Discrepancies between recruitment, selection process and personality assessment as contributors to corruption in policing in South Africa

Abstract

This study aimed to uncover psychological factors that contribute to corruption in the South African Police Service (SAPS). Corruption has been one of the challenges faced by the democratic government of the Republic of South Africa and it continues to be a threat to the development and security of the country. To investigate causes of corruption in policing, the study focused on discrepancies between the recruitment selection process and ethical behaviour among three groups of police officials. Employing a qualitative research design, the study addressed emerging questions, procedures, and data collected from research participants in their work environments. Participants were identified through purposive sampling, and they were classified into three groups, namely: newly recruited trainees of the SAPS with a six-month service record, permanent members with exemplary ethical behaviour and former members or serving members who were previously charged for contravening the regulations or charged for corruption. The study found that personality factors that are assessed during recruitment and selection fail to identify a personality type or character disposition that is “corruption-prone” or “corruptible”. Interviews with officials with a history of corruption revealed self-reports of behaviour consistent with what psychopathology literature terms the “antisocial personality” type, which recruitment and selection processes failed to identify. These participants, like all the members of the SAPS, went through psychological assessments and were recommended for enlistment in the SAPS. The findings further revealed organisational cultural factors that contribute to discontent among police officers, which could be linked to corrupt behaviour. Several organisational factors namely, lack of a cohesive Promotion Policy, inconsistent application of disciplinary procedures, lack of oversight over members in senior leadership creating a perception of “untouchability” of senior leadership by the rank-and-file officers, lack of ethical and principled leadership and lack of consequence management were found to cause discontent among members of the SAPS which could influence decisions to engage in corrupt behaviour. The golden thread in the reports from the participants over the six months during which data was gathered is that the SAPS is a "Personality Cult" centred around top officers. Senior officers possess such unchecked authority that they can act wantonly within the organisation, thus undermining official governance policies. Senior officers have arrogated themselves absolute and unbridled authority to hire, promote, and terminate at whim without any consequences. Consequently, the corruption exhibited by members in the public sphere may represent a form of "rebellion" against an organisation that, through the caprice of senior leadership, has failed to gain the respect of rank-and-file members.