POPCRU is the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union, representing police and correctional services employees.
A union can only act for its members, and representation at a disciplinary hearing depends on membership being current. Check that subscriptions are up to date before you need help rather than after.
Complaints about police conduct are a separate route entirely. Those go to the station commander, then the provincial service complaints office, and serious misconduct goes to IPID, which is independent of the police service.
This page covers how to contact POPCRU in South Africa. The details below were taken from the official POPCRU contact page rather than from any third-party directory.
ContactDetails.co.za is an independent directory. We are not POPCRU and cannot act on your behalf. Everything on this page is a routing aid so you reach the right official channel quickly.
POPCRU contact numbers
These routes were verified against the official POPCRU contact page on 23 August 2026. Contact numbers do change, so confirm on the official page before relying on one for anything urgent.
| What it is for | Contact |
|---|---|
| Head office | 011 242 4600 |
| General secretary email | [email protected] |
| Fax | 086 625 3054 |
| CCMA national call centre | 0861 16 16 16 |
| CCMA WhatsApp | 060 224 2437 |
| CCMA email | [email protected] |
POPCRU House is at 1 Marie Road, Auckland Park, Johannesburg, 2000.
POPCRU represents police and correctional services employees. A union can only act for its members, and representation at a disciplinary hearing depends on membership being current. Complaints about police conduct are a separate route entirely: those go to the station commander, the provincial service complaints office, and IPID for serious misconduct.
Self-service options before you call
- Check the official site at popcru.org.za, which carries the current contact details and any online enquiry form.
- WhatsApp on 060 224 2437, which works over wifi and leaves you a written record.
- Email to [email protected], which gives you a written record of what you asked and when.
- Calling outside peak times. Monday mornings and the hour after 17:00 are usually the worst for South African contact centres.
What to have ready before you call
- A clear one line summary of what you need resolved.
- Your account, order or reference number if you already have one.
- The identity document or account holder details, since most South African providers verify who you are before discussing an account.
- Dates, amounts and any error message exactly as it appeared.
- A pen and paper for the reference number. Ask for one every time, because without it a follow up call starts from nothing.
How a CCMA referral works
- Referral is free and forms are available at any CCMA office. You do not need a lawyer, and legal representation is restricted at conciliation by design.
- Deadlines decide many cases before the merits do. Thirty days for a dismissal, ninety days for an unfair labour practice. Late referrals need condonation, granted at the CCMA’s discretion.
- Conciliation comes first, arbitration second. If conciliation fails, a certificate is issued and the matter can be set down for arbitration, where evidence is led.
- An arbitration award is binding and enforceable, and can be made an order of the Labour Court. It is reviewed, not appealed, and a review has a six week deadline.
- Bring your documents. The contract, payslips, the disciplinary notice, the outcome letter and any correspondence. An award is made on the evidence presented.
Some sectors fall under a bargaining council rather than the CCMA, and referring to the wrong body wastes the deadline. The CCMA will tell you which applies to your industry.
Complaints and escalation
If a first call does not resolve the matter, escalate through the union’s own office as a member, in writing. A union can only act for its members, and representation depends on membership being current. A workplace dispute the union cannot resolve goes to the CCMA on 0861 16 16 16, free to employees.
Keep a short written log of each contact: the date, the channel you used, the name of the agent and the reference number. Most trade union complaint processes ask for exactly that history, and having it ready is usually the difference between a fast resolution and starting over.
Avoiding fake POPCRU contact numbers
Contact details for well known South African brands are a common target for impersonation. Numbers that look official appear in search ads, social media replies and cloned websites, and the person answering is not POPCRU.
- Reach POPCRU through the official site at popcru.org.za rather than through a number in a search advert or a social media reply.
- POPCRU will never ask you for your full card number, PIN, CVV, online banking password or a one time PIN. Nobody legitimate needs those to help you.
- Treat any caller who creates urgency, asks you to install remote access software, or asks you to move money to a safe account as fraudulent, and end the call.
- If you are unsure whether a call was genuine, hang up and dial the official number yourself rather than calling back a number the caller gave you.
Related contact pages
Frequently asked questions
What is the POPCRU contact number?
The routes are listed in the table above, with what each one is for. The main route is 011 242 4600. Confirm it on popcru.org.za before relying on it, since numbers are changed from time to time.
How do I know a POPCRU number is genuine?
Check it against the official site at popcru.org.za. A number that only appears in a search advert, a social media reply or a third-party directory should not be trusted for anything involving your account, your money or your identity document.
What should I do if nobody resolves my query?
Ask for the complaint reference and the escalation path on your first call, then follow the escalation route described above. Keep the dates, agent names and reference numbers, because every formal complaint process will ask for them.
Can ContactDetails.co.za resolve this for me?
No. We are an independent directory, not POPCRU, and we have no access to your account. Everything here is a routing aid so that you reach the correct official channel with the right information in hand.
Is there a cost to calling these numbers?
South African 0860 and 0861 numbers are charged at a share-call or standard rate depending on your provider, and 0800 numbers are toll free from a landline. Calls from a mobile are billed at your own operator’s rate, so check your plan if cost matters.
Contact routes on this page were checked against the official POPCRU source on 23 August 2026. If you find a detail that has changed, the official source is always the authority.