CAPE TOWN, Western Cape — Outgoing Western Cape Police Ombudsman Oswald Reddy has issued a stark warning regarding the urgent need for comprehensive SAPS reform, calling for a massive internal cleanup and the devolution of policing powers to combat rising crime and gang infiltration.
Stepping down on his first day of retirement after 44 years in public service—comprising 39 years in active policing and five years as the Western Cape Police Ombudsman—Reddy reflected on the current state of law enforcement. He noted that revelations from the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry and the Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee paint a bleak picture of the institution, highlighting a collapse in public trust and a rise in extortion rackets.
Combating Gang Infiltration and Corruption
According to Reddy, criminal networks and gangs are actively attempting to capture the criminal justice system by targeting its highest levels, including police generals, magistrates, judges, and prosecutors. This infiltration has led to compromised police intelligence, placing the state at a massive disadvantage in the fight against organized crime.
Despite these severe challenges, Reddy emphasized that not all is lost. He praised the hundreds of uncompromised men and women in uniform, specifically highlighting KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner General Mkonazi as a prime example of integrity.
To address the internal rot, Reddy welcomed the SAPS reset agenda introduced by the acting minister and the acting national commissioner. However, he stressed that implementation is critical. He advocated for a complete overhaul of internal vetting, suggesting that every police officer should hold top-secret security clearance to ensure their associations and bank accounts are thoroughly vetted.
“We cannot sit back,” Reddy stated, pointing out that despite SAPS operating at its highest budget level, the nation is not seeing the required return on investment. He called for strict consequence management, lifestyle audits, integrity testing, and the rotation of officers in sensitive positions. He also noted that recruitment must be overhauled, as high unemployment rates currently drive many to join the police service simply because no other jobs are available.
The Case for Devolution of Policing Powers
A major focal point of Reddy’s critique is the centralized nature of South African policing. Drawing on his extensive experience as a station commander in Soweto and Hillbrow, and as an area commissioner in Johannesburg, he expressed deep frustration with the lack of local authority.
Station commanders often have to wait for provincial or national approval to access resources or adapt strategies. Reddy argued that no two areas are the same; for instance, the dynamics of Khayelitsha and Nyanga require entirely different policing approaches.
“I believe that there should be devolution of powers where you strengthen your local level,” Reddy explained. He commended the Minister of Police for identifying the top 142 high-crime stations to be beefed up with resources, but warned that without the power and authority to adapt, these stations will remain ineffective.
While acknowledging the risks of an accountability gap with devolution, Reddy insisted that professional business process re-engineering, combined with Auditor General oversight and strict consequence management, would mitigate these risks and prevent tender chaos at the local level.
A Three-Point Blueprint for Police Transformation
When asked to advise the acting police minister, the national commissioner, and the Western Cape premier on immediate interventions to protect the SAPS, Reddy outlined three concrete steps:
- Intelligence as the Lifeblood of Policing: Reddy urged the creation of robust platforms to gather, verify, and convert public information into actionable intelligence, enabling the police to prevent crimes before they occur.
- Community Mobilization: Rebuilding trust is essential. Reddy called for the active mobilization of Community Police Forums, neighborhood watches, and community safety forums. Communities must feel secure that their information will not leak and that their lives will not be endangered when cooperating with the police.
- Improving Service Delivery: Reddy emphasized the need to revisit the service delivery improvement program to align with current environments. He criticized public servants who operate with an attitude of doing the public a favor, urging leadership to enforce the Batho Pele principles and deal appropriately with those who fail to serve the nation.
By focusing on these three pillars, Reddy believes the SAPS can effectively prioritize and combat the country’s most pressing security threats, including the high murder rate, domestic violence, rape, extortion, drug syndicates, firearms proliferation, and abalone smuggling.
