Several investigations into police officers are under way alongside two parallel hearings into whether a cartel has infiltrated South Africa's law enforcement, adding to the already deep distrust among officers and stoking concerns about potential cover-ups.

The impact of two parallel hearings investigating accusations that state officials and politicians are colluding with a criminal cartel is causing increasing distrust among South Africa's police officers.

Based on information from various policing sources, Daily Maverick understands that revelations from the hearings, paired with related investigations into officers, are creating extreme distrust and sparking concerns about crimes that may be covered up.

"They're going to try and sweep this thing under the carpet," is how an officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, recently described an investigation into a colleague.

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Aside from concerns about physical safety - Marius van der Merwe, a witness at one of the hearings, was murdered last year - there are also fears about disinformation that can be used in smear campaigns to tarnish certain officers.

While officers acknowledge that ventilating accusations is necessary, they say they are working amid a flurry of clashing suspicions.

"Who do you trust in a situation like this?" one asked.

Concerns and contradictions

Two main contradictory narratives have already emerged from the parallel hearings - the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry and Parliament's ad hoc committee.

The contrasting stances are casting doubt on some of the country's police leaders,...