Crime & justice How many people are killed by the police in South Africa in a year? Source Independent Police Investigative Directorate Short answer How many people are killed by the police in South Africa in a year? The Independent Police Investigative Directorate defines death as a result of police action as the death of any person caused or believed to have been caused by a member of the national or municipal police service.In 2017/18, a recorded 558 people died as a result of police action. In the 2018/19 fi... Back Full answer