{
  "id": 6238238,
  "title": "‘Rooting out corruption key to restoring trust in Saps,’ Ramaphosa says",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/rooting-out-corruption-key-to-restoring-trust-in-saps-ramaphosa-says",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-08T04:41:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Citizen",
    "slug": "the-citizen",
    "url": "https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/rooting-out-corruption-key-to-restoring-trust-in-saps-ramaphosa/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "President Cyril Ramaphosa has backed the ongoing judicial inquiry into corruption and interference in South Africa's police force, stressing that the country cannot gain public trust in law enforcement unless it combats corruption. In his weekly address, Ramaphosa insisted that the Madlanga Commission be allowed to work \"thoroughly and without fear, favour or interference.\" He emphasized that the South African Police Service (Saps) is often the first point of contact for people in distress and that South Africans have the right to know if those entrusted with fighting crime are also working alongside criminals. Ramaphosa decried allegations of infiltration, corruption, and political meddling within the Saps as \"deeply disturbing\" but cautioned against allowing the actions of a few corrupt individuals to tarnish the integrity of thousands of honest officers. He acknowledged the public's lack of confidence in the police, citing survey data that shows victims often refrain from reporting crimes due to mistrust in law enforcement. Ramaphosa highlighted the challenges the police face, including under-resourcing in certain areas and a lack of skills to tackle emerging forms of crime. The government plans to address these issues through Project 11,000, which aims to train 5,500 new constables. However, Ramaphosa stressed that mere numbers do not suffice; policing demands character, discipline, and above all, integrity. To strengthen the Saps, psychometric and integrity testing have been introduced in the recruitment process, ensuring that only officers of impeccable character are allowed to serve. Ramaphosa also paid tribute to the 12 officers who lost their lives while on duty in the past year, honoring their bravery and the risks they take to protect the public. He called for collective responsibility, stating that defeating crime requires both the police's confidence and the cooperation of the public. Ramaphosa affirmed the government's commitment to building a police force that is professional, capable, honest, and deserving of the trust placed in it by the South African people.",
  "summary": "Ramaphosa said the Madlanga Commission must be allowed to do its work 'thoroughly and without fear, favour or interference'.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}