By Dr Zizamele Cebekhulu-Makhaza, President of the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) SAPS
South Africa is grappling with staggering crime statistics which pose a persistent threat to safety and security, despite increased investments and bolstered police forces.
But continuously adding new resources is not a solution in of itself. Members of law enforcement must be upskilled, trained, and honed for maximum impact in the fight against increasingly sophisticated criminals and crimes. In turn, this will allow members of the criminal justice cluster to work ‘smarter’ and more efficiently by sharpening the tools and knowledge at their disposal.
So, to effectively combat crime and foster a safer future, the criminal justice cluster must renew its focus on education and embracing the contribution of academics. An educated and skilled police service will possess the tools needed to understand complex legal frameworks, analyse crime patterns, and employ strategic approaches to prevent and solve crimes effectively.
Education fosters critical thinking, ethical decision-making, and the ability to navigate diverse societal challenges. Furthermore, specialised skills such as investigative techniques, crisis management, conflict resolution, and cultural competency can empower law enforcement officers to better engage with communities, build trust, and collaborate across diverse backgrounds.
Likewise, continuous learning ensures officers remain abreast of evolving laws, technological advancements, and innovative crime-fighting methodologies. An educated law enforcement cohort not only enhances crime prevention but also ensures justice, promotes public safety, and fosters community well-being for the benefit of all South Africans.
Yet despite this, education remains undervalued in the South African Police Service (SAPS) and other law enforcement arms, while academics are marginalised and ignored. Simultaneously, a lack of skills is often blamed for inefficiencies, the slow pace of investigations, and failure to make arrests or successfully prosecute crimes such as cybercrime, corruption, or state capture.
Addressing the skills gap
To address skill shortages, SAPS must proactively recruit individuals with educational qualifications in crucial areas like finance, digital forensics, and information technology. Additionally, emphasising tertiary education in policing and related fields can ensure that law enforcement attracts individuals driven by passion and commitment, not just a paycheck.
Moreover, SAPS should help to “grow its own wood” and ensure that its recruits are prepared for the reality of policing and have the necessary skills required by collaborating with educational institutions and giving input into curricula. Notably, communicating requirements for joining law enforcement from the early stages of education, such as restrictions around tattoos, can also help set clear expectations and foster a more prepared pool of applicants.
Deepening engagement with educational Institutions
SAPS should further provide students with practical experience so that they are better prepared to hit the ground running.
Additionally, by inviting undergraduate and postgraduate students to serve and gain hands-on experience within law enforcement facilities, it can expose students to real-world challenges and encourage them to research and develop solutions as part of their studies. This will foster more innovative thinking, and contribute to evidence-backed crime-fighting strategies, benefitting the entire criminal justice system.
Reviewing existing skills and promotion strategies
The SAPS must further turn its attention to the talent that already exists within its own ranks, as there are many members with advanced degrees that are underutilised and have been overlooked for promotions to management, where their skills and knowledge might be put to best use.
SAPS must perform an urgent and comprehensive skills audit, which will allow it to better deploy available skills and address inefficiencies in its operations. It must further review its promotion procedures to ensure that members who invest the time and effort to upskill themselves are recognised and rewarded, and placed in strategic roles where they may make the greatest impact.
Greater collaboration with researchers and academics
South Africa is home to academics that are among the best and brightest in the world, and these are performing vital research into areas of critical concern.
SAPS and all law enforcement must work to draw on this research and the insights gained as they develop strategies to combat crime, especially given crime’s ever-evolving nature. New trends in criminal activities are continuously emerging that demand innovative approaches based on sound research and evidence for greatest success. Additionally, there are many inefficiencies in today’s criminal justice cluster that could be addressed through the learnings provided by our researchers, such insights into how best to incorporate latest technologies.
In conclusion, for South Africa to deliver on the promise of a brighter future, the entire criminal justice cluster, and especially SAPS, must acknowledge the pivotal role that education and research can play in reducing crime. Education should be placed at the heart of law enforcement, rather than cast aside or treated with suspicion.
Only by empowering the members of the criminal justice cluster with knowledge can South Africa realise a safer and more secure future for its citizens.
Picture: Henk Kruger-African News Agency (ANA)