Only 22% of South Africans trust the police – ISS report

Research from the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) reveals that the public’s confidence in law enforcement continues to decline as widespread corruption continues.

Its latest report, titled Tackling police corruption in South Africa, reveals that only 22% of South Africans trust the police. 

The problems are complex; the most concerning is the involvement of senior police, who have a deeply destructive impact on organisational culture, says ISS researcher David Bruce.

This includes commonplace bribery, fragmented anti-corruption efforts with poor coordination, and hesitation to report fellow officers out of fear of potential retaliation. 

The report comes as the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry and a Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee continue to receive extensive evidence of widespread police corruption.

RELATED:

Those involved in police corruption, malfeasance must be held accountable: SAPS CFO

Claims of widespread police corruption affecting morale of rank & file members - SAPU

“If you do have senior leadership corruption or senior members of the SAPS believing that there is senior leadership corruption, that implies that this is a problem of an exceptionally serious kind.

"[And] from what we know, it would also appear that the effectiveness of the disciplinary system is inadequate in relation to the scale of the problem."

Rather than solely focusing on external oversight, Bruce suggests strengthening the existing internal anti-corruption unit.

The proper resources and institutional status must be backed by committed leadership that is determined to address the issue decisively. 

“One needs to elevate the status of that Anti-Corruption unit, and give it the type of backing that will enable it to be effective. It will much more likely have the results that one wants than providing this kind of responsibility to an external body such as an IPID,” he says. 

To listen to Bruce in conversation with CapeTalk’s Amy Maciver, click below: