Campaign launch: South Africa needs better police leadership
The ISS and Corruption Watch are calling for a merit-based recruitment process for top positions.
For the past 17 years, each South African Police Service (SAPS) National Commissioners term of office has ended in disgrace. This has destabilised the SAPS and fundamentally undermined public safety.
The National Development Plan recognises that a ‘serial crisis’ of top management is at the root of policing shortcomings in South Africa. Currently the two vital posts of SAPS National Commissioner and Head of the Hawks require permanent appointments. The impact of poor appointments at this critical stage may irrevocably weaken both organisations and further undermine public safety.
The Institute for Security Studies and Corruption Watch are therefore launching a campaign that calls for a merit-based, transparent recruitment process to fill both these posts. We will explain how this can be practically achieved to ensure that the best woman or man is appointed to take policing in South Africa forward.
Chair: David Lewis, Executive Director of Corruption Watch
Speakers:
Advocate Vusi Pikoli, Western Cape Police Ombudsman
Gareth Newham, Head of the Justice and Violence Prevention Programme, ISS
Picture: GCIS
