Police corruption cases result in only 4% convictions

In the 359 cases reported to the police watchdog, 83% resulted in no prosecution. 13% led to internal disciplinary action. And 4% went to court. Only seven officers were convicted. Of the 359 cases reported to the police watchdog, 83% resulted in no prosecution, 13% led to internal disciplinary action, and 4% went to court, resulting in just seven police officers being convicted.You cannot fix corruption in any agency if leadership is compromised or even perceived to be compromised.—  Gareth Newman, special adviser to the police ministerThese figures are contained in a police corruption report released by the Institute for Security Studies last week. Out of 359 reported cases, 290 involved extortion or bribes. 27 related to the sale and theft exhibits. 17 were based on the abuse informer fees. 8 dealt with the sale, theft, and destruction police dockets. 7 were based on aiding an escape. 5 were based on abuse of power. Ipid admitted to recording 80 cases of corruption against 73 officials in the police force and seven cases involving the metro police during the financial year 2024/25.“In 2024/25 we had about 180 investigators. Measures have been put in place to improve capacity. Retired detectives have been appointed on a contract basis to alleviate the caseload,” she said.These findings emerge as the Madlanga commission and parliament’s ad hoc committee probe deep-rooted failures in policing, including criminal infiltration of the criminal justice system. Thuso Keefelakae, Ipid’s acting national investigations head, said recent revelations in parliament and at the Madlanga commission suggest corruption inside police ranks may be “far deeper” As a result, it is now easier to understand than before.“There’s a sense that corruption hid itself inside law enforcement. What we thought we knew may only be the tip of the iceberg,” He said. Keefelakae stated that Ipid has not been given the full authority to deal with police corruption.“[The police service] and metro police are not obligated to report corruption to us,” He said. “That means we only see a glimpse of what is happening. The recently passed Ipid Amendment Act will finally compel police to refer these matters to Ipid.”He admitted that Ipid received cases with a disturbing pattern. The police are rarely corrupt alone, and they often work in conjunction with outsiders or criminal networks.“In some cases, you realise police are involved in murders, people being thrown into lakes, and money changes hands afterwards. In provinces where torture is reported, it’s not just torture; it’s torture plus corruption,” Keefelakae explained that the officers had arrived in the pretext of attending a complain but were acting on information from insiders that the victim was carrying cash at home.“They get there at night wearing balaclavas, assault the person, take the taxi boss’s firearm and walk out with R500,000.”“Twenty-five years ago, national commissioner Jackie Selebi was convicted of corruption. If lessons had been integrated, especially around how we recruit and appoint top leadership, we would not be facing the same issues today. You cannot fix corruption in any agency if leadership is compromised or even perceived to be compromised,” He said.Kavisha Pilay, Executive Director for the Campaign on Digital Ethics, and former member of National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council said that she was not surprised by the allegations. “I’ve long understood the deep complicity between police officers and organised criminal syndicates. We welcome this Madlanga commission like [the] Zondo [commission]; it is an important moment for the country to confront systemic corruption. But there must be follow-through: arrests, accountability, and implementation.”Sowetan
2025-11-17 04:00:01