Are the South African Police trustworthy and are they professional?

The recent riots in Etatwa on the far East Rand have brought this question into sharp focus. I was always under the belief that this was a largely white perception. But after listening to [black] listeners phoning into 702 Talk Radio with their experiences, I have comprehensively been disabused of that notion. What has led to this sharp decline in standards and professionalism over the past ten years?

One measure of professionalism is the level of tolerance for corruption within the police force. On this measure, the police score abysmally. Part of the problem was the disbanding of the police’s independent anti-corruption units and placing full responsibility in the hands of the Station Commander. While this might work in a first world environment, within a third culture like South Africa this is a recipe for disaster as has been proved. This arises for two reasons. What happens when the Station Commander is complicit in criminal activity himself/herself but more importantly threatened with death if disciplinary action is taken.

Main picture: They prowl the empty streets by night…… drinking, eating… Our ever-vigilant Police Force in the New South Africa snapped during a refuelling session.

In case in point is a recent incident at my local police precinct as they are now called Muldersdrift. One Saturday night a few months ago, a motorist was stopped outside the Lanseria Airport by a police officer. His wife had the presence of mind to video the ensuring exchange when the Officer requested R 200 in exchange for not having to breathalyse the motorist. As he had not been drinking he demurred. Instead he blew into the device. When the reading was negative, he was still arrested & taken to a doctor in order that a blood sample could be taken.

This guy is the station’s OMR (One-Man Roadblock). Recent police statistics suggest that we have a serious oversupply of both male and female officers in this grade…

The wife subsequently laid a charge of bribery at the Muldersdrift Police Station. A captain in charge refused to proceed as he alleged that no bribery had occurred. As far as I am aware, this case has not yet been taken any further as even the Station Commander refuses to take action.

Did this officer claim that he was on a stake out?

In another recent shocking incident, a police officer was caught on camera strangling a motorist until the motorist passed out. This was not the first incident relating to the cops at the Douglasdale Police Station.

http://ewn.co.za/2015/08/26/Cop-chokes-man-until-in-passes-out-in-police-brutality-video

So I can go on.
What has led to this situation apart from the one alluded to above? Dropping of standards and blocking the promotion of non-black policemen and women. Recent court cases and in particular a Mrs Naidoo, an Indian woman from Natal, where it emerged in court that she will not be entitled to promotion for years as Indians are over–represented in the KwaZulu Natal Police. Race or racial representivity trumpted competence. In this case the police did not deny that Mrs Naidoo was a more suitable applicant than the 1000 other promotions that year.

”Man it’s tough being an OMR. Had to walk all the way across the road to the Chicken Place and back!”

The police’s statistics on the competence of the force makes sobering reading:

Less than half of the detectives had undergone ANY formal training. Forget CSI style investigations, even the more rudimentary are beyond their ability
40,000 policemen do not either have gun licences or are incompetent to use a gun
Half of policemen do not have driver’s licences
Extremely few have any tertiary education
Ex Umkhonto we Sizwe fighters were appointed without training
The disbanding of all the specialised police units had had a deleterious effect on the level of prosecutions.

Is there likely to be a turnaround in this situation? If the calibre, competence or ethical behaviour is any indication of this possibility, South Africa had better hold tight. Nothing will change in the short to medium term.

What have we had so far as Police Commissioner:

Mangwashi Victoria Phiyega or Riah Phiyega as she is known is an unmitigated disaster. Under her stewardship 41 striking mineworkers were shot and killed by the police. During the Farlam Commission it was revealed that the police manipulated evidence. The report of the Commission was scathing of her abilities
Bheki “Shoot to Kill” Cele – dismissed for his involvement in corruption amounting to R500million
Jackie Selebi – convicted of corruption and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment

“What will the captain have for lunch today?”

The attached pictures – mostly already widely distributed in the public domain – provide a cynical view on how a professional, motivated and competent force should not behave.

Tell me whether you disagree. D

What impression does these set of photographs portray of the SAPS?