Just seven days after the world woke up to the shock of yet another south african police brutality scandal, the story has already moved to the inside pages of. We wondered how the police in south africa compared as the guardian report contains alarming statistics. The special assignment telecast by the south african broadcasting corporation on. There are no reliable statistics prior to 2015 to indicate whether police brutality is more frequent today than in the past. Its 1,8 police stations citation needed in south africa are divided according to the provincial borders, and a provincial commissioner is appointed in each province. The south african police service came into existence on 27 january with the merger of the bantustans tbvc states and other independent law enforcement agencies.
South africa police is believed to be the most militarized and brutal safety and security agency in the world zondi and ukpere, 2014 with several cases of brutality fermented through. South african position in this regard differs from the situation in countries in north america and europe for example, where only police officers are authorised to use force when effecting arrest. Muggah, why police body cameras are taking off, even after eric garner. In 1992, fortyfour people were murdered every day in south africa. South africa is a notoriously crime saturated country. The abuse of police authority this edition of the abuse of police authority. South africa frequently witnesses violent strikes and protests. The rise and rise of police brutality in africa the. Societal strain south africa is a capitalist country and in most capitalist countries of the world we are judged. Corruption and the south african police service page 3 paper 150 september 2007 in particular sector and community policing strategies such as those adopted by the saps, are heavily reliant on community trust, it is vital that the saps maintain good relations with the public in order to boost its crime fighting ability. Yet abiding skepticism exists among many racial and ethnic minorities. A national study of police officers attitudes has been formatted for the web in pdf.
An analysis of crime prevention as a core function of the south african police service by phillip resimate vuma submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of doctor of literature and philosophy in the subject of police science at the university of south africa promoter. Just as disturbing is at whose hands they were summarily executed, and what those deaths highlight. Police brutality in south africa by david bruce from the report police brutality in southern africa a human rights perspective by mwanajiti, n. South african police are twice as deadly as american cops. Aug 22, 20 reports of police brutality in south africa have soared by 3% in a decade, experts warn, yet only one in 100 cases against officers results in a conviction. Prof doraval govender college of law school of criminal. Chapter 12 of the ndp details the need to build safer communities in south africa through a holistic view of safety and security. South africa with a focus on the experiences of the queer community both under.
In the first 24 days of 2015, us police shot dead 59. Persistent incidents of brutality, criminal behaviour and abuse of authority by members of south africa s police agencies have serious implications for public trust and confidence in the police. The issue of police brutality has been in the spotlight recently1 in south africa. Popular resistance and police brutality in democratic south africa. A national study of police officers attitudes has been formatted for the web in pdf format. The chapter examines the nonviolent strategies that could be used to tackle police brutality. The police brutality is mostly toward african americans. The apartheid regime had built up for its support and survival a system of policing which was militaristic in its structure and training and highly authoritarian in its culture. Police brutality is a controversial issue that has recently been in the news, but seems to have always been an issue in america. The marikana action is a strike by the poor against the.
Police violence, use of force policies, and public. Anton and shane has been the victims of another alleged police brutality attack. The nature of police brutality belief in equal justice stands as a preeminent political tenet of american society. The objective of this paper was to revisit the issue of police brutality in postapartheid south africa, since it has recently become a highly contextual topic with polarising views. Jan 21, 2017 police brutality is the use of excessive and unnecessary force on the part of a police officer when he is interacting with a civilian, resulting in a violation of the civilians civil rights. More than 5 500 cases of police criminal offences are reported every year. Many victims of police brutality suffer from ptsd, and they may have their private lives opened to the world if the case becomes infamous. Graeme hosken, a journalist who specialises in crime, observes, negligent police management, poor training, disrespect for law and order, criminal members within police ranks and blatant disregard for internal disciplinary procedures are the chief causes behind the scourge of police brutality gripping south africa. Tackling police brutality through nonviolent strategies in.
Between 2010 and 20, a range of stakeholders began increasing references to police professionalism eg. Nov 26, 2016 62 videos play all south african police brutality sa crime callum bush behind the badge. In recent months, the south african police service saps has faced unprecedented local and international media attention over a number of highly publicised incidents in which people have. Police in south africa discussions of the police in the postapartheid post 1994 period in south africa are usually focused on the south african police service saps and its key predecessor the south african police sap. South africa, the police state of brutality, humiliation. The marikana action is a strike by the poor against the state. The fact that 34 striking miners were killed at lonmins marikana mine in 2012 is a bad enough stain on this countrys history.
Police performance and police brutality in south africa, in thenjiwe meyiwa. The south african police service saps is the national police force of the republic of south africa. Some individuals have tried to justify the level of brutality by the south african police service, while others disagree with these views and perceive the issue as. The disturbing story of mido macia, the 27yearold mozambican who died in custody after being dragged through the streets by police, should not come as. In south africa the use of force in effecting arrest is statutorily governed by section 49 1 of the criminal procedure act. As a result of my research, i have come to understand that police brutality is an issue that is greatly impacting the african american community. The officers were filmed tying mido macia to the back of a van that dragged. Aug 25, 2015 anton and shane has been the victims of another alleged police brutality attack. Police brutality in south africa commonwealth human rights. The harsh reality of life under apartheid in south africa. The black community does not trust the police because police officers target them even when they are not doing anything wrong. See more ideas about south africa, police and africa.
