Volkswagen Golf GTI added to South Africa police fleet

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The Durban Metro Police Service has taken delivery of 50 VolkswagenGolf GTI hatchbacks to add to its fleet of marked police cars.

According to the Durban Metro Police Service (DMPS), the hot hatches will support its Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger 'bakkies' – the South African term for ute or pick-up – in dealing with crime in the country's third-most populated city.

"These high-performance vehicles will significantly boost our response capabilities and help us serve the community even more efficiently", said the DMPS's Facebook post announcing the Golf GTI arrivals.

"With this new fleet, we are better equipped to keep our streets safe and respond swiftly when duty calls."

Sold as the 'Golf 8' in South Africa, the Mark 8 Golf GTI has a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 180kW and 370Nm though a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and front-wheel drive.

While Volkswagen South Africa does not make any official acceleration claims – nor offer a six-speed manual version in its showrooms – the power and torque outputs are identical to the Golf GTI sold in Australia.

This means they should be close to the current Australian Golf GTI's official 0-100km/h claim of 6.4 seconds.

According to website online reports, the DMPS is the second South African law enforcement department to add the iconic hot hatch to its fleet.

The Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigations (DPCI) unit – based in Pretoria and known as 'The Hawks' – received 22 Golf GTIs in February 2024.

The DPCI deals with national level and organised crime and is separate from the day-to-day police force.

In handing over the vehicles – alongside 40 South African-made Volkswagen Polos – Police Minister General Bheki Cele said: "To the average man on the street, these may be just cars … [but] these vehicles can mean a difference between life and death.

"When organised crime gangs and those who kill police officers attempt to flee, using high-powered vehicles; these cars will ensure we are on their toes and we stop them in their tracks."

Volkswagen South Africa has not yet confirmed the updated Golf 8.5 – scheduled to arrive in Australia in early 2025 as part of a new model onslaught – which includes a more powerful 195kW version of the same 2.0-litre engine for the GTI.

The car maker has suggested the current Golf may be on sale until 2035 – 16 years since it was introduced –  when the sale of new cars with petrol and diesel engines is banned in the European Union (EU).

With more than 3000 staff, Volkswagen has been manufacturing cars in South Africa since it opened its Kariega, 750km east of Cape Town, in 1951 – where it currently builds the Polo.

At the end of August 2024, Volkswagen was the second-most popular brand in the country, behind Toyota, with its best-selling model – the Polo Vivo – ranked third behind the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger.

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