A look behind the rot in policing

The Madlanga commission and ad hoc committee investigations have opened a crucial public conversation, analysts say

- Nkateko Joseph Mabasa

The inquiries into the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the criminal justice system have shone a light on a secretive and violent government department and exposed how senior officials facilitated corruption.

While implementing the recommendations of the inquiries often fell short of expectations, the Madlanga commission and parliament's ad hoc committee investigating KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s July claims about corruption in policing had opened a crucial public conversation on the rot, analysts said.

Policing was “not in a good place”, said Otlotleng Mokgathle, a senior analyst at security advisory firm Control Risk. He said the inquiries showed the extent criminal networks had infiltrated the justice system.

Mokgathle wanted President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State Of The Nation address (Sona), delivered on Thursday, to acknowledge a sour point in the confidence drop in law enforcement.

In his speech Ramaphosa announced the deployment of the South African National Defence Force to combat illegal mining and gang violence in Gauteng and the Western Cape provinces. He reaffirmed his commitment to the special task team mandated to pursue further investigations and prosecution of implicated police officials at the Madlanga Commission.

“Organised crime is now the most immediate threat to our democracy, our society and our economic development. Our primary focus this year is on stepping up the fight against organised crime and criminal syndicates, using technology, intelligence and integrated law enforcement,” Ramaphosa said.

Mokgathle said community violence, missing case dockets, extrajudicial killings and illegal mining characterised the sector.

He commended the “structural record” of the inner workings of the criminal justice system created by the two inquiries.