The Importance Of Diversity In South Africa

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We live in a country full of variety - the variety is spread throughout the languages, cultures, colours, histories and people of South Africa. Which is why, diversity within the law enforcement is of such great importance. It is vital to include, reflect and unify the variety and diversity of South Africa in the governing bodies such as the SAPS, since every group or community has its own sets of expectations, needs, values and cultures. (Rowe, 2014) (Cordner & Scarborough, 2010)
According to Oxford Dictionary, Diversity is the action or act of being diverse. Diverse/Diversity can be described as a range of variety or different of assortments. Furthermore it is the inclusion of different nationalities, genders, age, sexual orientation, race …show more content…

Not only does diversity strengthen the public consent and create a positive public image, it is also beneficial for operational purposes. A diverse workforce may further the principle of policing whilst also slightly renegotiating the conventional principles. More so, it aids in minority input, improved service to minorities and a sensitive yet effective response to minority problems, while recovering and boosting the overall legitimacy and efficacy of the police. (Rowe, 2014) (Gaines & Kappeler, 2011) (Gaines & Kappeler, 2011) (Cordner & Scarborough, …show more content…

Furthermore, there is a misperception that diversity will solve communication problems within the society. Various problems may arise within the police force itself, as superiors may have a harder time connecting, understanding and motivating the diverse police officials, and teams within the police force may struggle to work closely together in a peaceful and effective manner. Due to the diversity, communication can become a challenge leaving room for misunderstandings and disputes. Verbal cues, physical body language and gestures, written documents and thinking processes differ greatly between various groups. As does the rules of human interactions and relationships. (Rowe, 2014) (Gaines & Kappeler,

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