Spotlight: Debating policing strategy with South Africa's national commissioner

As South Africa’s leading independent source on crime and policing, ISS was invited to a public debate with National Commissioner of Police, General Riah Phiyega

Published on 01 October 2013 in Impact

As South Africa’s leading independent source on crime and policing, ISS was invited to a public debate with National Commissioner of Police, General Riah Phiyega, on 2 October as part of the Sowetan newspaper public dialogues. Gareth Newham, head of the Governance, Crime and Justice division at the ISS responded to Phiyega’s assessment of whether the South African Police Service needs rebuilding and how she intends to improve policing.

General Phiyega recently noted the importance of collective and inclusive leadership, of strengthening management at station level and alluded to problems of police misconduct and criminality that bedevil the organisation. Considering the growing levels of public dissatisfaction with SAPS especially since the Marikana massacre in 2012 in which officials shot 178 striking mineworkers killing 34 of them, more decisive leadership and clearer direction is now required.

Newham is well placed to discuss policing strategy with the country’s top cop. For the past decade, ISS has conducted authoritative research and provided expert analysis of policing policy. Newham has 15 years of direct experience working closely with police commanders at station, provincial and national level. He drafted Gauteng’s Safety Strategy in 2006 and the province’s Aggravated Robbery Strategy, which contributed to a 10% decrease in residential robberies in 2009/10.

The Sowetan Dialogues aim to provide ordinary South Africans with a platform to debate issues affecting their daily lives. Entrance was free, and the debate took place at the TUT South Campus in Soshanguve north of Pretoria.

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Meeting notes written by Gareth Newham

For more information contact:

Gareth Newham,  Governance, Crime and Justice division, ISS Pretoria: [email protected]