Trust in SAPS declining ‘for more than a decade’ - HSRC
Trust in the South African Police Service has plummeted to a record low, with only 22% of South Africans expressing confidence in the institution.
The findings are contained in a Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) survey released Monday.
It was drawn from the 2024/25 round of the South African Social Attitudes Survey (SASAS), which tracks long-term public sentiment across institutions.
Speaking on the results, HSRC researcher Dr Ngqapheli Mchunu described the data as alarming and indicative of a broader erosion of faith in public institutions.
"It is obviously a concerning matter if only 22% of South Africans have faith or trust the police; however, it is also somewhat not surprising… there’s just serious unhappiness and uneasiness, particularly when it comes to trust in state institutions — and the police in this case are no different."
The report reveals that trust in SAPS has been in decline for more than a decade, with steep drops recorded after high-profile crises such as the Marikana massacre in 2012 and the July 2021 unrest.
"In 2012, post-Marikana, [trust] was down to about 35–36%, then declined further to about 28%," said Mchunu.
"We saw the same after the 2021 riots… in 2022, that decreased down to about 22%, which it has stabilised at for the past couple of years."
He noted that these events triggered widespread criticism of police performance and accountability, leading to long-term reputational damage.
The HSRC data links the low trust levels directly to crime, negative policing experiences, and poor visibility of justice.
Mchunu said citizens often evaluate the police based on personal encounters — and if those experiences are negative, perceptions remain deeply damaged.
"There’s just a strong discontent from citizens, particularly when it comes to crime, if none of those things are getting dealt with… the police, as the primary point of contact, are going to be evaluated harshly."
Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal emerged as the provinces with the lowest trust levels, each at 18%, reinforcing regional frustrations with law enforcement.
Mchunu says restoring trust will require more than improved communication — it demands visible action, justice, and reforms within the SAPS.
"What does matter is the justice, is the swift action, is the consequence management, once those things become communicated to the public, we are going to see a better reflection, a much more positive assessment by the population."
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