Niven Naidoo
CRIMINOLOGIST Niven Naidoo warns that without urgent police reform and protection for honest officers, South Africa risks descending into lawlessness, as corruption and misconduct undermine public trust.
“Our country still has many committed police officers, public servants, community workers and leaders who want to restore trust. The priority must be to protect the honest officials, remove corrupt elements, and rebuild policing around service, accountability and community partnership to minimise the risk of us becoming a lawless country.
“The conduct of officials exposed in the Madlanga Commission stems from weak accountability, poor leadership, political interference, corruption, and a lack of trust between police and communities.
“While many officers are honest, they operate in a system that often fails to address misconduct or provide resources. The dismantling of independent oversight bodies, like the Scorpions, further weakened accountability,” Naidoo added.
