The next head of the police need not be a career police officer, Police Minister Nathi Nhleko has said. Interviewed by the Sunday Times last week, Nhleko said he had an open mind about who the next national commissioner should be.The last time the police were led by a career police officer was when George Fivaz was appointed by President Nelson Mandela in 1995.MPs said last week that acting national commissioner General Khomotso Phahlane, a career policeman, should be given the position if Riah Phiyega were fired.Phiyega is the subject of an inquiry into her fitness to hold office.Phahlane and Nhleko briefed parliament on proposed changes to the structure of the police - a sign, some believe, that Phahlane will get the top job."[Phahlane] is a policeman and he studied further," said Nhleko. "The assumption of many people is that because you're a trained policeman it means you are a good manager. It doesn't work that way."A good policeman does not necessarily translate into a good manager. But it's possible that you can be a policeman and also have other skills," said Nhleko.Freedom Front Plus MP Pieter Groenewald said allowing Phahlane to make organisational changes in the police was a hint that he was in the running to take over if Phiyega were removed."The Police Act determines that it is within the national commissioner's powers to make changes. So I presume, chairman, that we can accept that we're not going to get a new national commissioner besides the acting one. Congratulations, acting commissioner," Groenewald said during a meeting of parliament's police portfolio committee last week.IFP MP Albert Mncwango said he wanted to see a career policeman leading the service.Phiyega told the Sunday Times last week that her woes could be blamed in part on the breakdown in her relationship with Nhleko.She accused him of interfering in police structures and operations.She described her relationship with the minister as "nonexistent and ultra-complex".Phiyega accused those in power of wanting her out of the way so that they could loot police funds...