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.

Cops who rape are rarely disciplined, data reveals

Many stay on the job

By

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.

By

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

By

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.

By

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

By

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

By

News | 25 May 2021

Yes, Minister Cele, we did do our homework

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

By

Opinion | 18 May 2021

How SAPS protects the killers within its ranks

Every year, police in South Africa kill hundreds of people and are accused of brutalising thousands more.

By

News | 11 May 2021