Cameron believes corruption-accused senior Gauteng cops should be immediately suspended
On Sunday night, President Cyril Ramaphosa placed Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu on special leave following a series of explosive allegations made against him by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
Chairperson of Parliament's Police Committee, Ian Cameron. Picture: Phando Jikelo/Parliament
JOHANNESBURG - Despite senior police officials being linked to an organised criminal syndicate in Gauteng, no action will be taken against them for the next six months.
On Sunday night, President Cyril Ramaphosa placed Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu on special leave following a series of explosive allegations made against him by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
Ramaphosa announced the formation of a judicial inquiry to probe Mkhwanazi’s damning allegations, something the Democratic Alliance (DA)’s Ian Cameron has likened to police capture.
Cameron, who chairs the portfolio committee on police, believes senior Gauteng cops implicated in corruption by Mkhwanazi should be suspended with immediate effect.
ALSO READ | Ramaphosa: SAPS inquiry established to affirm SA's commitment to the rule of law
“You’ve got very senior people in SAPS [South African Police Service] implicated, but you’re saying you’re going to appoint a commission to determine suspension.
“In my opinion, the national commission should have already suspended the relevant implicated people, exactly for the reason of protecting the integrity of the institution and the integrity of the investigations.”
Cameron questioned the cost of establishing such a commission, citing the Zondo commission, which cost the state R1 billion and has yet to result in any convictions.
Deputy national commissioner for crime detection Shadrack Sibiya is one such senior officer implicated by Mkhwanazi and labelled as a criminal, something he outright denies.