Reports that National Police Commissioner Mr Bheki Cele has been
dismissed confirm my blunt warning to the President during last week?s
Presidency Budget Vote Debate, that the ANC?s policy of cadre
deployment is detrimental to our country.

Corruption has now ended the careers of two National Police
Commissioners, and South Africa bears the cost in terms of our
international image and our fight against crime.

I warned the President in the National Assembly last week that the
position of National Police Commissioner must now be filled by a
trained policeman, not a comrade of the ANC. For the sake of our
nation, we call on the President not to repeat the same costly mistakes.

Earlier this year, during the State of the Nation Debate, I also
warned the President that corruption poses a fundamental threat to our
constitutional democracy.

Corruption saw the previous National Police Commissioner, Mr Jackie
Selebi, sentenced to a lengthy jail term. Then an investigation into
corruption saw National Police Commissioner Mr Bheki Cele suspended,
and now reportedly dismissed.

Corruption has seen the axing of two Ministers, Mr Sicelo Shiceka and
Ms Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde. The Speaker of the KwaZulu Natal
Legislature, Ms Peggy Nkonyeni, and MEC Mr Mike Mabuyakhulu are facing
corruption charges in court, while the Manase Report has exposed the
full extent of corruption in the eThekwini Municipality.

President Zuma can no longer shy away from the issue of rampant and
endemic corruption. Rhetoric, empty words and never-ending
declarations of policy are not the solution. As a start, the President
must refrain from appointing ANC loyalists to critical positions.