Calls for Ramaphosa to appoint panel to advise on new Police Commissioner

There is a call that President Cyril Ramaphosa should appoint an independent panel to advise him on the best candidates for the post of the new Police Commissioner.

Police Commissioner General Khehla Sitole will vacate his position at the end of this month.

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the termination of Sitole’s contract last month.

Independent Researcher on policing Bruce David says: “What one would hope for is that he would appoint someone through a process similar to that through which he appointed Shamila Batoyi in 2019. So what he did there, he appointed a selection panel to interview candidates and to make a recommendation to him, on the person who should be appointed as the national commissioner.”

Sitole has been dogged with controversy for a while after the Pretoria High Court found that he and two of his deputies had “breached their duties” in failing to cooperate with police watchdog IPID, tasked with probing suspected fraud and corruption involving SAPS management.

The Commissioner and Police Minister Bheki Cele have also had a public fallout that some say was impacting the fight against crime.

Ramaphosa terminates Sitole employment contract:

Since the announcement, there have been mixed reactions from various opposition parties and organisations regarding Sitole’s sacking.

Some have welcomed the news and others say the move does not go far enough to restore confidence in the South African Police Service (SAPS).