Since 1994 the South African Police Service (SAPS) has undertaken various efforts to build legitimacy in South Africa. Extensive community policing resources have been made available, and a hybrid community-oriented programme (sector policing) has been pursued. Nevertheless, public opinion data has shown that there are low levels of public trust in the police. Using Goldsmith’s framework of trust-diminishing police behaviours, this article suggests that indifference, a lack of professionalism, incompetence and corruption on the part of the police, particularly in high-crime areas, have eroded public trust in the SAPS. Furthermore, in an effort to maintain order, reduce crime and assert the authority of the state, the police have adopted militaristic strategies and practices, which have contributed to numerous cases of excessive use of force, which has consequently weakened police legitimacy in South Africa

自1994年以来，南非警察署（SAPS）为建立南非的合法性做出了各种努力。已经提供了广泛的社区警务资源，并且已经推行了面向社区的混合计划（部门警务）。但是，民意数据表明，公众对警察的信任度很低。本文使用戈德史密斯的减少警察行为的信任框架，认为警察的冷漠，缺乏专业素养，无能和腐败，特别是在高犯罪率地区，已经削弱了公众对SAPS的信任。此外，为了维护秩序，减少犯罪并维护国家权威，警察采取了军事主义策略和做法，促成许多过度使用武力的案件，