The report also recommends that a criminal probe be instituted into the irregular awarding of leases worth R1.6-billion for police headquarters in Pretoria and Durban.

President Jacob Zuma has, understandably, not yet reacted to Judge Moloi's recommendations, but it is incumbent on him to do so urgently - notwithstanding Cele's angry denunciation of the inquiry and his repeated threats to sue if he is removed.

This is obviously a hot potato for Zuma, who faces a potential leadership challenge at the ANC's national elective conference in Mangaung in December.

But if he is to restore some faith in his much-maligned leadership and, more importantly, in the credibility of the South African Police Service, the president needs to take the plunge and remove Cele.

For too long now tens of thousands of policemen and women have had to labour under a cloud as senior officers - think former top cop Jackie Selebi, who is serving time for corruption, suspended crime intelligence boss Richard Mdluli, and Cele himself - are embroiled in controversy after controversy.

The jury is still out on who should replace Cele, but reports on Friday suggested that the director-general of Labour, Advocate Nkosinathi Nhleko, was a hot favourite.

Appointing Nhleko, a former chief whip of the ANC, would be a horrible mistake.

Zuma should find the courage to break with the ANC tradition of promoting a ruling party loyalist to the top job - and instead opt for a career policeman with unimpeachable integrity, an impressive track record in policing and good leadership skills.

Having another political hack in charge of the SAPS would be almost as counter-productive as another bent commissioner.