Viewfinder

Viewfinder is a new accountability journalism project, incubated in GroundUp but intending to become its own independent publication in time. Viewfinder does long term investigations into abuses of power which impact on the public interest – specifically as it relates to the need for equality and redress – in post-apartheid South African society.

Viewfinder's first exposé, launched in October 2019, shows how IPID, the police watchdog, has failed to properly investigate serious complaints against the police, including rape and assault. Yet IPID has manipulated statistics to give the impression that has investigated these allegations.

Check out the Viewfinder website.

Child abuse: has the early warning system broken down?

Children are dying because of failure to identify abuse, overworked social workers and too much red tape

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Feature | 2 June 2022

Slap on the wrist for police commander who ignored torture allegations

SAPS failing to enforce discipline in its ranks

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News | 6 April 2022

SAPS probes notorious cop and his former boss in test case for police accountability

From Athlone to Lambert’s Bay Giovanni Gabriels is accused of leaving a trail of out-of-control violence

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Feature | 31 January 2022

Did SAPS enable a brutal murder by leaving this problem cop unpunished?

SAPS is failing to act against brutal cops

Daneel Knoetze for Viewfinder

Feature | 1 December 2021

Are SAPS commanders ignoring instructions to discipline brutal cops?

Upington death in custody raises questions

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Feature | 9 November 2021

Massive database of killings by police made public

Viewfinder analyses 47,000 cases of police brutality, and the results are horrifying

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News | 20 October 2021

Police deal with watchdog will protect violent cops

The agreement would make policy what is already happening in practice

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News | 1 September 2021

Police use of deadly force must be curbed, says new expert report

Report says ratio of civilians killed by police to police killed on duty in South Africa, about 13 to one, is a cause for concern

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Analysis | 26 August 2021

Tapes reveal secret workings of police disciplinary hearings for murder and brutality cases

Police officer found not guilty of the killing of 15-year-old Damian Ahrendse

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Feature | 17 August 2021

Cops who rape are rarely disciplined, data reveals

Many stay on the job

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Analysis | 4 August 2021

Video: The death of Ishmael Gama at the hands of Gauteng police

More than a year after his death, and months after the police watchdog implicated eight officers in murder, police management has not acted.

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Video | 7 July 2021

Gauteng police have killed hundreds, but SAPS leaves brutal cops unchecked

Official statistics show no Gauteng officers have been disciplined for violent offences since 2016

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Feature | 5 July 2021

Video: The Death of Phindile Ramncwana

A group of police officers in a rural Eastern Cape township were accused of beating a man so badly that they broke his ribs and ruptured his small intestine.

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Video | 2 June 2021

Police commissioner Khehla Sitole admits that SAPS discipline needs overhaul

Sitole told Parliament that an “independent” discipline unit needs to be established

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News | 1 June 2021

Parliament rebukes SAPS for poor discipline as watchdog probes 794 killings by police

But Parliament has failed to enforce its recommendations in the past

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News | 25 May 2021

Yes, Minister Cele, we did do our homework

Police minister brushes off Viewfinder’s devastating findings on police brutality

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Opinion | 18 May 2021