NCJ Number
188280
Date Published
2000
Length
28 pages
Annotation
This paper discusses the establishment and role of the South African Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) in attempting to ensure a new regime of accountability for the police under the government established after the 1994 elections that involved people of all races for the first time.
Abstract
The first government-supported system to establish a degree of independence into routine investigations of police misconduct was the police reporting officer system established by the National Peace Accord of September 1991. Nevertheless, political violence continued before the 1994 elections; it became increasingly apparent that members of the security forces were deeply implicated in this conflict. The Government of National Unity led by the African National Congress elected in April 1994 immediately began a program to reform the police. The 1995 South African Police Service Act established the ICD with the power to investigate complaints against police and demand cooperation from the police in its investigations. Problems that the ICD has encountered include lack of full independence from the police, occasional lack of cooperation from the police, lack of formal powers in many areas, and limited resources. Nevertheless, the ICD has achieved some important results. These include investigations leading to the conviction of police officers for murder. Most important, it has managed to gain broad acceptance for its role and cooperation from the police in most cases. The analysis concludes that the ICD has the potential to become an effective institution for police accountability. Footnotes