South African membership is open to members of the South African Police, the South African Police Reservists, Traffic Officers and Law Enforcement Officers of the Parks Board. Members are entitles to wear the badge of the Association and are automatically allocated to the region governing the area in which they serve and have full voting rights at regional meetings which are held half-yearly, together with the right to speak and vote at annual general meetings. Activities of the Association are in no way concerned with service matters for which purpose there are other bodies. Furthermore, the Association is a private organisation which is not officially sponsored or controlled. All the work of the Association is carried out by its officers in off-duty time without remuneration.
Membership now covers most countries of the world and is steadily increasing.
It includes all ranks from Chief Officers to Constables. Benefits to be gained in return for membership of the IPA South Africa is in the lead with guesthouses and is affordable accommodation for every IPA member. Guesthouses all over the world is also part of the international benefits. During visits abroad, members often have the opportunity of studying methods of policing in other countries and to stay in guesthouses. Every member may participate in an exchange holiday scheme, either individually or as a member of a party, in many cases staying at the homes of police officers in the country selected.