A cabinet cluster of police ministers is working on a plan to deploy the army to crime hotspots in South Africa, President Jacob Zuma said on Thursday.

“They are working on that so we can add more strength and effort to deal with crime,” Zuma said while speaking in the National Assembly, where he was appearing for his quarterly question-and-answer session.

Zuma also said the process of appointing a permanent national police commissioner was ongoing.

“We are conducting internal processes that will culminate in making the appointment. I intend to appoint the national commissioner as soon as this process is finalised.”

South Africa has had various police commissioners since 1999, all of them either suspended due to allegations of corruption or fired by the president.

The president said all the previous commissioners at their time of appointment were competent individuals, adding that the new commissioner will be skilled and adept.

“Once again we will appoint a commissioner of police who is competent, who will be equal to the task,” the president said.

“We will employ a police leader who will understand the situation and knows how to deal with crime.”