"The appointment of Mr. Bheki Cele as the new Commissioner of Police is a mistake. It is a disappointment that President Jacob Zuma made a political appointment rather than an experienced expert from the ranks of the Police. The appointment sets the red lights flickering as it appears as if Zuma, just like Mbeki, wants to retain total political control over the Police," Mr. Pieter Groenewald (MP), chief spokesperson on the Police for the Freedom Front Plus says.

"The crime situation in the country requires that an experienced and expert person from the ranks of the Police should be appointed. The previous political appointment of Jackie Selebi proved that criminality can not be fought with politics but with expertise. Cele will definitely have to resign from all levels of the ANC otherwise the Police will be politicised even further," Groenewald said.

Statement issued by Pieter Groenewald MP, Freedom Front Plus spokesperson on police, July 30 2009

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