A conceptual model for improving public perceptions of traffic police professional image in South Africa: an empirical investigation

Abstract

Enhancing the professionalism of traffic policing in South Africa is a difficult task, but it will increase the effectiveness and legitimacy of the profession. There is a need for strict traffic law enforcement to ensure road safety; nevertheless, contemporary South Africa faces persistent institutional shortcomings and the normalisation of deviant behaviour. The operational interface between the motoring public and Traffic Police Officers (TPOs) has been fundamentally damaged. Traffic-public interactions are generally challenging encounters defined by acute public apprehension or capiophobia (fear) rather than partnership-based cooperation for safety.

This thesis presents the proposed Public Satisfaction Model as a guide to restoring traffic policing and improving the professional image of TPOs. A convergent mixedmethods strategy was used, collecting quantitative survey data (491 valid responses) and qualitative one-to-one interviews (13 participants). The convergence of these datasets provided a robust criminological analysis of the contemporary traffic law enforcement situation. The analysis found a significant gap between statutory expectations and practical realities, with TPOs failing to meet the required standard. Systemic bribery, extortion and a socio-cultural normalisation of deviance gravely damage their professional image. Corrupt transactions cross demographic boundaries. The absence of procedural fairness, opportunistic policing for monetary gain and abuse of state resources erode public trust and even undermine the visual authority of the uniform. Public anxiety during nocturnal stops is further inflamed by the danger of imitative traffic police officers and secondary media narratives.

The study recommends that institutional credibility can be restored through the use of bilateral accountability instruments, including body-worn cameras, 24-hour visible policing, and mandatory rehabilitation for repeat offenders. Future research should examine the socio-economic determinants of public complicity in bribery and the internal occupational problems faced by TPOs.