Lieutenant-General Lesetja Mothiba is South Africa's new top cop

President Jacob Zuma has announced the appointment of Lieutenant-General Lesetja Mothiba as the Acting National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS)‚ with immediate effect.

"The acting tenure of Lieutenant-General Khomotso Phahlane came to an end today‚ 01 June 2017‚" the presidency said in a statement on Thursday evening.

"The President has thanked Lt-Gen Phahlane for the leadership of the Police during his acting tenure."

Lt-General Mothiba was until now the SAPS Divisional Head of the Management Intervention Unit.

"President Zuma has congratulated the new Acting Commissioner and wishes him all the success in his new responsibility‚" the brief statement said.