LEGACY/ERFENIS
1834-1986
Learn About Us
"SAR Police" refers to the historical "South African Railways Police". This was a division of the "Suid-Afrikaanse Spoorweë en Hawens" (South African Railways and Harbours) (SAS & SAR); Administration was responsible for the Policing of Railways, Harbours and Airport- infrastructure.
The South African Railways Police was a specialised law enforcement agency in South Africa, officialy established on the 1st of October 1934 as a specialised Law enforcement agency to police the country's railways, harbours and later international airports.
The Mandate of this Police force : (1)The preservation of the internal security of the Republic of S.A South West Africa;(2) The maintenance of law and order, (3) The investigation of any offense or alleged offence; and (4) The prevention of crime, within its jurisdictional area. The jurisdictional area of the SA Railways Police Force included all premises of the SA Transport Services, which included ports and pipelines as well as Domestic and Internasional Airports. In addition, the SA Railways Police could legally carry out arrests and/or searches away from Transport Services premises in connection with any offense or alleged offense relating to the SA Transport Services.
Learn About Our Journey
1934Existence
The South African Railways Police was a specialised law enforcement agency in South Africa, originally established in 1934 to police the country's railways, harbours and later international airports.
1975Special Task Force
On 24 October 1975, a new unit within SARP was formed, the South African Railways Police Special Task Force, its mission to end hostage takeovers in ships, buses, aircraft, buildings, and trains.
1980Reorganisation
In 1980, a reorganisation of the unit and further special forces training was organised under Brigadier A.F. Horak, with unit spread around the country.
1981AIR INDIA HIJACKING
The only operation the unit was known to be involved in was the ending of the Air India hijacking in Durban in 1981.
1986Integration
The unit was disbanded in 1986 and integrated into the police service
Chief-Superintendents
Lt-Kolonel AA Cilliers
(01/05/1933 - 30/09/1938)
LT-Kolonel AA Stanford
(01/10/1938 - 25/01/1944)
Kolonel HJT Venter
(26/01/1944 - 02/09/1946)
Brigadier JB Bester
(02/09/1946 - 19/03/1950)
Commissioners
Brig CJG Bartmann
(01/05/1959 - 07/09/1961)
Gen-Maj M van Vuuren
(16/10/1961 - 01/10/1973)
Gen-Maj PW Smith
(01/09/1973 - 01/08/1974)
Lt-Genl JJJ van Vuuren
(1/05/1974-31/05/1980)
