PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa admits that corruption within SAPS remains a significant challenge, undermining trust and law enforcement efforts.
Ramaphosa yesterday called for urgent reform during his keynote address at the country's first-ever Policing Summit, stressing the need to address the root causes of corruption and strengthen the fundamentals of policing.
He said: “Alongside measures to protect whistleblowers, implement the National Anti-Corruption Strategy, and strengthen accountability, we must urgently focus on improving the core principles of policing.
He stressed that prosecuting corrupt officers is not enough, adding: “We have to instill a culture of honesty and integrity in the police.”
The three-day summit, held at the Emperors Palace Convention Centre in Gauteng, aims to confront rising crime levels by reassessing policing strategies and developing more effective SAPS solutions.
Ramaphosa hoped the summit would focus on promoting ethical behaviour, accountability, and rebuilding public trust.
Efforts to professionalise SAPS include attracting high-quality candidates through a rigorous selection process and providing opportunities for training, education, and career development.
Ramaphosa added that the summit must result in a clear plan to address the systemic deficiencies impacting policing.
Ramaphosa highlighted that several social issues, including poverty, inequality, unemployment, lack of opportunity, patriarchy, misogyny, and broken family structures contribute to crime.
He said: “Addressing crime without understanding its root causes is like a doctor treating a patient for a fever without diagnosing the underlying illness.”
He expressed optimism that the summit would adopt a more holistic approach to law enforcement, focusing not only on the police but the entire policing system.