JOHANNESBURG - A Human Sciences Research Council study has revealed that public trust in the police is at an all-time low.
And the ongoing public spat between KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and Police Minister Senzo Mchunu is only adding salt to the festering wound.
The study found that trust in the police has declined gradually over the past 20 years.
Now, only 22 percent of citizens felt they could trust the police.
The findings underscore the need for the police to prioritise confidence-building by adopting a more community-focused and accountable approach to policing.
One stakeholder says continued scandals around law enforcement are not doing anything to gain the public's trust.