Thin Blue: The Unwritten Rules of Policing South African

by Jonny Steinberg

In this provocative new book, Steinberg argues that policing in crowded urban space is like theatre. Only here, the audience writes the script, and if the police don’t perform the right lines, the spectators throw them off the stage. Several months before they exploded into xenophobic violence, Jonny Steinberg travelled the streets of Alexandra, Reiger Park and other Johannesburg townships with police patrols. His mission was to discover the unwritten rules of engagement emerging between South Africa’s citizens and its new police force.

In vivid and eloquent prose, Steinberg takes us into the heart of this drama, and picks apart the rules South Africans have established for the policing of their communities. What emerges is a lucid and original account of a much larger the relationship between ordinary South Africans and the government they have elected to rule them. The government and its people are like scorned lovers, Steinberg their relationship, brittle, moody, untrusting and ultimately very needy.

Genres: South Africa, Africa, Nonfiction, Crime

183 pages, Paperback

First published November 15, 2008

Reviews

[Randal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating book with some relevancy to current events in the US. While the thesis is strong, the book as a whole could have been improved by adding more varied perspectives. In addition to suffering from a lack of different points of view, the book also suffers from a narrow focus. The subtitle claims it is about "Policing South Africa" when it should have said "Policing Johannesburg". I wonder how different other regions of the country are.

[Arno · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jonny Steinberg's exploration of policing in South Africa is a fascinating if slightly underdeveloped exposition of why and how law enforcement fails. Steinberg's incredible capability as a reporter is revealed as he gains inside access to police patrols and investigations. What he reveals, and what makes up the thesis of his book, is that most South Africans have yet to consent to being policed and without that consent law enforcement is impossible. In this setting, police are not the expression of the state's legitimate monopoly of force but rather represent a single player in the complex web that makes up security and survival in crime-ridden parts of the South African urban landscape.

While nearly every page of this slim volume is packed with fascinating, entertaining and enlightening information it's an inherently limited book, and Steinberg acknowledges as much. Intended to explore policing in urban and rural landscapes, Steinberg ends up limiting himself to an exploration of policing in the townships around Johannesburg and one affluent suburb near the city. While a full study of policing everywhere in South Africa may have been too ambitious a project, at least a cursory overview of whether the obscenely corrupt practices at play in the townships around Joburg were similar in rural settings, or even in other major urban settings, would have been enlightening and helped contextualize the in-depth coverage Steinberg applies to the urban setting. Further, while the book's individual chapters are organized well there is not a truly unifying narrative to the book and its series of snapshots can make for a slightly confusing--if nonetheless gripping--read.

[AJ Payne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

The South African Police Service is definitely not known for their stellar work, but this book outlines all the incredible challenges facing them which most people don’t understand. The author does many ridealongs with SAPS officers and readers get to see some of the best and some of the worst of policing in South Africa, with very little judgment from the reporter, which is probably why he was given so much access because he didn’t seem out to demonize the force.

I really did like the insights he provided on the roles police have to play – and who wants them to play those roles, and what can happen if they don’t. To be sure, I don’t think I would want to be a police officer in the townships of South Africa. What I like especially is the running theme through the book that in order to be policed, people must want to be policed – and history in South Africa has definitely made many people wary of that.

I did quite enjoy it, but would have liked a little more from it. I enjoyed the ridealong aspects, with personal stories, but I would have loved some more historical research and narrative to round it all out.

[Annie Holmes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read any Jonny Steinberg (so far) in one sitting or as close as I can manage. This was slighter that The Number or The 3-Letter Plague, but strong and provocative. I do wonder why the reluctance to write (about) women. Jonny, why don't you? Here and in 3-Letter Plague, JS refers to the centrality of women to the situations/stories but barely connects. The whole question of domestic violence is NOT "hollow".

[David Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those of us who read the front page of South African newspapers on a daily basis, Thin Blue provides the missing info behind the gory photos and headlines on what's wrong with policing in this country - and it's not just a money problem. I had picked this up as an "in-between" book but within a few pages it had shot to the top ranks of South African non-fiction in my extremely objective list.

[Nicholas · Rating 3 out of 5]

A helpful book in understanding certain elements of crime and policing in South Africa. It is not one of Steinberg's best books but the overarching argument, that the South African populace has not consented to accepting the authority of the post-apartheid police force, is important to consider.

[J.L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bit on the academic/sociological side, but a devestating look at the politics of policing South Africa.

[Sam Beckbessinger]

Brilliant look at the complexities of policing South Africa - a country that doesn't necessarily consent to being policed.

[Sean de la Rosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of Jonny's better pieces. Great insights into the South African police service.