SA Police Service records lowest public trust in 27 years
Research released on Friday by the HSRC South African Social Attitudes Survey (SASAS) shows trust levels have remained relatively low – and not once in 27 years have more than half the adult public trusted the police.
This suggests the issue of police legitimacy is by no means a new one.
From 1998 to 2010, the average level of trust in the police was relatively static, ranging between 39% and 42%.
This was followed by a sharp decline between 2011 and 2013, following the Marikana Massacre of August 2012.
However, confidence had almost returned to the 2011 level by the 2015 survey. The 2016 to 2020 period was characterised by modest fluctuation between 31% and 35%.
The hard lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic, which included instances of police brutality in enforcing lockdown regulations, appears to have impacted confidence levels, based on the 2020 survey results.
In 2021, public trust in the police dipped to an all-time low of 27%, reportedly linked to the July 2021 social unrest in KZN when many criticised the poor performance of the SAPS.
This was followed by a further 5% drop to 22% in 2022, with 2023 and 2024-25 confidence levels almost unchanged, possibly reflecting increasing rates for certain crimes.
The 2022, 2023 and 2024-25 figures are the lowest recorded in 27 years.
The full report and figures can be accessed here: https://hsrc.ac.za/news/latest-news/still-feeling-blue-changing-patterns-of-trust-in-the-police-in-south-africa-since-the-late-1990s-2/
Don't have the ZO app? Download it to your Android or Apple device here:
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.
For news straight to your phone invite us:
WhatsApp – 060 784 2695
Instagram – zululand_observer
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
Why South Africans are losing trust in their security forces
There is a quiet, growing disillusionment in South Africa. One that isn't expressed in protest or petitions, but in silence. People no longer expect the system to protect them — not from criminals, not from corrupt politicians, and indeed not if they decide to speak out. Confidence in the country's security cluster is in freefall, and the state's latest handling of Minister Senzo Mchunu's scandal has only deepened the sense that truth and accountability have no place in today's political landscape. On July 13, President Cyril Ramaphosa placed Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on special leave, following explosive allegations by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. The commissioner accused Mchunu of colluding with criminal syndicates, interfering in politically sensitive murder investigations, and using his authority to disband a task team probing over a hundred unsolved political killings. The accusations, if true, represent one of the most brazen breaches of public trust by a sitting minister in recent memory. Yet despite the severity of the claims, Mchunu has not been fired. He hasn't even been suspended without pay. Instead, he's been quietly placed on paid leave while a commission of inquiry is established. And just like that, a man accused of undermining the very foundations of justice is allowed to retreat — salary and benefits intact — while the public waits, once again, for answers that may never come. The optics of this decision are catastrophic. At a time when public trust in the police has dropped to an all-time low — a recent HSRC survey found only 22% of South Africans have confidence in SAPS — the president's response appears more like damage control than leadership. And for whistleblowers, it sends a devastating message: the system doesn't just fail to protect you; it may actively reward those who put you in danger. This isn't a theoretical issue. Whistleblowers in South Africa operate in one of the most hostile environments in the democratic world. Those who expose corruption or criminal wrongdoing often face threats, intimidation, legal harassment, or even death. Babita Deokaran's assassination in 2021 was not just a tragedy — it was a signal that speaking out in this country can be a death sentence. Since then, government promises to strengthen whistleblower protection laws have amounted to little more than lip service. Draft proposals to reform the Protected Disclosures Act have yet to materialise into action. Civil society groups have repeatedly called for a comprehensive system that includes safe housing, financial support, legal assistance, and psychological care for whistleblowers. But those calls continue to go unanswered. Now, in the wake of the Mchunu scandal, the stakes have never been clearer. If a police minister can be accused of sabotaging investigations and remain in office, even temporarily, what hope is there for those who come forward with information that implicates people in power? A judicial commission, led by acting deputy-chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, has been tasked with investigating the allegations. Its scope includes not just Mchunu's conduct, but broader issues of interference in the justice system by political actors. It is a necessary process, and if handled with urgency and transparency, it could restore some faith in the rule of law. But South Africans have seen this play before. Commissions that take months, sometimes years, to deliver findings. Recommendations that gather dust. Promises that fade into the next news cycle. The danger isn't just that whistleblowers will stop coming forward. It's that the public will stop caring. When accountability becomes a performance, people turn away. When justice is delayed indefinitely, it begins to resemble impunity. Ramaphosa came into office promising to clean up the state, rebuild trust, and restore integrity to public office. However, his leadership has often favoured caution over conviction. Political stability has come at the expense of moral clarity. At this moment, South Africans don't need another commission. They need a firm, unambiguous stand — a declaration that those who compromise justice will not be protected by proximity to power. It's not too late. The president can still act decisively. He can remove Mchunu from his position, demand expedited action from the inquiry, and push forward urgent reforms to protect whistleblowers. These are not radical demands — they are the minimum standard in any functioning democracy. The next whistleblower is out there. They might be a municipal clerk, a junior accountant, a medical officer, or a police officer with a conscience. They're watching the Mchunu case unfold. They're reading the silence. And they're asking themselves one very human question: is it worth it? Right now, the answer is uncertain. But if the president and his Cabinet fail to act swiftly and honestly, the silence that follows won't be peaceful — it will be the silence of a society giving up. *Mayalo is an independent writer and analyst. The views expressed are not necessarily those of IOL and Independent Media
TimesLIVE
7 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Number of SAPS trainee applications for 5,500 posts top 900,000
As the closing date approaches, the number of police trainee applications has surpassed 900,000. The SA Police Service (SAPS) has confirmed that its Basic Police Development Learning Programme (BPDLP) application window will close in less than 24 hours. After the deadline, no further applications will be accepted. The SAPS received more than 67,774 applications within the first 24 hours of opening the application window. Police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe said by Thursday, they had received more than 927,000 applications. She said female applicants continue to lead in terms of numbers, with 527,673 young women having submitted applications so far. Male applicants have submitted 400,204 applications thus far. 'Gauteng has brought in the most number of applications with more than 240,000, followed by KZN with more than 179,000. Limpopo is sitting at more than 102,000, with the Eastern Cape at more than 93,000 and Mpumalanga at more than 89,000. The Western Cape is sitting at number six in terms of the most applications received with more than 76,000, followed by the Free State with more than 64,000. North West is second last with more than 57,000 applications and the Northern Cape with more than 22,000 bringing in the least number of applications ,' Mathe said. She said 261,255 applicants have valid drivers' licences. 'It should be noted that not everyone will make it to the selection process due to limited space availability on the training programme with only 5,500 spaces available,' she said. She said successful candidates would be called to undergo various assessments, including psychometric and integrity, physical and medical evaluations and interviews.
