The men and women in blue, called to serve and protect, do so from a position in which their own humanity is often highlighted. Not only do they give up their lives to see that the people of South Africa are protected, but in many instances their experiences affect their entire lives. What is policing really like in South Africa today; what are the challenges for SAPS members and where are they failing? By looking at their role pre- and post-apartheid, as well as the ways in which the police can improve in the areas that they are struggling, this paper will seek to highlight issues of importance. While acknowledging that the police are meant to protect the public, there is also another side to the South African Police Service (SAPS), a violent aspect that has sometimes resulted in extreme brutality. Questioning the validity of investigations done by police officials, and further questioning the conduct of police officers towards ordinary lay people, is critical in ensuring that the SAPS is firmly focused on upholding justice. These were some of the issues tackled at a roundtable discussion on this topic co-hosted by the CPLO and the Hanns Seidel Foundation on 12th September.

Written by Angelique Thomas, Research Assistant, Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference
Parliamentary Liaison Office (CPLO)