12 Dec Building trust between police and foreign nationals is key to African security

Improving trust between South African police and foreign national communities is emerging as a critical component of improving public safety for everyone.

Research and crime statistics show that foreign nationals—who make up just 3.9 per cent of the population, according to the latest national census—are disproportionately affected by serious crimes.

Yet broken relations with law enforcement continue to impede emergency response, intelligence-gathering and crime prevention.

Foreign nationals face increased safety risks

Although a relatively small part of the population, foreign nationals are frequent victims of business robberies, kidnappings, extortion and public violence.

A 2015 South African Police Service docket analysis revealed that nearly half of the country’s business robbery victims were foreign nationals, and in North West province, the figure reached 77 per cent. These patterns have shown not only a high exposure to risk but also a policing environment where foreign nationals often feel unprotected, or worse, targeted.

Many report extortion, harassment, or neglect by officials, reinforcing a belief that police are not reliable sources of protection.

This fear directly undermines safety: communities that distrust law enforcement often avoid reporting crime or seeking help, creating blind spots that criminals exploit.

It undermines emergency response

Effective policing depends on open communication, timely reporting, and collaboration during emergencies. So, when foreign nationals hesitate to call for help or share information, critical minutes are lost.

International initiatives could demonstrate that a specific roadmap is needed. This could be the implication of community liaison officers: A 2024 United States police study found that officers deployed specifically to foreign national neighbourhoods helped bridge communication gaps. Or, inclusive neighbourhood policing: The UK College of Policing advises that marginalised groups must be deliberately engaged.

Following up with victims is also a good idea, even after the crime has been resolved. As always, treating people with fairness, respect and transparency has measurable effects.

Strengthening relationships with foreign national communities is both a human rights obligation and a strategic public safety priority. This is because trust encourages people to report crimes, provide critical intelligence, and work with authorities in moments of crisis.

Investing in trust is ultimately an investment in more effective emergency response, better investigations, and stronger collective security for the nation. When people feel safe, the community feels safe too.