Mbali Dhlamini7 July 2025 | 7:30

ISS describes infighting within SAPS as a setback in building public confidence

Head of justice and violence at the institute, Gareth Newham, said allegations of political interference in police matters are both shocking and disappointing.

ISS describes infighting within SAPS as a setback in building public confidence

Picture: X/SAPS

JOHANNESBURG - The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) has described the infighting within the South African Police Service  (SAPS) as a setback in the quest to rebuild public confidence in policing
 
Head of justice and violence at the institute, Gareth Newham said allegations of political interference in police matters are both shocking and disappointing.
 
His comments come a day after KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi went public with damning allegations against Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and other high-ranking officials.
 
Mkhwanazi claimed there is a powerful organised criminal syndicate operating across the country’s crime-fighting institutions.
 
Newham said allegations of this magnitude need to be the subject of an inquiry.
 
"Had the government implemented its own recommendations in the National Development Plan, which came out in 2012, which identifies the crises of top management in the SAPS as a key issue that needs to be urgently addressed, had they addressed those issues back in 2012, we wouldn’t be here today."

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