The first task awaiting General Khehla John Sitole‚ the new National Police Commissioner‚ is to improve the credibility of the law enforcement service.
The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) said this as it welcomed the appointment of an experienced police officer to the post.
Sitole‚ it said‚ “has a difficult task ahead of him to professionalise the South African Police Service (SAPS) and tackle serious violent crime that is plaguing South Africa at the moment“.
“Lt-General Sithole has the kind of track record that should be required of national police commissioner candidates‚ and currently there are no allegations that suggest he lacks the integrity‚ skills or expertise for the powerful post of SAPS National Commissioner‚” said the ISS.
“Lieutenant General Sitole’s first test will be how he tackles individuals within the SAPS who bring the institution’s reputation into disrepute. Urgent priorities will be to start cleaning out the upper echelons of the SAPS of people who have been irregularly appointed or who need to respond to evidence of serious misconduct and criminality.
“…To ensure that he is able to provide the more than 194‚000 men and women employed in the SAPS with the necessary training‚ resources and strategic guidance‚ he will have to act with speed to implement the audit of senior police commanders as required by the National Development Plan. This is the only way he will be surrounded by highly experienced commanders of integrity that can support him in efforts to improve policing. He will also have to withstand the massive political pressure that will be brought to bear on him to interfere in investigations against powerful political and business interests.”
Gareth Newham‚ head of Justice and Violence Prevention at the ISS‚ added: “While we welcome an experienced police officer to lead the SAPS‚ the fact that we do not have the benefit of a rigorous appointment process leaves South Africans at the mercy of President (Jacob) Zuma’s judgement – for which the track record is not great.”
“South Africans will once again find out through experience whether their new police chief has the qualities required to lead and protect – a process which has cost the country dearly for the last decade.”
The ISS said it wished Sitole well‚ “and will do what we can to support him in his difficult tasks of improving policing‚ reducing serious violent crime and corruption and withstanding the intense political interference he is bound to experience“.
Previous SAPS commissioners have misfired — with incumbents accused of wrongdoing and a number of acting commissioners who have taken charge only to be removed amid various allegations against them. Here is a snapshot:
– Jackie Selebi‚ national police commissioner from 2000 to 2009‚ had close ties to Glenn Agliotti‚ accused of involvement in the murder of Brett Kebble. He was charged with corruption‚ fraud and racketeering and found guilty in 2010.
– Bheki Cele succeeded Selebi from 2009 to 2012. Cele was accused of being behind a R500-million rental deal for the police headquarters. At the time‚ Cele was accused of “gross misconduct” and he was removed from the position in June 2012.
– Cele was followed by Riah Phiyega until she was suspended in October 2015. Phiyega faced criticism for her handling of the Marikana massacre. A commission of inquiry looked at Phiyega’s fitness to hold the office. She was suspended in 2015.
– Phiyega was followed by Khomotso Phahlane until his suspension in June over allegations of corruption including a probe into his R8-million house and his fleet of cars.
– Phahlane was replaced in June this year by Lt Gen Lesetja Mothiba. He was criticised for allegedly appointing the acting head of crime intelligence without a valid security clearance certificate and for failing to suspend a seemingly “untouchable” senior official accused of fraud.
Announcing the latest appointment to the job last night‚ President Zuma said: “General Sitole brings a wealth of operational as well as management experience to the SA Police Service. He has grown through the ranks of the police having joined the service as a constable until his promotion as a Lieutenant General in 2011.”
Sitole has since last year been the Divisional Commissioner for Protection and Security Services. Prior to that‚ he served as deputy national commissioner of policing and provisional commissioner in the Free State.
“His extensive experience in the police service will assist him to execute this critical task of making South Africans and everyone in the country safer and to feel safer. We wish General Sitole all of the best as he assumes his new position at the helm of a very important institution in government and the country”‚ said President Zuma.
– TimesLIVE
