The White Siren, the Black Policeman

The police are a critical part of maintaining law and order in any state, serving their communities in various ways. In South Africa, police had to transition from a militarized force of the apartheid state to being a service provider, protecting and maintaining law and order in the current democratic government. This essay briefly outlines the history of the South African Police (SAP) from its inception to its current form. The core of the discussion is centred on explaining the notion of the white siren, which represents white supremacy and domination within the police force, and how the powers bestowed on white police officers were used as a tool to exert power over black policemen. The context of this essay is set during apartheid, when black police officers were subjected to occupying lower ranks compared to their white counterparts. Various experiences of policemen are accounted for in the discussion in relation to the treatment that was given to both black and white police officers. The essay outlines the extent to which the incorporation of blacks into policing roles in which they were cooperating in their own oppression was damaging to both the identity and agency of the black subject. It diminished the status of the black police officer as they were subjected to unequal and prejudicial treatment within the police force during the apartheid era.