South Africa
The expensive side of police brutality and recklessness
Picture source: http://dailymaverick.co.za/article/2012-07-13-the-expensive-side-of-police-brutality-and-recklessness
Mandy de Waal
In a presentation on crime and policing in SA, Newham spells out the legacy new police commissioner Mangwashi Phiyega faces. He states that yesteryear’s bad strategic decisions have diminished special policing and this problem has been compounded by “uneven and weak senior management”. Another big challenge to changing perceptions is the way the police were positioned in the past. “They must not be set up in opposition to society, which the ‘war on crime’ rhetoric does. Communities must trust and not fear the police,” Newham advises. “Police safety is at stake when there is fear from communities.”
In his presentation, Newham stresses that a fundamental shift in the approach to policing is crucial. “Political and police leadership must focus on putting in place mechanisms to improve the professionalism of the SAPS that supports ‘smart’ rather than ‘tough’ policing. This will be in the interests of both police members and the broader community.”
Unfortunately this kind of change, even if it ever happens, would come too late for the likes of Mabasa and the taxpayer. Mabasa will have to live with the trauma of his experience for the rest of his life, while ultimately the taxpayer will foot the bill for his claim – and other claims - against the SAPS.
Paying more than $1.3-billion a year would stretch the budget of many a rich country in the world, let alone a country with as many problems as South Africa has today. And yet, somehow, buried in the veritable flood of bad news that SA's bad governance generates every day, this outrageous amount gets to be almost tolerated. This money could be better used by training competent and attentive people, building many more police stations, improving forensics and developing smart community initiatives.
But in a country so beset by incompetence and corruption, the R11-billion happens to be enough for just another brick in the wall of a gigantic non-delivery mechanism that's called the South African government. DM
