Action Society has released its first Criminal Justice Trust Indicator, revealing that public confidence in South Africa’s criminal justice system stands at just 4 out of 100. The findings point to widespread perceptions of delays, poor communication, a lack of accountability, and a belief that offenders face few consequences.
The survey, conducted through Action Society’s website, gathered approximately 2,500 usable responses after duplicates were removed. Spokesperson Juanita du Preez said the sample provides a credible snapshot of public sentiment.
“This was a survey on our website, so anyone who visited the site could take part,” she explained. “After removing duplicates, we had around two and a half thousand responses that we could use to reach our conclusion.”
Addressing questions about whether the sample size is sufficient, du Preez said, “It really does give us enough information; it offers a general impression of what the rest of South Africa is feeling. I cannot see many people disagreeing with where we are regarding the effectiveness of our criminal justice system.”
She said the feedback reflects deep frustration, particularly when it comes to reporting crimes and receiving little follow-up. “The only thing you get is an SMS confirming that a case has been opened. You never receive any further feedback,” she said, adding that many people feel reporting crime is pointless.
Du Preez argued that underreporting may create a misleading picture of crime trends. “It might look as though crime is decreasing, but in reality, it is not,” she said. Lengthy court delays further erode public trust, with some serious cases facing years of postponements before sentencing. “So, who wants to go through that? There is simply no trust.”
She warned that without public confidence; the legitimacy of the entire justice system is at risk.
Listen to the full interview below:
VOC News
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