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What priorities should South Africa’s next police minister have?

As violent crime rises and police effectiveness falls, this will be a vital appointment for the country’s next president.

As the resourcing and performance of the South African Police Service (SAPS) has deteriorated since 2012, rates of murder and violent organised crime have soared.

After the 29 May 2024 general election, the selection of a police minister will be one of the most important decisions that the country’s next president makes. What qualities should the minister have and what must she or he do to reverse the deterioration in policing and public safety?

Moderator: Lizette Lancaster, Project Manager, ISS Crime Hub

Panelists:

  • Prof Irvin Kinnes, Centre of Criminology, University of Cape Town and former content advisor to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Police
  • Alvin Rapea, Partner at Regenesys Business School, Business Consultant and Executive Coach, and former secretary, Civilian Secretariat for Police Service
  • Gareth Newham, Head, Justice and Violence Prevention, Institute for Security Studies

This seminar is part of the Driving Justice Series: Transforming Systems and Empowering Communities

Development partners
The ISS is grateful for support from the members of the ISS Partnership Forum: the Hanns Seidel Foundation, the European Union, the Open Society Foundations and the governments of Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden.
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