Today's HRC enquiry had exposed general Sithole's weaknesses and therefore deserve a boot

30th November 2021

Today's HRC enquiry had exposed general Sithole's weaknesses and therefore deserve a boot

Police Commissioner Khehla Sitole

IPUSA have indicated right from the beginning that the appointment of the current sitting National Commissioner of Police was improper and not based on qualifications nor experience. We went further to indicate that his appointment was political. 

The National Commissioner’s leadership weaknesses were laid bare at today’s cross examination by the HRC enquiry. It was proven today that he is not fit for the job which warrants the commander in chief to act and act fast to avoid the continuing decay of the service under his was watch. 

He had failed to ensure that the objectives of the constitution of the Republic of South Africa about the Saps, which is to prevent, combat and maintain public order, to protect and secure the inhabitants of the republic and their property, and to uphold and enforce the law. What happened and continue to happen in this republic, is hardly one the above. More than 300 lives lost and property worth billions of rands were destroyed during the past July and August during a failed coupe, in Gauteng and KZN. Crime stats also, shows clearly that the Commissioner is not hands on in fighting crime which is so dreadful to peoples of South Africa and those visiting. 

The constitution is very clear on this, saps duties are to protect lives and properties and failure to do this, you are deemed to have failed in the execution of your duties. These aren’t the only things which may make a national commissioner loses his or her job, when the executive authority and parliament had lost faith in you, you maybe released from your duties. 

At today’s hearing, he showed an arrogance when he responded to some of the questions at the proceedings which relates to the minister statement looking for him and couldn’t be found, (not wrong but not true, people were looking for me somewhere.) it was clear that the there’s no good working relationship between the executive authority responsible for Policing and the National Commissioner of police. Now that this is in Bethual Nephtal Nkuna (President), Glen Mahwayi (Deputy President), Mpho Kwinika (General Secretary), Les sechele (Deputy General Secretary), Mosaraki Bogodile (National Organizer), Mbhazima Daniel Ndlovu (National Membership Affairs) 

the open, after being kept under the carpet for quite some time, it will be very difficult for Saps to realize its constitutional obligation, which is to ensure safety and security to all the inhabitants in our republic, if the two were to continue working together. 

It is the therefore very important for the authorities to act with speed and replace the current National Commissioner of Police. 

As for the resources, both material and human, the future National commissioner will have a task for looking at the organization wholistically and decides as to what needs to be fixed and how to fix it. The service is currently under severe strain to protect the interest of the state and those of its employees neglected over a period of time. 

He also alluded to restructuring which will enable the service to perform which IPUSA vehemently disagrees with him. Restructuring is referring to was aimed at purging those whom he despises hence so many has been already been booted out of the service regardless of whether there is a case or not. In short, he is not trusted. 

If the President decides to follow the guidelines of NDP, vision 2030, on how to appoint the national commissioner of police, the best will come of it and the members will be happy and their morale will be lifted. This will lead to good performance. In return, the community will get the best out of them. 

IPUSA believes that the public process being conducted by HRC, gives South Africans the idea as to what is it that we are all looking for, and not for our benefits but of the country and its citizenry. 

Issued by Ipusa