Minister, top cop bang heads

LEAKED LETTER: DISAGREEMENT OVER APPOINTMENTS

Angry police minister takes exception to restructuring by commissioner.

Turmoil between Police Minister Bheki Cele and the National Police Commissioner General Khehla Sithole has spilt into the public domain through a leaked letter in which Cele accuses Sithole of being “contemptuous”.

The letter that was allegedly written by Cele pertained to the restructuring the SA Police Service (Saps) and the appointment of senior managerial positions.

“Despite the fact that I gave clear instructions to you, you still went ahead and announced the appointment of senior managers, in key positions, during a briefing to the portfolio committee on police on Tuesday,” he said.

The minister stated how the commissioner not only disregarded him as his senior, but police regulations as well.

“You, therefore, blatantly ignored my instructions and the provisions of the Saps Employment Regulations, 2018, when you went ahead and announced these appointments. Your disregard for my position as the executive authority of the department of police and relevant regulations is regarded as serious and will not be tolerated,” he noted.

Head of the governance, crime and justice division at the Institute for Security Studies, Gareth Newham, said the lack of coherence and collegiality between the officers was negatively affecting the police services as a whole.

“This letter suggested that their relationship has broken down badly and will not bode well for policing in SA,” he said.

Newham stated that friction amongst top generals often led to officers picking sides.

“Given the politicisation of the Saps over many years, it was likely that many of the top generals chose sides which caused disruptions that we’ve seen from the national development could plan, that the crisis of top leadership in Saps is a fundamental reason for the on-going notable deterioration in policing since 2012.”

He added that there was a possibility that the appointments would be disregarded.

“If the appointments that were made were not within regulations that enable such appointments, they could be claimed as invalid.”

During a parliament portfolio committee meeting, the Freedom Front Plus Pieter Groenewald was startled about the restructuring.

“When there’s restructuring in the police services and the appointments, the portfolio committee is included in the execution of restructuring. I don’t remember the committee being part of these restructures,” he said.

The letter further stated a retraction of appointments made allegedly by Sithole.

“I herewith instruct you to retract the appointments with immediate effect. Written confirmation to this effect should be submitted to my office on or before 16:00pm on 5 May.”

Cele’s spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment.