The quest to police with integrity : the SAPS anti-corruption unit

Social development and growth are frequently accompanied by an increase in corruption in emerging and transitional countries like South Africa. Although this paper focuses on corruption as a challenge to the South African Police Services (SAPS) it is, however, also necessary to take cognisance of the manifestation of corruption in Africa and in South Africa, as the general incidence of corruption is undoubtedly influenced by social normalisation of the phenomenon. Whereas corruption was previously generally considered a political issue, the harm caused by corruption as one of the most significant barriers to development is now widely acknowledged (Grill 1999:16; Vapi 1999).