Stamping out political interference crucial to rebuilding trust in SAPS

IOL News

26-04-2025

(From left) President Cyril Ramaphosa, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi at the inaugural Police Summit held in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng on April 8, 2025. South Africa does not lack vision. It lacks the leadership required to transform vision into reality. To restore integrity and effectiveness, policing must be shielded from political agendas, says the writer.
Dr. Reneva Fourie
THE National Policing Summit, held from 8 to 10 April, under the theme 'Efficiency in Action: Optimising South Africa's Policing Potential' aimed to strengthen the South African Police Service's (SAPS) efforts to become modern, responsive and community-focused.
The summit tackled important issues: the necessary balance between police visibility and investigating crime, the imperative of adapting the service to a rapidly changing policing landscape, and the critical role of technology in fostering a safer society.
While such summits typically produce commendable outcomes on paper, focusing on the concrete actions that will follow thereafter is essential.
The Joslin Smith trial serves as a stark reminder that murder, trafficking, kidnapping, and extortion have entrenched themselves in South Africa's criminal underworld.
Syndicates involved in the illegal drug trade, the construction mafia, and even acts of sabotage against water infrastructure, among others, are thriving in an environment where policing efforts are seemingly hampered by bureaucratic inertia.
These syndicates operate as sophisticated, well-connected networks that effectively circumvent security protocols and evade accountability due to weakened institutional oversight and a fragmented justice system.
According to Interpol and UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime), South Africa is a key hub for human trafficking in Africa, both as a destination and transit country. Children are exploited in domestic servitude, sex work, and forced labour, often with minimal intervention.
The construction mafia – organised groups that resort to violence to claim a share of construction projects – has effectively paralysed billions of rands in infrastructure development.
The ramifications include substantial project delays, escalating expenditures, and a detrimental effect on capital inflow into the real estate sector.
According to a 2022 report from the South African Forum of Civil Engineering Contractors, at least 183 infrastructure and construction projects, collectively valued at over R63 billion, were disrupted by these criminal activities in 2019 alone.
Equally alarming is the sabotage of water infrastructure, a relatively new but growing trend. In provinces like Gauteng and Limpopo, reports of deliberate contamination and equipment vandalism are increasing. This form of economic sabotage directly undermines essential services, compromising the health and dignity of millions.
No one can deny that a plethora of ideas and good recommendations emerge from these summits.
However, the gap between dialogue and action is stark. Reports indicate that while SAPS's articulated goals include increasing professionalism and skill within its workforce, these goals become difficult to achieve in the face of inadequate resources and dire working conditions.
The discussion regarding harnessing technology for improved policing is undoubtedly a constructive element. Data analytics, surveillance, and community reporting applications offer promising pathways to more effective law enforcement.
However, the commitment to digital transformation occurs when several precincts still lack basic tools such as reliable patrol vehicles, internet connectivity, and even essential stationery for their daily operations.
A 2022 SAPS Organisational Climate Survey revealed that a significant number of police officers feel unsupported and demoralised.
They argue that their conditions of service do not reflect the risks they face daily. When officers lack even basic tools it becomes evident that their ability to uphold the law with the required diligence and enthusiasm is severely compromised.
Moreover, the general public sentiment complicates matters further. There are high levels of ambivalence, if not outright hostility, from some citizens towards law enforcement. The cultural milieu in which SAPS operates is fraught with challenges, including an inadequate patriotic sentiment among citizens.
Reports have documented instances where community members defend criminals or purchase stolen goods, creating a toxic environment that undermines and delegitimises law enforcement.
Public engagement in community safety has diminished, giving way to cynicism and mistrust. A 2024 Afrobarometer survey indicated that only about one-third (32%) of South Africans say they trust the police, while over 70% suspect the police are involved in some corrupt activities.
Only about 24% of the population views the police force as always operating professionally, and a mere 10% believe that government efforts effectively tackle crime.
This cultural dilemma is compounded by the perception that many leaders in South Africa are entangled in scandals, further eroding trust between the police and the communities they serve. Research conducted by the Institute for Security Studies indicated that the integrity and accountability of leadership significantly influence community trust in law enforcement.