VACUUM AT THE TOP
Mbalula pledges appointment of police chief within weeks
Police Minister Fikile Mbalula sets an end-November deadline to replace commissioner Riah Phiyega
The country would have a new commissioner by the end of November, Police Minister Fikile Mbalula said on Tuesday.The South African Police Service (SAPS) has been without a substantive commissioner since Riah Phiyega was suspended in 2015. Since then, a number of acting commissioners have taken charge only to be removed amid various allegations against them.Mbalula said he had instructed acting commissioner Lt-Gen Lesetja Mothiba to put the police strategic plan on hold, until a national commissioner was appointed.The Presidency did not respond to questions about President Jacob Zuma’s plans for the police post on Tuesday.Gareth Newham, head of governance, crime and justice division at the Institute for Security Studies, said it was crucial for Zuma to not only appoint a new national commissioner, but he should adhere to government policy as set out in the National Development Plan (NDP) about the calibre of his appointee.Mbalula said the appointment would be done as provided for in ...
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