Protector or predator? - Institute for Security Studies

Protector or predator?
Consequently, many station-level commanders were reluctant to institute steps
against offenders with whom they had to continue working, which substantially
weakened their authority.
The SAPS has been aware of its discipline problems for a number of years now.
The internal SAPS Policy Advisory Council report of 2006/07 noted that stationlevel
discipline was poor; that the codes of conduct and ethics were not adhered
to; and that disciplinary issues were not dealt with timeously or effectively. 99
Limited attempts were made to remedy the problems: during 2009, there was talk
of ‘disciplinary units’ being reinstituted. In April 2010 the adoption of military
rather than civilian ranks in the SAPS was justified by police leadership as a
move to improve discipline within the organisation. 100 However, it will require
more than rank changes to bring about organisational reform. SAPS leaders need
to review the current internal accountability system and mechanisms so as to
identify shortcomings and ensure that they are properly rectified if police discipline
is to be adequately strengthened.
THE envirONmENTAl factors
In South Africa large numbers of people work in informal or illegitimate markets,
often as a means of survival. This means that police officials have ample opportunity
to accept bribes for ‘turning a blind eye’ to illegal activities. And because
of the marginal status and powerlessness of many of those who work in these
markets, police officials have the opportunity to become predatory. Poverty and
high unemployment contribute to many people becoming involved in illegal
liquor selling, drug dealing and sex work, and therefore vulnerable to corrupt
police. Furthermore, there are many thousands of illegal immigrants in South
Africa, many escaping from war, poverty and political oppression in their home
countries. They are particularly vulnerable targets for corrupt police who know
that they will generally not report incidents of corruption and are easily intimidated
if they do. Many police officials view these informal markets and marginalised
communities as an easy way to supplement their income. As one Gauteng
constable put it in 2009:
I also took money from immigrants. You are surrounded by people who are
doing it, so you find yourself doing it. … Even the people who are working organised
crime, the people who are investigating the police, they are taking
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