Experts reveal extent of SAPS corruption crisis

FOLLOWING allegations of police cover-ups in a fatal drunk driving case, criminologists and political leaders reveal how deeply entrenched corruption within the SAPS is threatening public safety and eroding trust in law enforcement.

They propose solutions to a problem they describe as "almost insurmountable" under current leadership.

This comes as a Chatsworth mother, Sharona Deonarain, claims police corruption following the death of her daughter, allegedly by a drunk driver. 

Nirmala Gopal, a professor in criminology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, said there existed a growing belief that the allegations surfacing could be part of a broader pattern, suggesting unethical and unprofessional conduct among certain members of the South African Police Service (SAPS). 

“This troubling scenario is especially alarming given the heightened scrutiny the SAPS is currently enduring. The concerns reflect a deeper issue within the organisation, where accountability and integrity may be called into question, further complicating the already challenging landscape of public trust in law enforcement.”

Gopal said corruption within the SAPS was deeply entrenched, creating a complex and daunting challenge that appeared nearly insurmountable, particularly under the current political administration. 

“Evidence suggests that, rather than making significant progress, efforts to combat corruption are woefully inadequate. This is evident when high-profile members of SAPS are implicated in corrupt and criminal activities themselves, which severely undermines integrity and trust within the ranks. 

“Such widespread corruption complicates efforts at lower operational levels, making it challenging to enforce accountability and instil a culture of integrity. The implications of this situation are far-reaching, posing a significant threat to national safety and security. The public rightly expects law enforcement to uphold the rule of law; however, pervasive corruption risks eroding citizens' confidence in their safety and in the very institutions meant to protect them,” she said. 

Gopal said addressing these issues transparently and effectively was crucial for restoring public trust and ensuring the effectiveness of policing in South Africa.

“Unfortunately, corruption in the SAPS is so intricately woven that it seems almost improbable, given the current political administration, to root out.  Certainly, in the current climate, it is demonstrable that if anything, very little is being done to root out corruption. 

“Where high-profile members of the SAPS are themselves involved in corrupt and criminal activities, it poses a challenge to address these issues at the lower levels. This is a huge risk to the country's safety and security mandate,” she said. 

Mary de Haas, a veteran violence and police monitor, said it was not the first time she had heard of allegations of police covering up accident scenes. 

“The allegations are very serious. From conversations I have had with good retired police officers, the problem is that command and control is not working and this has resulted in policing in the country virtually falling apart. The police minister needs to find some solution or it will just worsen.” 

Gareth Newham, head of the Justice and Violence Prevention Programme at the Institute for Security Studies, said police criminality, whether it was brutality, corruption or other crimes, severely damaged the image of the police in the eyes of the public.

“This is the primary reason for the low levels of trust in the police from the side of the public. When civilians see a person wearing a police uniform, they don’t know if that person is a trained professional or a ‘crook’. This means that many people do not report crime or believe they can commit crimes and get away with it by bribing a police officer; therefore crooked police members contribute to our high crime levels.”

Newham said in order to ensure that police officers uphold the law, there needed to be a substantial investment in the internal structures and systems for promoting professional conduct. 

“Mass recruitment of thousands of people over a few years should be stopped and undertaken over a longer period to ensure that no person who hasn't been thoroughly vetted can join the police service. Efforts should be undertaken to professionalise the overall culture of the police service so that there is less secrecy because everyone knows that they are honest well-trained professionals.”

Newham said in addition, the internal SAPS Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit should be tripled in size, as well as the integrity management component that does lifestyle audits and promotes ethical behaviour. 

Les Govender, deputy chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, said police are the custodians of law and order, and any allegations of misconduct must be fully investigated. 

“Any police officer or police administrative personnel found guilty of corruption should face the full might of the law as they have no place in the police service. 

“I encourage members of the public who have information about police misconduct to report it even unanimously to the relevant authorities. We need to weed out unethical conduct across all sectors of public administration.

“We need to restore public confidence and respect for the police service and this can only happen when those few who are bringing disrepute to the police service are effectively dealt with and removed,” she said. 

Shameen Thakur-Rajbansi, leader of the Minority Front, said: “I feel deeply for the mother and how she observed the handling of this accident. Her allegations are damaging to the credibility of the local SAPS who usually have excelled at crime control in Chatsworth.”

She said the matter should be referred to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid). 

“Ipid will examine the procedures followed at the scene and report conclusively on the matter. Ultimately, anyone who has lost loved ones in accidents needs justice in the immediate term as emotional closure is not possible even in the long term.”

According to the 2023/2024 Ipis Annual Performance Report, there were 5 136 cases of police-related incidents recorded across the country. 

Among the top three provinces with the highest intake of cases were Gauteng with 897, followed by the Western Cape with 888 and KZN with 663. 

According to the report, there were 79 reports of corruption, of which 73 were related to SAPS and six were metro police.

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