Parliament slams Cachalia & Masemola's no-show before the police committee

The police portfolio committee has slammed acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia and the National Commissioner Fannie Masemola for failing to appear before the committee on Wednesday.

The committee says their failure to attend Wednesday's meeting "undermines accountability", especially considering the serious challenges currently facing the police, with a judicial commission of inquiry and a parliamentary ad hoc committee investigating corruption in the police.

Cachalia and Masemola were expected to appear before the committee on Friday to assess the South African Police Service (SAPS)'s annual report and financial statements.

Committee chairperson, Ian Cameron, was forced to defer the meeting without any presentations from the various entities, including the auditor general.

He said Cachalia can't use the Cabinet as an excuse not to attend.

“We do not answer to Cabinet, so I don't care if Cabinet is in the time of the committee. This committee has asked several times to change programming, that hasn't happened. SAPS [South African Police Service] is in crisis at the moment, but the minister chooses to go to cabinet this morning. No cabinet meeting can trump what is being discussed here today.”