People's trust in police at ‘all-time low': HSRC
According to the HSRC's South African Social Attitudes Survey, trust in the police has declined significantly over the past two decades, with only 22% of citizens expressing trust in the police in 2022. The 2023 and 2024/25 confidence levels were almost unchanged.
The HSRC spoke to between 2,500 and 3,500 people across the country.
The HSRC said recent allegations of police rot by KZN police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi represented another 'decisive moment for policing in SA, the outcome of which will have a significant bearing on the project to rebuild public trust'.
Mkhwanazi claimed a police investigation unmasked a syndicate controlled by a drug cartel, which allegedly involves politicians, law enforcement officials from the police, metro police and correctional services, prosecutors and the judiciary, as well as business people.
He also alleged that police minister Senzo Mchunu interfered with sensitive police investigations — which has led to President Cyril Ramaphosa placing the minister on leave of absence.
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The South African
3 hours ago
- The South African
Mkwanazi march turns chaotic as protesters storm SAPS building
The #HandsoffMkhwanazi march turned chaotic when marchers made a U-turn to the South African Police Service Provincial Head Office in Durban to show their support for KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. The march was supposed to start at Curries Fountain Sports Development Stadium and end at Hoy Park. It was intended to show support for Mkhwanazi after he made damning allegations against Police Minister Senzo Mchunu for interfering in police investigations and disbanding a task team investigating political killings. The march was nearing its end when protesters suddenly turned in a different direction. Police rushed to block the marchers; some were standing outside the headquarters with their guns and shields to protect themselves from the protesters. The South African spoke to one of the marchers, who chose to remain anonymous, on why they redirected the protest to the SAPS headquarters.' 'To be honest, we are angry and sick and tired of what's happening in this country. Mkhwanazi is a hero for being brave enough to tell us of the hidden things in this country. The president did not show that he took this thing seriously and just put Mchunu on leave while he was supposed to suspend him.' 'That's why we are here today to show support for Mkhwanazi. We, as South Africans, are saying Hands off Mkhwanazi. This country must be free from thieves and criminals,' said the anonymous protester. National Police Commissioner Fanie Masemola urged the public to comply with the commission of enquiry that the president has implemented. 'From my side, all I'm requesting from society is that the president has spoken and there is a commission appointed; let's give the commission time to do its work. Let us continue with our lives, but at the same time let's work with the police,' said Masemola. He added that citizens should not damage any infrastructure and should behave responsibly. He says, 'Don't even think of damaging a light pole or a dustbin. Let's behave, let's be responsible and wait for the process that has been announced by the president. Let us cooperate with police.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.


Mail & Guardian
7 hours ago
- Mail & Guardian
MPs recommend an ad hoc parliament committee to investigate Mkhwanazi's allegations
KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Parliament's justice and police committees have recommended the formation of an ad hoc committee to consider allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General During a joint sitting on Wednesday, committee members agreed that this was the most appropriate mechanism to consider Mkhwanazi's allegations that Mchunu pressured him to disband a unit investigating organised crime in KwaZulu-Natal. ActionSA MP 'This work must be wrapped up before the end of the year,' he said. National Assembly speaker Thoko Didiza had tasked the committees with determining how to handle Mkhwanazi's allegations earlier this month that political interference in police operations led to direct instructions to shut down investigations into high-level criminal activity in KwaZulu-Natal. Last year, Mkhwanzi told the Mail & Guardian that political interference remained one of the During Wednesday's joint sitting of the committees, parliament's legal team warned MPs that a full-scale inquiry by the legislature would probably replicate the work of the Legal adviser Andile Tetyana said parliament still had a constitutional obligation to exercise oversight but should do so through a streamlined, time-bound mechanism. He recommended the formation of an ad hoc committee under rule 253 of the National Assembly, which allows for temporary committees with a defined scope and duration. 'This is about accountability and improving police governance,' Tetyana told MPs. He said the ad hoc committee could look into several specific issues raised by Mkhwanazi, including the disbanding of the political killings task team, the alleged removal of 121 case dockets by the minister, leadership instability in crime intelligence and the overlap in roles of the South African Police Service and the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid). 'Parliament's control over the executive means influence, not direct power. It remains advice, not command; criticism, not obstruction,' Tetyana said. The committees considered three options: a full parliamentary inquiry; invoking rule 169 to allow committees to confer; or establishing a new ad hoc committee. The latter was favoured as the least likely to cause jurisdictional overlap and the fact that it could conclude its work within a specific timeframe. MPs also proposed that any interim reports produced by the presidential commission be made available to parliament to ensure coordination and oversight without interference. The committees are expected to meet again next week to finalise the draft terms of reference and reporting timelines for the ad hoc committee. A formal recommendation is expected to be tabled in the National Assembly next Wednesday. This comes as the police service grapples with the continued fallout from Mkhwanazi's allegations. On Tuesday, national police commissioner Fannie Masemola confirmed that deputy commissioner for crime detection Shadrack Sibiya had been Both Mchunu and Sibiya have denied any wrongdoing. If the National Assembly approves the recommendation, the ad hoc committee will be empowered to summon witnesses, gather evidence, and deliver a report to parliament.