The rise and rise of police brutality in africa the african. Police brutality has physical, emotional and psychological effects on the victims, who must live with their injuries but also with the fear and shame. Tackling police brutality through nonviolent strategies in south africa. While the existing literature has focused on why police. This is why national police day is celebrated annually on that day. Currently, south africa is experiencing an influx of cases of police brutality. Outcome 3 all people in south africa are and feel safe of governments 20142019 mtsf gives expression to this and is aligned with the crime prevention and investigation operations of the department of police. The terrible consequences of police corruption in south africa. You may lodge a complaint with the independent police investigative directorate ipid if you want them to investigate.
Lodge a complaint about police misconduct south african. It can happen in any country where citizens are judged and measured by the amount of material possessions they enjoy in society. Their mistrust is hardly surprising, given a history of differential treatment in the system of criminal justice, a problem especially apparent in police conduct. Pdf police brutality in south africa david bruce academia. It is not probable that police brutality is more frequent today than it has been in the past, but police brutality is subjected more to media spotlight and scrutiny due to the efforts of the black lives matter movement. Why sa cops are so brutal the centre for the study of. Pdf police brutality in south africa goodman mkansi. This piece aims to promote an understanding of police brutality in south. In its infancy, the saps had to build public confidence in the police service, which was characterised.
The nine provincial commissioners report directly to the national. Police brutality in south africa understand saferspaces. Aug 17, 2012 the marikana action is a strike by the poor against the state and the haves. Of these numbers, according to the independent police investigative directorate ipid annual report statistics, more than 3 500 cases of torture and assault police brutality were reported 1. A criminological assessment of police brutality and criminality. Police brutality in south africa is a legacy of the past. These acts of defiance were met with police and state brutality. The south african police service saps is often presented as central to governments response to crime. The use of such tools as pepper spray, batons, and tasers, as well as hitting, choking, throwing a noncombatant civilian to the ground, and sexual. On 16 august 2012, south african police service saps officers shot and killed at least 34 striking miners and injured 75 people in marikana. Mar 05, 20 just seven days after the world woke up to the shock of yet another south african police brutality scandal, the story has already moved to the inside pages of newspapers. Protesters were beaten and tried en masse in unfair legal. In south africa, police corruption leaves the public exposed to high rates of crime, and causes distrust of the police service while allowing crime to flourish. Reports of police brutality in south africa have soared by 3% in a decade, experts warn, yet only one in 100 cases against officers results in a conviction.
Some individuals have tried to justify the level of brutality by the south. The report said that deaths in police custody contributed to 43% while deaths as a result of police brutality contributed 57% of the total deaths. In 20, eight south african police officers tied a mozambican national to the back of a police van and dragged him for 400 meters leading to his death. Miners wives rage at south african police brutality after. In south africa, the phenomena of police brutality against females and police criminal ity towards women are not new. Tackling police brutality through nonviolent strategies. In its infancy, the saps had to build public confidence in the police. Police brutality definition, examples, cases, processes. Police brutality in south africa the centre for the. The report also shows that 116 police officers were convicted and sentenced to fines and prison terms of many years, including life for various offences in criminal matters. Jul 03, 2015 the police and the military are increasingly being deployed jointly to the point where south africas security cluster, comprising primarily the departments of intelligence, army, and the police. Persistent incidents of brutality, criminal behaviour and abuse of authority by members of south africas police agencies have serious implications for public trust and confidence in the police. In recent months, the south african police service saps has faced unprecedented local and international media attention over a number of highly publicised incidents in which people have died or been assaulted at the hands of the police.
The police and the military are increasingly being deployed jointly to the point where south africas security cluster, comprising primarily the departments of intelligence, army, and the police. Aug 31, 2011 currently, south africa is experiencing an influx of cases of police brutality. The marikana action is a strike by the poor against the state and the haves. Why brutality is ingrained in psyche of south africa cnn. Police brutality is the use of excessive and unnecessary force on the part of a police officer when he is interacting with a civilian, resulting in a violation of the civilians civil rights. The nine provincial commissioners report directly to the national commissioner. The system is stacked up against the black community and. The nervewracking acts of the police officers, in south africa in 20 and 2012 grabbed the attention of the world. Pdf the objective of this paper was to revisit the issue of police brutality in post apartheid south africa, since it has recently become a highly. I have gone over several different situations of how police mistreat and abuse their power and they do not have any consequences. See s 39 of the criminal procedure act and bruce 2003 sajhr 430. When you are black and live in the ghetto that you can be stopped and frisked at any moment just because of the color of your skin.
1229 270 282 612 202 376 1140 835 566 149 1142 1539 81 714 1485 45 244 676 1664 962 1591 1207 919 1166 1343 818 675 1307 322 355 627 1436 31 1161 267 713 1123 577