‘Various reasons’ for loss of trust in SAPS
A security expert says there are various reasons for the drastic decline in public trust in the police force.
"If the members treat the public with respect and in a professional way, that is how they will be perceived and, most importantly, how cases are dealt with," says Lizette Lancaster, an analyst from the Institute of Security Studies.
"It doesn't mean that cases necessarily need to be solved, but they must be seen as being taken seriously by the SAPS, and we know that there are huge capacity constraints by detectives in the SAPS."
The latest Human Sciences Research Council survey shows that public trust has plunged to its lowest level in 27 years.
Only 22% trust the police, while distrust has risen to 62%.
Trust levels have been falling since 2011, with sharp drops seen after the Marikana massacre and the 2021 July unrest.
KZN and Gauteng recorded the lowest levels at just 18% with all provinces below 30 per cent.
She believes KZN police chief Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s recent remarks about political interference in investigations could lead to a further decline in public trust.
" However, we hope that this situation is being taken very seriously and that we will see a definite change in how the police operate, that it'll be insulated from any political interference and that corrupt actors are brought to book, whether inside the state or outside of the state."
