Masemola suspension: Parties concerned about SAPS appointments on acting basis

While political parties have largely welcomed the suspension of National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola, they said they are concerned about what the acting appointments signal about the integrity of the police service.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) is now under the command of both an acting minister and an acting commissioner.

The Freedom Front (FF) Plus believes problems within the police are deeply rooted within its entire top and senior management, and that isolated changes won’t bring about meaningful reform.

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Days after a court appearance on financial mismanagement charges, President Cyril Ramaphosa suspended Masemola on Thursday.

He’s put the police’s top money manager, Puleng Dimpane, in charge.

But FF Plus Member of Parliament (MP) Wouter Wessels is concerned about the choice.

“She is and was the chief financial officer, under whose watch a lot of the financial mismanagement and irregularities took place. We need a complete rehaul of the senior management of the SAPS.”

FF Plus said indications are that Masemola will suffer the same fate as his predecessors and not see out his term.

Meanwhile, the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP)’s Wayne Thring has reiterated his party’s call for mandatory lifestyle audits for all senior public office bearers.

He said crime requires decisive, permanent leadership, and not interim arrangements.

“South Africans deserve more than placeholders in critical positions, as crime cannot be fought on an acting basis,” Thring said.