Protector or predator? - Institute for Security Studies

Executive summary
Despite the positive changes that have occurred within the South African Police
Service (SAPS) since the birth of democracy in 1994, police corruption remains a
substantial challenge for the organisation. While the extent of police corruption
cannot be easily or accurately measured, there is evidence that the problem is a
widespread and systemic one. This is not to say that most or a majority of police
officials engage in corruption. However, the prevalence of the problem is such
that it substantially hinders the extent to which to the SAPS is able to achieve its
constitutional objectives and build public trust. This is not a unique challenge
facing the SAPS. Corruption is a challenge throughout the country’s public and
private sectors and is a specific occupational hazard of policing agencies worldwide.
Given the nexus of power, discretion and inadequate accountability that
often arises in policing, this profession is particularly prone to the problem of
corruption.
Typically, police management will respond to incidents or allegations of corruption
as a problem of a few ‘bad apples’ who must be punished or removed
from the organisation. Yet, international research and commissions of inquiry
into police corruption consistently emphasise that corruption is more a manifestation
of organisational weaknesses than a challenge of bad employees. As
such, punitive action against individuals who commit acts of corruption, while
necessary, will on its own do little to change the factors that allow for police deviance
and corruption to occur in the first place. To address corruption effectively a
more holistic approach is required that focuses on strengthening the integrity of
both the organisation and its employees.
While post-apartheid police and political leaders have not been blind to
the challenge of corruption within the SAPS, the organisation has struggled to
adequately address the problem. Police corruption was identified as a ‘national
priority problem’ as early as 1996. Consequently, the SAPS established an internal
Monograph 182
v