Senior Investigation Officer - Serious and Violent Crime

About the role

The University of Cape Town is recruiting a permanent Senior Investigation Officer (payclass 10) for its Risk Services, Investigations Unit within Properties and Services, based in Cape Town. The post provides functional leadership and investigative expertise on criminal incidents, student disciplinary matters and staff-related misconduct, supports threat detection and intelligence gathering, and leads active investigations into serious and violent crimes (excluding financial crime). It has two direct reports.

Key responsibilities

• Investigate reported criminal incidents, student misconduct and staff-related cases, including interviewing complainants, witnesses and respondents
• Gather, analyse and evaluate evidence in line with legal and institutional requirements
• Compile detailed investigation reports, maintain case files and records, and manage investigations from initiation to closure
• Liaise with SAPS, the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigations, the National Prosecuting Authority and other justice departments
• Prepare reports for disciplinary processes and give evidence at disciplinary hearings
• Manage missing student and staff cases and engage with students, staff, HR, Residence Life, Legal Services, SAPS and private security providers
• Identify crime and misconduct trends, recommend risk mitigation measures and contribute to safety awareness campaigns
• Handle CCTV footage, export and store it securely, and maintain the chain of evidence
• Provide evidence-based feedback to university executives, support legal reviews and media exposure, and recommend institutional reforms

Required profile

• NQF level 5 qualification
• Completed the Detective Learning Programme / Investigation Course or similar
• 10 years of investigative experience in a law enforcement environment, of which at least 3 years relate to general crime investigations
• Knowledge of investigations in higher education, including student conduct systems and coordination with law enforcement and regulators
• Advantageous: experience in the higher education environment
• PSIRA registration (minimum Grade B), private investigator registration, and a valid Code B / EB / 8 driver's licence

Annual cost of employment, including benefits, is between R 661 967 and R 778 783. Applications are made online through the university's careers site with a cover letter, CV, copies of the PSIRA and private investigator registrations, a driver's licence, ID or passport, and three referees; the closing date is 23 November 2026.