SAPS infighting: Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia has no option but to act

THE power struggles at the top risk further eroding whatever little public trust the police service enjoys. At the receiving end of all of these squabbles are the ordinary police officers having to face angry communities complaining about the alarming crime levels. 

The impact of the factional fights among the police top brass also threatens the country’s stability. They cannot fight crime and still be engaged in plotting against each other at the same time.

We have reported on stories of police officers being attacked by communities when responding to emergency calls. Our pages have detailed how communities have been turned into war zones by extortion gangs who do not hesitate to kill anyone standing in their way. Children being caught in gang violence is becoming a daily occurrence. 

There is the issue of gender-based violence, which requires urgent attention. So when the very same people entrusted with the responsibility of leading the fight against these crimes are engaged in factional fights, the communities stand no chance unless someone at an executive level takes charge of the situation.

Cachalia’s top priority must be to clean the SAPS at the top. The revelations at these inquiries should be enough reason for him to urgently intervene if he has not already done so.  

Certainly Senzo Mchunu will not be the right person for such a task whatever the outcome of the investigations against him.

Therefore Cachalia must use all his time and energy to remove the rotten apples from our police service. It’s a beast those before him have either failed to dismantle or contributed towards.   

Mkhwanazi has exposed the rot. What his bosses do with it will prove how serious the government is with getting the SAPS’ burning house in order. 

By now, acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia must have a clear idea of what is required to rescue the South African Police Service (SAPS) from a total collapse. 

The testimonies of the senior police officers before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry and Parliament’s ad hoc committee have laid bare the concerning state of affairs the country’s police service finds itself in.

Cape Times