South Africa’s police car fleet may not boast the extravagant luxury of Dubai’s with its million-dollar supercars, nor does it use Lamborghinis like the Italian police for high-speed organ transport.
However, what South Africa’s police force lacks in brand prestige, it more than makes up for in sheer numbers and performance. Recently, a single department took delivery of 50 Volkswagen Golf GTIs.
The Durban Metro Police Service (DMPS) has added a substantial fleet of brand-new hot hatches to its ranks.
Sharp-eyed observers might recognize that these GTIs are based on the pre-facelift model, identifiable by their headlights, which was discontinued earlier this year with the introduction of the more powerful Mk 8.5 version.
Among the group, one vehicle stands out— a smaller Volkswagen Polo, which doesn’t appear to be the high-performance GTI version.
Serving in South Africa’s third-largest city, DMPS plans to implement advanced driver training courses to ensure officers are fully equipped to handle these high-powered vehicles.
In response to social media comments criticizing the driving skills of some officers, the police department addressed public concerns:
“Providing officers with the training to manage high-performance vehicles responsibly is essential, not only for their safety but also to maintain respect on the roads.
Proper training will ensure these cars are used effectively for law enforcement purposes rather than becoming a source of additional problems.
As part of our new police college initiative, we are planning to introduce advanced driver training to address these concerns.
The goal is to have highly trained officers capable of managing complex road situations while treating the public with respect and ensuring that the vehicles are well-maintained to prevent unnecessary wear and tear.
We understand the concerns about potential misuse, but with the right training and oversight, we’re committed to preventing such issues.
Officers must uphold the highest standards, and we value the feedback that pushes us toward greater accountability and professionalism on the roads.”
These 50 GTIs aren’t the only performance cars acquired by South African authorities this year. In February, the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigations Unit, known as Hawks, took delivery of 22 high-performance vehicles.
Hawks is an elite law enforcement agency tasked with investigating organized crime, economic crime, corruption, and other major offenses.
There’s a logical reason behind these departments opting for the Volkswagen Golf GTI. The vehicle offers a balance of practicality and affordability, yet still packs enough power to pursue speedsters or transport suspects swiftly.
Additionally, the GTI is comfortable enough for everyday use. In South Africa, the base price for a Golf GTI starts at roughly $47,500 before outfitting it with police equipment.
The South African-spec Golf GTI is only available with an automatic transmission, and this will remain the case for the facelifted model, as Volkswagen has phased out the six-speed manual option globally. The mid-cycle facelift also sees the Golf R losing the manual transmission.