POL3702
Assignment 01
Semester 2
Unique No: 810716
Due 28 August 2025
, POL3702
Assignment 01
Semester 2
Unique No: 810716
Due 28 August 2025
South African Police Service (SAPS): Media Statements, Equality, and Strategic Disclosure
1.1 The Imperative of Equality and Impartiality in Media Communication
For a democratic policing institution like SAPS, the principles of equality and
impartiality in media communication are not just legal formalities — they are strategic
imperatives that sustain the public trust necessary for effective law enforcement.
Sergeant Ngobese's media statement must exemplify these values. Here's why:
1. Upholding Constitutional Obligations
The Constitution (Section 205(3)) mandates SAPS to protect all citizens impartially. Any
form of preferential treatment — such as shielding a politician’s identity while revealing
a suspect’s — contradicts the spirit of Section 9, which enshrines equality before the
law. This is not a theoretical ideal; it is a binding standard of public accountability.
2. Reinforcing Institutional Trust
In a country where perceptions of elite impunity and police corruption persist, impartial
statements are crucial. According to ISS Africa (2023), public confidence in the police
correlates strongly with perceptions of fairness. By presenting facts neutrally — such as
stating that “two males aged 45 and 33 were found deceased under investigation”
without selective naming — SAPS affirms its role as a guardian of all, not a protector of
the privileged.
Assignment 01
Semester 2
Unique No: 810716
Due 28 August 2025
, POL3702
Assignment 01
Semester 2
Unique No: 810716
Due 28 August 2025
South African Police Service (SAPS): Media Statements, Equality, and Strategic Disclosure
1.1 The Imperative of Equality and Impartiality in Media Communication
For a democratic policing institution like SAPS, the principles of equality and
impartiality in media communication are not just legal formalities — they are strategic
imperatives that sustain the public trust necessary for effective law enforcement.
Sergeant Ngobese's media statement must exemplify these values. Here's why:
1. Upholding Constitutional Obligations
The Constitution (Section 205(3)) mandates SAPS to protect all citizens impartially. Any
form of preferential treatment — such as shielding a politician’s identity while revealing
a suspect’s — contradicts the spirit of Section 9, which enshrines equality before the
law. This is not a theoretical ideal; it is a binding standard of public accountability.
2. Reinforcing Institutional Trust
In a country where perceptions of elite impunity and police corruption persist, impartial
statements are crucial. According to ISS Africa (2023), public confidence in the police
correlates strongly with perceptions of fairness. By presenting facts neutrally — such as
stating that “two males aged 45 and 33 were found deceased under investigation”
without selective naming — SAPS affirms its role as a guardian of all, not a protector of
the privileged.
