Toxic culture and broken command: Calls for deep reform as SAPS faces crisis of credibility

The South African Police Service (SAPS) is under scrutiny as parliamentary hearings and the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry continue to paint a picture of an organisation with no clear chain of command, no accountability, and a lack of trust from the public.

Lizette Lancaster, Acting Head of the Justice and Violence Prevention Programme at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), explains that rigid command structures designed to ensure accountability have collapsed, replaced by personality clashes, corruption, and years of toxic internal politics.

"What we have seen through the years, probably since the years of Jackie Selebi at least, is that these structures and these command-and-control systems have broken down. There's interference, there's a lot of suspicion, people getting dirt on one another. It's a very toxic environment to operate in. So, it becomes very difficult to fulfil your mandate in such an environment."

Despite the bleak picture, Lancaster says there is still hope.

"It's very difficult to navigate these muddy waters of what the Constitution and Police Service Act says and what happens in reality; therein lies the rot of the police service. It is a really good thing that these things are coming to the fore. There's a new policing plan on the table; there's a lot of stuff that is happening to turn this around, so that's the good news."

Lancaster emphasised the need for independent disciplinary processes, lifestyle audits for senior officers, and a renewed focus on professionalism over politics, measures she believes are crucial to restoring credibility to one of South Africa’s most vital institutions.

To listen to Lizette Lancaster in conversation with 702's Bongani Bingwa, use the audio player below: