Trust in South African police erodes amid rising crime and misconduct

In South Africa, 70 people were murdered every day or three every hour between October and November last year, according to stats released by the South African Police yesterday. This equates to 6,351 murders.

Such is the crime situation in the country that citizens have welcomed the deployment of the South African National Defense Force to neighbourhoods, because they have lost trust in the police, whom they've accused of also being involved in crime.

The latest figures from the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) for the 2024/2025 financial year show dozens of cases involving SAPS members accused of crimes ranging from drinking and driving to drug possession and theft. 

While some of these incidents may seem minor individually, experts warn their cumulative effect is corrosive.

In drinking and driving cases involving SAPS members, IPID received 142 complaints. Of these, 139 were investigated and finalised, and 128 were recommended for prosecution. Yet only 46 convictions were recorded a conviction rate of roughly 36% of those recommended.

Drug possession cases followed a similar pattern. IPID received 91 complaints, finalised 88 investigations, and recommended 73 for prosecution. Just 21 convictions were secured about 29% of those recommended.

Theft cases were even more numerous. IPID recorded 167 complaints against SAPS members, finalised 162 investigations, and recommended prosecution in 141 matters. However, only 39 convictions were ultimately recorded.

While some cases may still be before the courts, the gap between recommended prosecutions and final convictions fuels perceptions that officers face limited consequences. For communities battling violent crime and gangsterism, the impression that police officers can flout the law without accountability deepens mistrust.

Recent examples have sharpened these concerns. In Khayelitsha, a SAPS officer remains employed despite facing eight drinking and driving charges dating back nearly a decade, with incidents allegedly continuing over the years.

SAPS spokesperson Constable Ndakhe Gwala confirmed the charges, stating: “The criminal cases against the member are under investigation and he is facing internal disciplinary action.”

In another matter, a constable attached to Crime Intelligence was allegedly driving a state-issued SAPS vehicle under the influence of alcohol while on her way to duty when she caused a multi-vehicle collision. She was on duty, in possession of a state-issued firearm, and operating a vehicle assigned for operational readiness.

“The criminal process followed,” said sources close to the matter. “She was arrested and charged with drunk driving, her firearm was confiscated, and the matter was enrolled for prosecution, with the case set down for January 2026.”

Internally, however, the disciplinary outcome was markedly different. Despite the seriousness of the misconduct involving alcohol abuse, public endangerment, and misuse of state resources, the internal process resulted in a one-month suspension without pay and counselling. There was no declaration of unfitness under the Firearms Control Act, no removal from intelligence duties, and no safeguard preventing her from carrying a firearm upon return to work. SAPS National did not respond to questions about this case by deadline.

For crime researcher Dr Simon Howell of the University of Cape Town, even lower-level misconduct is significantly damaging to SAPS’ legitimacy.

 “It does undermine trust and legitimacy and undermines the public confidence in the police to undertake and fulfil their duties, especially when you see videos of SAPS officers pulling out of vehicles stone drunk. That doesn’t look good. It’s bad PR.”

Howell explained that a criminal conviction does not automatically terminate employment within SAPS. 

“Convictions are typically treated as misconduct,” he said.

“Depending on the type of crime, you will face internal sanction

s and disciplinary processes rather than automatic dismissal. It also depends on your role within SAPS and whether it’s public-facing or operational.”

He warned that internal culture is shaped by leadership. 

“The internal corruption at a lower level is often a function of internal corruption at a higher level,” Howell said. “If your boss is getting away with all sorts of stuff, why would you not do it yourself?”

Community activist Jay Jay Idel, spokesperson for Fight Against Crime South Africa (FACSA), said: “When smaller offences like drinking and driving are ignored or treated lightly, it creates a culture where misconduct becomes normal. Over time, this weakens discipline and sends the wrong message, not only within the ranks but also to the public.”

Idel also noted structural weaknesses.

 “SAPS is still largely behind when it comes to using modern technology to properly track performance, monitor behaviour, and manage disciplinary processes. This makes it harder to identify problems early and deal with them effectively. However, while systems play a role, the core issue remains leadership. Leadership sets the tone.”

He highlighted the contrast between stations led by strong and weak leadership. “Where there is strong, disciplined, and competent leadership at station level, the difference is clear almost immediately. You see better performance, better discipline, and better community relations. Where leadership is weak, standards drop, misconduct increases, and public trust suffers,” Idel said.

Nicholas Gotsell, a DA NCOP Member on Security and Justice, echoed these concerns, focusing on leadership in the Western Cape. 

“The Western Cape is losing ground in the fight against crime because the Provincial Police Commissioner, Lt Genl Patekile, has failed to enforce discipline and has instead created a culture where corrupt and compromised officers are protected,” Gotsell said.

He cited an specific example of an Athlone cop who remains a police officer despite a long list of sanctions against him for, inter alia, assault, crimen injuria.

“This problem does not begin with organised crime. It starts with basic discipline. When I posted a video of a police member sleeping in a marked SAPS vehicle in the middle of a busy street, there was a national outcry. Instead of recognising this as a serious discipline issue, the debate was deflected into a racial one.

“But this is where the rot begins. When there are no consequences for small misconduct, it escalates into serious corruption and criminality.”

Gotsell also criticised oversight under the current Provincial SAPS leadership.

“Under Lieutenant General Patekile’s leadership, we have seen a consistent pattern of shielding officers. He has overturned dismissals of members found guilty of corruption and drug-related offences, and in other cases, corruption-accused officers are not even suspended and as a result of not suspending a drug-peddling cop, a nine-month-old baby was shot dead in an alleged gang attack in Athlone this week.”

He added: “The situation becomes even more concerning when Parliament appears to shield this kind of leadership. Yesterday, Honourable Chairperson of the Select Committee on Security and Justice, concluded proceedings of the committee and chose to break for lunch rather than allow Members to question the PC about the recent string of escapes from police custody. That decision prevented proper oversight and accountability at a time when communities are desperate for answers.”

Howell summed up the impact on public trust: “It really requires that leaders have integrity and their leadership is clean and ethical so that lower-ranking members have something to follow. If they don’t, it creates opportunity for people to do what they want, which is what we’ve seen quite often in SAPS.”