY IS BETTER THAN ITS SOLDIERS
‘The Special Task Force of the South African Police Service provides a specialised and impartial service to the community by handling high risk operations that fall beyond the scope of classic policing in a professional and responsible manner.’
The mission statement above, which fundamentally embraces the constitutional framework, is in line with the purpose of the South African Police Service and embodies the philosophy and policing policy of the Minister for Safety and Security.
/ 03
functions
The only easy day was yesterday.
primary
The functions of the unit are primarily to:
Manage high risk situations for which the general South African Police is not equipped or trained.
Control hostage situations on land, sea and air –
‘’Land’’ refers to busses, trains and buildings such as national key points and embassies;
‘’Sea’’ refers to oil platforms, ships in harbours and own territorial waters; and
‘’Air’’ relates to all civilian local and international aircraft.
Deal with urban and rural terror.
Provide assistance to the remaining divisions of the South African Police requiring the unit’s specialised skills, techniques and equipment as relates to, for example, murder, robbery, motor vehicle theft and Narcotics.
Furnish assistance to Police units responsible for the protection of high-profile VIP’s and periodically to undertake unassisted protection of prestigious VIP’s where the skills required fall beyond the capabilities of standard Police units for example where counter-sniper measures are required or the deployment of Tactical Marksmen is necessary.
Provide a specialised rescue services and assist in natural disasters should skills in mountaineering, emergency diving or other specialized rescue missions be required.
Render specialised operational, tactical and continuation training to all members of the Special Task Force to facilitate the performance of the unit’s primary and secondary functions.
Undertake a specialised policing services to neighbouring countries’ police in accordance with agreements reached between these countries and the South African government.
secondary
The secondary roles of the unit are to:
Consult on and provide specialised training to the remaining South African Police divisions, Military Special Forces and approved organisations.
Evaluate specialised equipment
Execute any other duties falling within the scope of high-risk operations assigned by the Minister for Safety and Security and the National Commissioner of the South African Police Services or the Divisional Commissioner, Crime Prevention and Response Services.
/ 04
Organizations
If I charge, follow me. If I retreat, kill me. If I die, revenge me.
The Special Task Force falls under the operational control of the Division for Operational Response Services and is responsible for handling all high-risk operations – for example hostage situations on land, sea and air and rescue-related activities.
/ 05
selection
War is life multiplied by some number that no one has ever heard of.
Special Task Force applicants are considered exclusively on a voluntary basis and must conform to stringent physical requirements prior to admittance into the twenty-six week long basic training and selection course which includes instruction on weapons, rural and urban combat, bush survival and operational deployment with parachutes.
Compulsory advanced courses include training on specialised skills relating to diving, VIP protection, explosives ordinance and disposal and medical first aid training. Although the total initial training period is nine months, completing all required advanced courses to achieve the status of a fully-fledged Special Task Force operational member may take up to three years.
/ 06
operational fitness standard
I'm not a leader now. I'm a whole damn army.
To remain operational, the Special Task Force Fitness Standard requires that operators maintain a minimum of seventy percent for the following:
physical fitness & strength
- Five (5) kilometre run within twenty-one (21) minutes;
- Fifteen (15) uninterrupted, consecutive pull-ups (palms forward);
- Ninety-five (95) sit-ups in two (2) minutes;
- Fifty (50) uninterrupted, consecutive push-ups in one (1) minute; and
- Ten (10) twenty-five (25) metre sprints in fifty-six (56) seconds.
swimming
300 meter swim in less than ten (10) minutes.
Endurance
- Twenty (20) kilometre walk carrying twenty (20) kilograms – 3 ½ hours.
ENDURANCE
Twenty (20) kilometre walk carrying twenty (20) kilograms – 3 ½ hours.
endurance
- Twenty (20) kilometre walk carrying twenty (20) kilogrammes – 3 ½ hours.
/ 07
history
War is not just the shower of bullets and bombs
On 28 April 1974, a hostage drama unfolded at the Israeli embassy which incident later became known as the ‘’Fox Street Siege’’. The trigger for this saga continues to remain a mystery and even now, it cannot be confirmed whether the South African Defence Force assisted the Police. The Fox Street Siege clearly revealed the South African Police Service’s inability to effectively manage high-risk situations and a public outcry calling for the establishment of a hostage rescue tactical capability ensued. The wheels had been set into motion for the official creation of a South African Police Special Forces Unit.
Lt Gen. Mike Geldenhuys, the Head of the South African Police Security Branch at that time, officially authorised the creation of the Special Task Force as one of its sub divisions on February 1st, 1976.
CONSTITUTION of the Special Task Force Veteran Association known as TAKIE 1976