Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police has urged Police Minster Bheki Cele to fast-track the appointment of the executive director of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).

The former IPID head’s contract ended on February 28, 2019 and according to the IPID Act, the Minister must fill the vacancy in a reasonable amount of time, not exceeding one year.

In a statement the chairperson of the committee, Tina Joemat-Peterson, said they have instructed the Minister to request an extension from Parliament speaker Thandi Modise to fill the position. 

Joemat-Peterson said they hope that a fit and proper person is appointed to head such a critical institution, as it serves as watchdog over the South African Police Service.
 
The committee hopes to have credible candidates nominated for the position and urged Cele to speed up the head-hunting process so that the committee and Parliament can start the process.