The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) says it welcomes the appointment of an experienced police officer as the new national police commissioner.
“Lt-General Khehla Sithole has a difficult task ahead of him to professionalise the South African Police Service (SAPS) and tackle serious violent crime that is plaguing South Africa at the moment,” ISS said in a statement on Thursday.
“Sithole has the kind of track record that should be required of national police commissioner candidates and currently there are no allegations that suggest he lacks the integrity, skills or expertise for the powerful post of SAPS national commissioner.”
However, ISS said together with Corruption Watch they have been calling for stricter criteria and a transparent appointment process, as laid out by the National Development Plan.
“While we welcome an experienced police officer to lead the SAPS, the fact that we do not have the benefit of a rigorous appointment process leaves South Africans are at the mercy of President Jacob Zuma’s judgement – for which the track record is not great,” said Gareth Newham, head of justice and violence prevention at the ISS.
“South Africans will once again find out through experience whether their new police chief has the qualities required to lead and protect – a process which has cost the country dearly for the last decade.”
The ISS said Sithole’s first test will be how he tackles rogue elements within the police who are bringing the institution into disrepute.
“Urgent priorities will be to start cleaning out the upper echelons of the SAPS of people who have been irregularly appointed or who need to respond to evidence of serious misconduct and criminality,” ISS said.
“A key indicator of whether this is happening or not is whether he ensures an independent disciplinary inquiry is completed against disgraced Lt-General Richard Mdluli as a matter of serious urgency.”
– African News Agency (ANA)
