Recent research has unveiled that police officers facing charges for misconduct and criminal behaviour are met with minimal consequences, raising significant concerns about accountability within the South African Police Service (SAPS). The analysis of 7,946 disciplinary cases spanning from 2019 to 2024 revealed that in 77% of these instances, officers faced no sanctions at all, whether through not guilty verdicts or cases that were dismissed entirely. Alarmingly, only 10% resulted in dismissal from the force.
This critical data, compiled by independent researcher and Institute of Security Studies consultant David Bruce, was sourced from SAPS annual reports and the Safety and Security Sectoral Bargaining Council (SSSBC). While SAPS representatives contest the findings, asserting that officers are indeed punished for offences, the data paints a stark picture of consequences—or the lack thereof.
The study warns that the absence of consequence management within SAPS sets a dangerous precedent, allowing officers to operate with what appears to be a veil of impunity. The recent spotlight on internal disciplinary measures was sparked by allegations concerning VIP unit officers assigned to Deputy President Paul Mashatile, who were acquitted in an internal case regarding the alleged assault of a motorist on a highway, despite an ongoing criminal investigation.
Experts in policing argue that the research findings seem accurate, noting numerous cases of police misconduct committed without repercussions. The report specifically points out the widespread tolerance of excessive force, ranging from routine assaults to more severe torture within the SAPS, which is often brushed aside or under-prosecuted. “Disciplinary sanctions aren’t often applied for these infringements,” the report states, adding that more egregious offences like corruption and rape are likelier to incur internal convictions.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) added to the concerning narrative, reporting 3,176 cases of serious assault and 273 cases of torture in the financial year 2023/24. In stark contrast, SAPS reported only 55 disciplinary convictions for serious assault and a mere 10 for the application of unlawful force, with little detail provided on the sanctions imposed.
At the SAPS Policing Summit held in April, discussions highlighted systemic weaknesses in the disciplinary framework, where officers tasked with adjudicating hearings often lack comprehensive legal knowledge. SAPS trade unions confirmed this issue, asserting that disciplinary measures are inconsistently applied and influenced by favouritism and personal relationships. As a result, many officers face no real repercussions for their actions, leading to growing frustration among the public and good police officers alike.
Ian Cameron, chairperson of the Police Portfolio Committee, cited numerous cases where officers have evaded serious sanctions despite clear misconduct.
Cameron emphasised an urgent need for reform in disciplinary regulations, as current practices appear to provide leeway for misconduct. Responding to the mounting criticism, SAPS national spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe contended that the claims in Bruce’s report are exaggerated, pointing out that over 2,000 officers have been dismissed for various offences in the past five years, including 23 for rape alone last year.
The impending debate surrounding SAPS’s disciplinary framework cannot be ignored, as the safety and integrity of police force’s relationship with the communities it serves hangs in the balance.