The Citizen
9 hours ago
- The Citizen
Ramaphosa defends budget as critical to government oversight
President Ramaphosa called the Presidency Budget Vote vital for coordination, oversight, and crisis response, despite fierce opposition criticism. President Cyril Ramaphosa defended the Presidency Budget Vote in parliament, calling it a vital tool for government coordination and oversight amid fierce criticism from opposition parties during the debate. He was replying to the debate on Budget 1 during a National Assembly hybrid plenary sitting on Thursday afternoon. Ramaphosa delivered his reply on Thursday following a daylong debate on Wednesday, which came after he tabled the Presidency Budget Vote to the National Assembly. Ramaphosa defends the Presidency Budget He described the budget as exceptional, highlighting its focus on coordination, strategic direction, and oversight across all government departments. The Presidency ensures alignment with national priorities and implements urgent intervention during crises, such as load shedding and Covid-19 challenges. 'A vote in support of this budget is about strengthening the nerve centre of government itself,' Ramaphosa said. ALSO READ: 'Cyril must fall': Organisations march against Ramaphosa to Union Buildings on Mandela Day The president said that one body disagrees that the challenges South Africa faces are immense and that the country is not as far along the road as expected. 'As we journey to the National Dialogue where we will face the hard truths and forge a common brighter future, let us take courage from the words of this young patriot who said yesterday that this budget should be a turning point,' Ramaphosa said. During Wednesday's debate, MK party deputy president and member of parliament John Hlophe launched a scathing attack on Ramaphosa in his budget vote speech, calling him 'a president broken beyond repair' and accusing him of hypocrisy, secrecy, and a failure to tackle corruption. Hlophe called president 'broken beyond repair' Hlophe criticised the government for abandoning ordinary South Africans struggling with poverty and the rising cost of living. He accused Ramaphosa of shielding political allies instead of holding them accountable. He also lambasted parliament, saying it had become 'a poodle sitting at your feet begging for scraps of patronage'. The president responded, saying that South Africa faces many challenges, but those shouldn't overshadow the progress made over the past 31 years. Ramaphosa stated that South Africa's democracy is still relatively young. ALSO READ: Seta scandal: Nkabane claims Ramaphosa has yet to act against her, ahead of parliament grilling 'Those who decry the allegedly scant progress we have made wish us to discount the millions of homes electrified, the clean water in communities where there was once none, the public housing built for the indigent, and the free basic services provided to society's most vulnerable,' he said. Dr Corné Mulder of the Freedom Front Plus said on Wednesday that the party is committed to finding solutions for all South Africans, including the Afrikaner and other minority groups. He insisted that the time is now to urgently address South Africa's economic strategy and policies to ensure a successful future for all. Freedom Front Plus proposals Ramaphosa said the government will engage critically with the Freedom Front Plus on its proposals. He discussed the historical context of the Carnegie Report and its influence on the development of apartheid. The president highlighted the disparities in resources devoted to white and black people. 'Honourable Mulder, the huge racial disparities we see in access to wealth and opportunities in South Africa were the consequence of the aid provided by the apartheid state to white people,' Ramaphosa said. ALSO READ: 'Ramaphosa will go down in history as one of the most useless presidents' – analyst 'This is an important discussion, and we welcome the Freedom Front's willingness to engage in it.' The president emphasised the importance of creating a bright future for all South Africans, regardless of race. On the same day, uMkhonto weSizwe MP Siyabonga Gama condemned the presidency budget as not only economically indefensible but also legally and institutionally corrosive. Budget is 'economically indefensible' – MK's Gama 'What we are debating here today is not just a budget. It is a financial architecture of a parallel state. A budget that funds insulation, protects inefficiency and advances elite consolidation under the guise of reform,' he said. Gama said the party was watching the erosion of constitutional accountability. The president said Gama delivered a somewhat 'misguided' view of the collaboration between government and business. ALSO READ: Ramaphosa says punitive action against Mchunu would set dangerous precedent He acknowledged the private sector's role in job creation and the need to create an environment that enables new businesses to thrive. 'While the government's role is, in part, to create an enabling environment for job creation and new businesses to thrive, the private sector is a critical driver of job creation,' Ramaphosa said. EFF member of parliament Nontando Nolutshungu said on Wednesday that the party rejected the budget because it is 'rotten from the head', and she further criticised the process of inquiry, calling it a waste of money and time. Criticism of commissions of inquiry The president responded and said the presidency has the power to establish commissions of inquiry into matters of public concern, as demonstrated by the revitalisation of the South African Revenue Service (Sars) and the recovery of seized assets. 'I said yesterday, and I will repeat again today, as a country committed to the rule of law, to procedural fairness and to transparency, we will ensure that the allegations made around corruption in the upper echelons of the South African Police Service will be fully ventilated in the commission of inquiry process,' he said. Watch the Presidency reply here:
