UNDERSTANDING POLICE ROLES IN SERVICE DELIVERY PROTESTS: THE CASE OF TSHWANE METRO POLICE AND THE SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE

This article explores the role of Tshwane Metro Police (TMP) and the South African Police Service (SAPS) during service delivery protests crimes in the Tshwane area of South Africa. To date, both the Metropolitan Police Departments (MPDs) and SAPS work under immense pressure to curb the rebellion of service delivery protests and related crimes across the eight metropolitan municipalities in South Africa. At present, the MPDs and SAPS are cautious when responding to spontaneous service delivery protests and related crimes to avoid loss of lives, human rights violations, and criticisms by civil society organizations, politicians, and media. Lack of citizen conscientisation by government, civil society organizations, and community organization’s regarding the role of the police during the protests make it further difficult for the police to manage these protests. A qualitative research method was followed by the researcher to collect data. An open-ended interview was conducted with twenty-one (21) selected participants from TMP and SAPS Public Order Policing (POP). The researcher followed purposive sampling. The study highlights key factors which drive service delivery protests and related crimes in the Tshwane area, such as poverty, unemployment, rampant corruption by public servants, nepotism, lack of governance, mismanagement of state funds, political infighting and interference, public distrust of politician and office bearers and the deterioration of local government in South Africa as amongst the contributing factors to service delivery protests and related crimes in South Africa. The study found that there is an urgent need for the government, security cluster, and stakeholders to conscientise the community on the role of the MPD and SAPS during the service delivery protests and related crimes. The study recommends the importance of public conscientisation concerning the role of TMP and SAPS during service delivery protests and related crimes in the Tshwane area.