Crisis of Confidence: As the SAPS Unravels, Who's Protecting South Africa?

15 Jul 2025

In a country wrestling with high crime and deep public distrust in law enforcement, last week's explosive revelations from Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi have shaken a fragile system.

At a widely broadcast press briefing, the KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner alleged that senior ranks of the South African Police Service have been infiltrated by criminals. He accused Police Minister Senzo Mchunu of interfering with investigations, disbanding a task team probing political killings, and even associating with known crime suspects. The minister, who has been placed on special leave and is now facing criminal charges laid by the DA and investigations by three parliamentary committees, has denied all allegations. Yet the damage to public trust is done.

For ordinary South Africans, it raises a disturbing question, When the protectors are accused of collaborating with criminals, where do we turn for safety?

This crisis isn't simply an internal matter for SAPS, it affects every community, business district, and public institution. When crime intelligence is compromised and key investigations are allegedly suppressed, the gaps in policing widen. Gangs grow bolder, political killings go unsolved, and crucial services become vulnerable targets.

The police service, by its own senior leader's admission, appears to be at war with itself. The implications are far-reaching, from eroding investor confidence to daily spikes in petty and violent crime in urban and rural centres alike.

While headlines focus on political fallout and factional blame, another layer of South Africa's security infrastructure continues working, often unnoticed. Private security companies, now numbering over 11,000 registered businesses and more than 2.5 million active personnel, are increasingly becoming the backbone of visible policing in both residential and commercial spaces. Their role extends beyond guarding gates or responding to alarms. In many areas, private patrols are the first to respond to incidents, the only ones with working CCTV networks, and the most consistent presence on the ground.

But the value of private security goes beyond visibility, it lies in responsiveness, integrity of operations, and the absence of political interference. These are the very qualities that communities need while SAPS addresses its internal challenges.

This is not a call to replace the police, South Africa needs a functioning, trusted SAPS. However, while the service works to restore public confidence and rebuild institutional integrity, layered security will continue to be necessary.

It means partnerships that go beyond panic buttons, investing in proactive patrols and intelligence-sharing. It means site-specific risk planning for businesses and municipalities affected by unrest, organised crime, or political tension.

The reality is practical. While SAPS regroups and rebuilds public trust, private security firms are maintaining 24-hour patrols, responding to emergency calls, and providing the kind of reliable service that the communities they serve desperately need. They're not perfect, but they're present. They're not immune to problems, but they're able to focus on their core mission.

At Excellerate Services, this focus extends to specialised units that handle the most challenging situations. "Our tactical, intervention, and riot teams are often the first responders when situations escalate," explains Managing Director Adriaan Otto. "These special operations units are trained to handle everything from crowd control to high-risk interventions, filling critical gaps while SAPS works through their current challenges."

Otto continues, "It is not a time to abandon hope for police reform, it's a time to be realistic about current circumstances. South Africa's security needs require adaptive solutions. The sooner we acknowledge this reality and adapt our security strategies accordingly, the better protected our communities will be."

As the dust settles on this unfolding situation, one thing is clear, the need for protection remains. While the state navigates its internal rebuilding process, those who stand guard at shopping centres, industrial parks, residential estates, and protest lines are keeping more than property safe. They're holding the frontline for trust itself.