The purpose of this study is to examine the factors influencing police legitimacy and public trust in the South African Police Service (SAPS), and to explore how these factors affect the effectiveness of policing and crime prevention. The study aims to provide evidencebased recommendations to strengthen police-community relations and improve policing outcomes in South Africa. Despite the transition to democratic policing since 1994, SAPS continues to face a significant legitimacy crisis characterized by low public trust, high levels of crime, and persistent institutional challenges such as corruption, inefficiency, and weak accountability. This trust deficit undermines public cooperation, reduces crime reporting, and limits the overall effectiveness of policing. The study adopts a systematic literature review methodology, drawing on both South African and international sources. It integrates theoretical frameworks such as procedural justice, legitimacy theory, and community policing to analyze existing research, policy documents, and empirical studies. This approach enables a comprehensive and critical understanding of the relationship between police practices, public perceptions, and policing effectiveness. The study finds that public trust in SAPS remains low due to corruption, misconduct, and operational inefficiencies. Community policing initiatives, while valuable, are insufficient without broader structural reforms. Procedural justice characterized by fairness, respect, and transparency emerges as a key determinant of public cooperation. Additionally, visible policing strategies such as foot patrols improve community perceptions of safety, while international evidence highlights the importance of data-driven and intelligence-led policing approaches. The study concludes that restoring police legitimacy in South Africa requires a holistic and integrated approach that combines ethical leadership, strengthened accountability systems, community engagement, and technological innovation. Addressing the underlying structural challenges is essential for rebuilding public trust, enhancing policing effectiveness, and promoting safer, more secure communities.