More than two-thirds of South Africans think police are corrupt

Imogen Vollenhoven
29 August 2013

Institute for Security Studies Crime and Justice Division Head Gareth Newham said over the last ten years there has been an increase in cases of police brutality reported to the Independent Police Directorate.

Newham said surveys have shown that less than half of the South African population trusts the police; two-thirds think the police are corrupt, and between 35 and 40% of people would not report a crime because they are so scared of police. 

Newham said that many communities but specifically poorer communities, police are not trying to build constructive relations in order to collectively solve crime.

“They just basically tell community members what to do and if community members don’t listen to them they use violence as a way to force community members to adherer to their instructions,” added Newham.

Newham said that those are the common experiences many have in this time that this kind of policing has been going and it has been going for some time.

He furthermore added that communities need service that they can rely on as they are starting to fear the police.