cq18mattes_2-48a272ba3e53e020.pdf

This report by Robert Mattes of the University of Cape Town uses Afrobarometer survey data from 18 African countries to compare experiences of crime and policing in South Africa with other nations on the continent. The analysis finds that while South Africa has high levels of insecurity and crime exposure, it is not exceptional in the African context. Furthermore, despite having superior physical and human capital, the South African Police Service (SAPS) often lags behind other African police forces in terms of public trust, legitimacy, and community relations.

• South Africans report high levels of insecurity and crime exposure, but these are not the highest in Africa. In 2005/06, 49% of South Africans feared crime in their own homes at least once in the previous 12 months, a figure lower than the 59% reported in both Zambia and Kenya. Additionally, 31% of South Africans reported something stolen from their house in the previous year, which was lower than the 46% reported in Zambia.
• South Africans are more likely than respondents in other surveyed African countries to identify crime as a primary national problem for the government to address, a trend observed since the first Afrobarometer surveys in 1999-2001.
• Public perception of the South African Police Service (SAPS) is mixed. While 64% of South Africans believe the police are likely or very likely to enforce the law against top government officials—reflecting high-profile prosecutions—only 35% believe the government is handling crime 'well' or 'very well'.
• The SAPS suffers from low levels of public trust and legitimacy compared to many other African police forces. Only 48% of South Africans trust the police, and 66% agree that the police have the right to make people obey the law, which is the fourth lowest result among the Afrobarometer countries.
• Despite having more resources and training than many of its counterparts, the SAPS is perceived as corrupt and difficult to access. 47% of South Africans believe most or all police officials are involved in corruption, and 49% find it difficult or very difficult to obtain help from the police.
• Positive trends in public attitudes toward crime and safety in South Africa are not unique and likely reflect broader societal stabilization following political and economic transitions rather than specific improvements in SAPS policing.

APA

Institute for Security Studies (n.d.). cq18mattes_2-48a272ba3e53e020.pdf. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/CQ18MATTES_2.PDF

Chicago

Institute for Security Studies. cq18mattes_2-48a272ba3e53e020.pdf. n.d. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/CQ18MATTES_2.PDF.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Institute for Security Studies |title=cq18mattes_2-48a272ba3e53e020.pdf |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/CQ18MATTES_2.PDF |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{instituteforsecuritystudiesndcq18mattes248a272ba3e53e020pdf, author = {{Institute for Security Studies}}, title = {{cq18mattes\_2-48a272ba3e53e020.pdf}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/CQ18MATTES_2.PDF}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }