Dedicated to information relating to policing activities, the magazine was first published in Kwa-Zulu Natal under the name Nongqai (Armed Watchman) in 1907. Due to changing circumstances of the police forces in the country, it was consequently known as the Justitia, SARP, SAP and Servamus.
The Nongqai was privately published in Pietermaritzburg and contained information relating to the Natal Police and other British forces in KwaZulu-Natal. The first advertiser was C C W Edels (wholesale and boot, shoe and legging manufacturer) from Pietermaritzburg.
After the establishment of the Union and the South African Police in 1913, the magazine became the official organ of the SA Armed Forces in Pretoria. The magazine retained its name until April 1961, when it became a publication for the Department of Justice, SA Police and SA Prison Service, hence the name change to Justitia.
The first edition of SARP was published in November 1964 as the Magazine for the SA Police, and the name was derived from the name of the publishing company, SARP Publishers. It was speculated that the SA Police would have changed to the SA Republican Police, hence the name of the publishers.
Twelve years later, following a competition by the editorial staff, the magazine's name changed to SAP magazine in March 1976.
With the establishment of the self-governing states and territories and the establishment of their own police agencies, the magazine, while reporting on their activities, focused on the then South African Police. Servamus (which means "to serve") completed the cycle, and was first published in April 1979. The name change emphasised the change to a more "service-orientated" police throughout the years.
The original magazine carried articles of a more human interest - appointments, police and army force orders, promotions and deaths. Later, the content was gradually changed to address the ever-increasing need for academic material, and today Servamus has spread its wings, and is no longer a magazine focusing only on the South African Police Service. As a safety and security magazine for the law enforcement industry, including the metro and military police and security companies, it maintains a balance between human interest articles, academic information and law reports.