The Citizen
8 hours ago
- The Citizen
‘Where's the proof?': Calls for Ntshavheni to answer for coup claims
Ramaphosa absorbed the intelligence portfolio into his office after the 2021 unrest. The MK party is demanding proof about an alleged coup that has been foiled by the South African government. This comes after Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni told parliament on Tuesday that the country's intelligence services managed to prevent a number of coup attempts, the latest being two weeks ago. MK party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela told The Citizen on Wednesday that the minister must provide evidence to back her claims. 'She must tell us who, what and where. She has already told the public, now she must give us details and stop politicking,' he said. Is state security still functional? Despite Ntshavheni's praise of the country's intelligence services, Ndhlela said they are dysfunctional. 'If they have been closing on coups, why did they fail to prevent the July unrests four years ago?' he asked. Ndhlela criticised President Cyril Ramaphosa for absorbing the intelligence portfolio into the office of the Presidency. Efforts to discredit Mkhwanazi? ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba also dismissed Ntshavheni's claims. 'This is nonsense. We do not have time for this. This is the first time we are hearing of it and I think this is just a plan to discredit [KZN police commissioner] Lt Gen Mkhwanazi,' he said. ALSO READ: Ntshavheni assures SA is safe after detected potential coup risk Mkhwanazi made several allegations against top police officials, including Minister Senzo Mchunu, accusing them of political interference and collusion with alleged criminal syndicates. During a parliamentary meeting on Wednesday, National Coloured Congress member Fadiel Adams described Mkhwanazi's allegations as a threat to the country. 'He had what looked like an armed militia behind him. That was a threat to this country. 'He was trying to incite policemen to take action in the event of whatever it is he knows is coming,' he speculated. 'Very low risk' of a coup Political analyst Ntsikelelo Breakfast told The Citizen that Ntshavheni's comments have the potential to alarm the public. 'She should not have said that. There are things that you are privy to as a leader of a cluster. 'If there is a threat, I think she should have kept the public at bay about that. We do not want to agitate people to pursue that agenda,' he said. Breakfast said the intelligence service in the country had been weaponised in party politics. 'The intelligence apparatus has always been, and maybe still is, used in the factional battles of the ANC,' he said. Another political analyst, Theo Neethling, said he was surprised by Ntshavheni's remarks. 'I can only say that the possibility of a coup in South Africa has always been regarded by analysts as a matter of very low risk – unlike what we've seen in recent years, for example, in West Africa. This announcement therefore comes as a complete surprise and even a shock,' he said. Neethling said the announcement comes at a time when the police are in deep trouble. 'In addition, allegations of corruption and misconduct against ANC members and top police officials hang like a dark cloud in the air, creating major uncertainty about our national security,' he said. NOW READ: Leave and a commission don't make Mchunu immune from prosecution, parliament hears