JOHANNESBURG – Calls are growing for President Cyril Ramaphosa to move with speed and suspend national commissioner Fannie Masemola to restore the image of the South African Police Service (SAPS).
“You can’t hold a position of this magnitude as the national commissioner of SAPS while on the other hand facing serious allegations," political analyst Ntsikelelo Breakfast said.
"Regardless of whether he is guilty or not, he [Masemola] should be asked to step aside until the process is over,” Breakfast added.
Masemola was served a summons on Wednesday and is expected to appear in court on 21 April.
Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia and Ramaphosa are expected to meet on Thursday to discuss the crisis at SAPS.
Twelve other senior SAPS officers charged with alleged corruption also appeared at the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
It is alleged certain officers who were apart of the bid tender committee, responsible for the evaluation of bids, misrepresented Matlala’s Medicare24 Tshwane District, which was later awarded the controversial R360 million SAPS tender.
Breakfast said Ramaphosa as the head of government needs to provide leadership and take the country into confidence.
“It’s a matter of concern when he [Ramaphosa] is nowhere to be found or playing politics simply because he wants to continue holding onto power. Sometimes he does that at the expense of the country by making political decisions as opposed to providing leadership.”
The DA also called for Masemola to be placed on precautionary suspension while the matter is in court.
"The DA reiterates that no individual, regardless of rank, should be above the law. Furthermore, urgent steps must be taken to stabilise SAPS leadership and restore integrity within the institution to ensure that it can effectively combat crime and protect citizens," the party said in a statement.
Public Interest SA founder Tebogo Khaas had a different view. He said he did not believe Masemola should be suspended pending the investigation.
READ | Cachalia: Masemola has not been charged with corruption
“Personally, it doesn’t warrant a suspension. The president has just tasked him to form that new task team to work on the issues coming out of the Madlanga Commission, and now, we would be changing gears. He is on his way out, let him help to clean up SAPS and rid it of all the elements that are bad.”
Advocate Paul Hoffman said the recent developments could be an opportunity for Ramaphosa to reconfigure the police, so it is run on a region basis rather than an overarching national authority.
“It may be that these events could be a spark to reconfigure the police. That could at least break down the networks that are busy infiltrating the national police at this stage,” Hoffman said.
“He [Ramaphosa] should accept a body outside executive control is required in South Africa to deal effectively with corruption. There is also a structural problem that is hugely unwieldy and has far too many generals.”
Hoffman said the levels of corruption and malfeasance in the leadership of the SAPS have been allowed to reach such proportions.
“It can’t go on. The idea of an entire leadership on suspension seems to be an impossible situation.”