Most South Africans aged between 18 and 34 across all race and demographic boundaries have lost confidence in the police, a survey has found.

About 62% of those questioned believed the police were becoming more corrupt, 51% said government did not do enough to support the police, and 66% said they did not trust the police to come to their aid in an emergency.

The results of the survey, which was conducted among 4,024 people across the country by consumer insights company Pondering Panda, were released on Monday.

It found that 47% of respondents said the police were becoming worse at their job, and that 49% believed the police were not properly trained.

Government had not put the right people in charge of the police, 57% said.

“These figures are quite alarming, clearly showing the South African youth have lost faith in our police service,” Pondering Panda spokeswoman Shirley Wakefield said in a statement.  

“They hold the government responsible for the situation and see things getting worse, rather than getting better.”  

Only 26% of respondents felt the police were getting better at doing their job, compared to the 48% who felt they were getting worse.  

“What is needed now from government is strong leadership. Government could begin to rectify the sentiment by appointing a police commissioner that people have confidence in,” said Wakefield.

“They should also ensure that police officers are adequately trained and they have access to the resources necessary to adequately do their jobs.” 

Although all demographic groups were negative in their assessment of the police, black South Africans were least negative, possibly because the police had focused on increasing the effectiveness of policing in the townships, the company said.

However, perceptions of increasing corruption were uniformly negative across all race groups. Of the Indian and Asian participants, 72% held this view.

Sixty-two percent of coloured participants, 61% of black participants, and 60% of white participants felt corruption was increasing.

“Corruption, in particular, stands out as a significant problem, and it is imperative that the public feels that the police are taking a tough stance on corrupt cops,” Wakefield said.

Comments

• Sign in or sign up to comment

Mon May 20 10:38:12 SAST 2013 ::

Jun 11, 2012

Blackdiamond

I also do not trust South African police , I don’t know what needs to be done to improve the current situation

I feel hopeless

Report Abuse

Jun 11, 2012

CheeseBoy

and with good reason. when was the last time anybody ever had a good service from a police officer?

they treat you like you guilty and you have to prove innocence. they demand bribes and threaten you with incarceration. there are a few good cops but most of them are lazy good for nothing B@rstards
Report Abuse

Jun 11, 2012

mozanana

GOATSHWANA BAUTSWA MAPHODISA AKHI LE ONA ARATA TJO TJO TOO MUCH
Report Abuse

Jun 11, 2012

sabza007

Were these surveys done during apartheid times? Just asking. The people who are mostly making noise are the ones who were quiet when police were brutalising the largest race in South Africa during the 60s to the 80s. I am not defending those who are involved i crime activities now,but at least the freedom we have now has enabled many doggs,cats,pigeons,tigers,snakes and so forth to raise their voices.
Report Abuse

Jun 11, 2012

truthhurt

Dah,you dont even need to ask around.
Report Abuse

Jun 11, 2012

RobinH

Did we need a survey to tell us this? Just looking around one's own environment provides ample proof.
Report Abuse

Jun 11, 2012

Skomoro99

Its a profession dominated by Vendas and Shangaans,do u expect any good to come form that?
Report Abuse

Jun 11, 2012

sarmologadi

Gago nnete ya go feta yeo...I dont trust cops in SA to me they are gangsters just like their former papa, Cele...
Report Abuse

Jun 11, 2012

Stumaeza

I HATE SA COPS!!!
Report Abuse

Jun 11, 2012

Dusc

I tell you if you want a lazy bunch of police officers go to Brakpan Police station you call for druglords there is 3 schools close where they sell drugs we as the community has given up on Brakpan Police long ago they suck they do nothing for the community they take bribes as less a can of coke sies i dont trust police officers and they irrated me lazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzy fatttttttttttttttttttttttttt cops no GOOOOOOOOOOOOOD BUNCH
Report Abuse

Read all 14 comments