Protector or predator? - Institute for Security Studies

Gareth Newham and Andrew Faull
receive, the extent to which they have the willpower, ability and capacity to do so
differs significantly across the country.
In addition, the type of support from head office required for ensuring that
corruption is adequately dealt with throughout the organisation has not been
forthcoming for many years. It has generally been difficult for commanders
willing to tackle corruption to do so. In addition to not having the necessary
organisational support to ensure that allegations are thoroughly investigated,
they could also find themselves being threatened by those against whom action
was being taken. Proactive and confidential ‘sting’ operations are only used if adequate
information is obtained about an impending corrupt act, but such operations
have not been common.
Even where investigations have resulted in disciplinary steps being taken
against corrupt members, weaknesses within the SAPS disciplinary system
have meant that many corrupt police members have remained in the SAPS. For
example, between 2001 and 2008, the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD)
recommended disciplinary action in 928 cases where its investigations found
police officials to have been involved in misconduct, however the SAPS only took
action in 48 (5,1 per cent) of these cases. 3
Although the strategic and policy responses of the SAPS to tackle corruption
and promote integrity have been largely ad hoc, reactive and inadequate, there
is a growing recognition both politically and within the SAPS that corruption
remains a serious challenge facing the SAPS and that it needs to be addressed.
This monograph examines the concept of police corruption and contemporary
approaches to tackling the problem, from an international perspective. It
also provides an assessment of the information about the problem of police corruption
in South Africa and corruption management efforts in the SAPS. Finally,
it offers practical suggestions on how the management of police corruption can
be improved in South Africa.
Monograph 182 3