The Democratic Alliance has rejected remarks made by the Police Minister saying that the Police Commissioner doesn’t have to be a career police officer.
In a statement released on Monday‚ the party said Minister Nathi Nhleko's remarks “show he has learnt nothing from the disastrous appointment of currently suspended Riah Phiyega‚ nor those of her two predecessors‚ none of whom were career police officers”.
Phiyega was suspended after damning reports about her performance in the job. She has been accused of perjury‚ fraud‚ misconduct and wasteful expenditure.
She has been replaced by Johannes Khomotso Phahlane‚ who is currently the acting national police commissioner.
The DA said: “Phiyega's appointment was sold to the South African public on the basis of her supposed managerial prowess and experience. Yet she failed to live up to this promise and failed to turn the SAPS around. Instead she is facing an inquiry into her fitness for office based on the recommendations of the Farlam Commission into her role in the Marikana massacre.
“The Minister must see that the only way the SAPS will be effective in protecting the people of our country is to ensure that the next Police Commissioner has the proper experience and understanding of how the SAPS works and therefore what needs to be done to drastically improve it.”
TMG Digital.
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