- Public Distrust in SAPS Rising: The Portfolio Committee on Police has expressed concern over growing public mistrust in the South African Police Service, as indicated by recent survey data showing low reporting rates of crime.
- Systemic Challenges Facing SAPS: Issues such as poor resourcing, high police-to-population ratios, and lack of operational vehicles are acknowledged as systemic problems that hinder police effectiveness.
- Increase in Sexual Offences and Justice Delays: There has been a 13.8% rise in sexual offences over five years, with delays in DNA processing at forensic labs hindering timely justice for victims.
- Need for Community Engagement and Data-Driven Reforms: The committee urges active civic partnerships and SAPS to adopt a data-driven approach to rebuild trust, improve police visibility, and address crime effectively.
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Mr Ian Cameron, has raised alarm over growing public distrust in the South African Police Service (SAPS), following the release of the 2024/25 Governance, Public Safety and Justice Survey by Statistics South Africa.
According to the report, just 43.4% of households that experienced housebreaking and 51.3% of those that suffered home robberies reported these crimes to the police. “This is a deeply troubling indicator of a trust deficit between SAPS and the communities it serves,” Cameron said.
The data also highlights a decline in public safety perceptions. Only 81% of adults reported feeling safe walking alone during the day, down from 85% in 2020. Alarmingly, just 36.1% of South Africans feel safe walking in their neighbourhoods at night.
Mr Cameron acknowledged systemic issues such as poor resourcing, a high police-to-population ratio, and the lack of operational vehicles. However, he emphasized that SAPS must now adopt a data-driven approach to rebuilding public confidence and improving police visibility in high-crime areas.
The report also shows a 13.8% increase in sexual offences over the past five years, with an estimated 132,000 victims. “The backlog in DNA processing is delaying justice for survivors,” said Cameron, referring to findings from a recent parliamentary visit to SAPS’s Forensic Science Laboratory in KwaZulu-Natal.
“The only true deterrent to gender-based violence is effective and swift prosecution.”
Cameron called for a “whole-of-society” response to crime, urging citizens to support law enforcement through community policing forums and the sharing of information. “SAPS cannot tackle these issues alone. We need active civic partnerships to truly turn the tide,” he said.
The committee is expected to engage both SAPS and Stats SA on discrepancies between reported crime data and public perception, with the goal of driving reforms that restore trust and enhance safety.
