Police response to police sexual violence in South Africa

Purpose The purpose of our study is to explore how police respond to reported cases of police sexual violence (PSV). Design/methodology/approach This study uses annual police oversight agency reports and newspaper accounts to explore police responses to police sexual violence in South Africa. Findings We find that about 100–130 police officers are reported for rape by their respective police agencies to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) every year. The analyses of the disciplinary pipeline reveal that a small proportion of police officers reported for rape – fewer than one-tenth – were convicted in internal disciplinary procedures, and even fewer – only about one in twenty – were eventually unconditionally dismissed by their police agencies. Research limitations/implications Based on the analyses of rape-by-police cases provided by the police to a police oversight agency, our study excludes cases in which the victims either did not report or were unsuccessful in reporting their PSV to the police. Practical implications The results of our study demonstrate that an oversight police agency, dependent upon the police to report cases of rape-by-police, is limited in its independence. Furthermore, our study shows that because the IPID only recommends discipline to the police, the likelihood of discipline being meted out for rape-by-police cases is low. Originality/value Previous literature on police sexual violence has barely touched upon police responses to police sexual violence. Our study examines the disciplinary pipeline and the attrition in it. In addition, extant literature on PSV primarily originates in Western democracies. We focus on South Africa, not only a country from the rarely studied Global South, but also a country in which some cultural norms are tolerant of gender-based violence.