In a legal system experiencing "breakdown," the question of who polices the police becomes a matter of competing oversight bodies, constitutional challenges, and civil society intervention. In South Africa, as of February 2026, the traditional architecture of accountability—led by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID)—is currently undergoing a period of intense scrutiny and reform due to allegations of systemic failure and "state capture" dynamics. Thabiso Tema spoke to Andy Mashaile, Crime and Policing Analyst and Security Strategist.