POLICE Commissioner General Bheki Cele and his predecessor, Jackie Selebi, have been fingered as the bad cops who gave the police a bad name.
A research report on police corruption says the scandals involving Cele and Selebi have damaged the reputation of the South African Police Service and undermined efforts to root out corruption.
Corruption, according to the research conducted by the Institute for Security Studies, has become a "near-universal phenomenon" because of lack of leadership and supervision.
Selebi was convicted for corruption and faces prospects of a 15-year jail term.
But he has appealed.
The report, released yesterday, says the fact that Selebi was defended by various top police officials suggested "personal loyalty among police officials was more important than loyalty to the Constitution and the laws of the country".
The report says the image of the police was further damaged by Cele's involvement in the dodgy lease deals for the police headquarters. He was slammed by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela for acting unlawfully in a deal that favoured businessman Roux Shabangu.
Madonsela has recommended that Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa take action against Cele.
The report says corruption does not end at the top, as it cascades down to police stations. It says dockets get lost almost everyday, suspects are released in exchange for cash and evidence is planted to secure convictions.
ISS head of crime and justice Gareth Newham said: "There is inadequate police leadership, poor management and supervision."
Newham said police were no longer feared or mistrusted for the same reasons that the apartheid police were but its legitimacy remained in question.
He said police commanders should be held accountable about how they behave and also for those under their command.
"The extent of corruption is directly related to organisational structure and managerial shortcomings. Taking out rotten apples will not help because the problem is much deeper," he said.
The report recommended Mthethwa and Cele should prioritise the fight against corruption and internal disciplinary process should be reviewed and improved.
SAPS representative Major-General Kaine Monyepao accepted the research's findings.
"It would be disingenuous of me to stand here and pretend there are no problems regarding corruption in the police," he said.
Monyepao said ethics officers had been appointed provincially and nationally to deal with professionalism and discipline of police.
ISS also launched the "reward a cop, report a cop campaign" aimed at combating police misconduct, including corruption, and to support honest, hard-working officers.
South African Police Union president Mpho Kwinika said: "This campaign comes at an opportune time when police morale is very low. The best reward a cop can get is when communities work with the police to aid an arrest."
Report exposes police rot
POLICE Commissioner General Bheki Cele and his predecessor, Jackie Selebi, have been fingered as the bad cops who gave the police a bad name.
A research report on police corruption says the scandals involving Cele and Selebi have damaged the reputation of the South African Police Service and undermined efforts to root out corruption.
Corruption, according to the research conducted by the Institute for Security Studies, has become a "near-universal phenomenon" because of lack of leadership and supervision.
Selebi was convicted for corruption and faces prospects of a 15-year jail term.
But he has appealed.
The report, released yesterday, says the fact that Selebi was defended by various top police officials suggested "personal loyalty among police officials was more important than loyalty to the Constitution and the laws of the country".
The report says the image of the police was further damaged by Cele's involvement in the dodgy lease deals for the police headquarters. He was slammed by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela for acting unlawfully in a deal that favoured businessman Roux Shabangu.
Madonsela has recommended that Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa take action against Cele.
The report says corruption does not end at the top, as it cascades down to police stations. It says dockets get lost almost everyday, suspects are released in exchange for cash and evidence is planted to secure convictions.
ISS head of crime and justice Gareth Newham said: "There is inadequate police leadership, poor management and supervision."
Newham said police were no longer feared or mistrusted for the same reasons that the apartheid police were but its legitimacy remained in question.
He said police commanders should be held accountable about how they behave and also for those under their command.
"The extent of corruption is directly related to organisational structure and managerial shortcomings. Taking out rotten apples will not help because the problem is much deeper," he said.
The report recommended Mthethwa and Cele should prioritise the fight against corruption and internal disciplinary process should be reviewed and improved.
SAPS representative Major-General Kaine Monyepao accepted the research's findings.
"It would be disingenuous of me to stand here and pretend there are no problems regarding corruption in the police," he said.
Monyepao said ethics officers had been appointed provincially and nationally to deal with professionalism and discipline of police.
ISS also launched the "reward a cop, report a cop campaign" aimed at combating police misconduct, including corruption, and to support honest, hard-working officers.
South African Police Union president Mpho Kwinika said: "This campaign comes at an opportune time when police morale is very low. The best reward a cop can get is when communities work with the police to aid an arrest."
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