The challenges of community policing in South Africa

This research paper by Eric Pelser of the Institute for Security Studies examines the contradictions between President Mbeki's 1999 commitment to strengthen Community Police Fora (CPFs) and the guidelines set out in the 1998 White Paper on Safety and Security regarding local government capacity and policy review.

• On 25 June 1999, South Africa's president pledged to strengthen Community Police Fora (CPFs) to increase their ability to mobilize citizens against crime and enhance cooperation with law enforcement, framing this as a key part of the national strategy against crime and violence.
• The author notes a contradiction between the President's commitment and the White Paper on Safety and Security from September 1998, which suggested that elected local government should supplement CPF functions and called for a review of the community policing policy's practical appropriateness.
• Community Police Forums (CPFs) are described as the most visible expression of South Africa's community policing policy, existing at nearly every police station, though sometimes only in name.

APA

Pelser, E. (n.d.). The challenges of community policing in South Africa. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.org/research/papers/the-challenges-of-community-policing-in-south-africa

Chicago

Pelser, Eric. The challenges of community policing in South Africa. Institute for Security Studies, n.d. https://issafrica.org/research/papers/the-challenges-of-community-policing-in-south-africa.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Pelser |first1=Eric |title=The challenges of community policing in South Africa |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |url=https://issafrica.org/research/papers/the-challenges-of-community-policing-in-south-africa |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{pelserndchallenges, author = {Pelser, Eric}, title = {{The challenges of community policing in South Africa}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, url = {https://issafrica.org/research/papers/the-challenges-of-community-policing-in-south-africa}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }