The arrest of Lt-Gen Shadrack Sibiya, the deputy national police commissioner, on September 21, has brought attention to the issue of police corruption in South Africa. Sibiya faces allegations of rape, sexual grooming of a minor, human trafficking, and reckless handling of a firearm. He is applying for bail and also faces professional misconduct charges at work, with a disciplinary hearing pending.
Sibiya's arrest comes at a time when South Africa is experiencing a surge in organised crime. In the same month, 11 women were found murdered in Ekurhuleni, and 29 people were killed in mass shooting incidents in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape. The use of high-calibre weapons, such as AK-47s, in these shootings has raised concerns about gun control in the country.
The issue of gun control is further complicated by the fact that police are often robbed of their official weapons, which are then used to carry out crimes. In the past, the government has used amnesty programmes to collect and destroy illegal weapons, but this tactic is no longer employed. The lack of effective gun control measures has contributed to the escalation of violence in the country.
The problem of police corruption extends beyond the issue of stolen weapons. Evidence heard at the Madlanga commission of inquiry into police corruption has painted a disturbing picture of the goings-on in the highest echelons of police leadership. Some drugs confiscated in busts have been stolen from police custody and sold to cartels, further fuelling the cycle of crime.
In response to the resurgence of incidents of gender-based violence and femicide, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a four-point plan last Wednesday. While he acknowledged that his government had not done enough to address the issue since he first declared it a national disaster four years ago, his remarks were criticised for lacking a sense of urgency and concrete actions.
The government has also been criticised for its handling of the 16 Days of Activism against GBV-F and violence against children, which is set to launch again in a month's time. However, society and churches are taking steps to keep the fight against crime alive, with the SA Council of Churches calling for a national day of prayer in sympathy with the victims of recent mass shootings.
To effectively combat organised crime, it is critical that efforts to restore the public's trust in the police are redoubled. The reset project announced by acting police minister Firoz Cachalia should be accelerated, and the infiltration of senior ranks of the police by criminal syndicates should prompt a review of the vetting processes for those aspiring to higher positions.
Key points
- Police corruption is a major contributor to the surge in organised crime in South Africa.
- The government needs to take concrete actions to address the issue of gun control.
- Restoring public trust in the police is critical to combating organised crime.
