President Zuma on Tuesday fired Gen. Bheki Cele, replacing him with Mangwashi Phiyega.
South African President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday June 12 carried out a minor cabinet reshuffle, replacing the head of the police, Gen. Bheki Cele who had earlier been suspended on allegations of corruption. He was replaced by Mangwashi Victoria Phiyega, the first female National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, SAPS.
In his announcement, President Zuma said Phiyega will bring a wealth of experience as a senior executive who understands the responsibility of government in the fight against crime and the duties imposed in dealing with state assets, the Associated Press said. The main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance welcomed the firing of Cele but expressed disappointment over the new appointment, saying Phiyega lacks policing experience. The DA said it would have liked to see the President restore public confidence in the police by appointing someone with demonstrated ability in crime fighting and police management.
Phiyega currently chairs a presidential committee reviewing the viability and efficiency of state-owned companies and is also Deputy Chair of the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers. She has held a number of high-profile positions in the corporate world, parastatals and Non-governmental Organisations.
President Zuma has been criticized for appointing politicians to the position before. According to Johan Burger, an expert in policing and a former high ranking officer who is a senior researcher at South Africa's independent Institute for Security Studies, appointing politicians who are seen as knowing little about running a police force leads to distrust and disrespect among police officers.
Gen. Cele was suspended last October after being accused of failing to seek competitive bids in the hiring of police offices. He was promoted National Police Commissioner in 2010 after his predecessor, Jackie Selebi, was convicted and sentenced to 15 years in jail for taking 156,000 US dollars (about FCFA 81.1 million) in bribes from a drug dealer, Glenn Agliotti.
