Zuma must not install another ANC cadre as Selebi's replacement

President Zuma must learn from the ANC's past mistakes and desist from installing another ANC cadre to replace Jackie Selebi as National Police Commissioner, when his contract expires this week (see report).

It goes without saying that renewing Commissioner Selebi's contract is not on the table, given that he continues to face charges of corruption and defeating the ends of justice. President Mbeki's unacceptable decision to renew Selebi's contract last year has cost the tax-payer over R1.5 million - the same clearly cannot happen again.

The biggest challenge, however, will be to ensure that when a replacement is named, that this individual has the security and managerial expertise to fix our broken Police Service.

We forget too easily that Jackie Selebi is a former ANC MP, and had no experience at all in security issues when he was appointed National Commissioner. Commissioner Selebi is one of the most obvious examples of why the ANC's policy of cadre deployment has disastrous outcomes, and we will be the first to congratulate the President if he makes a nonpartisan, skills-based appointment to this crucial post.

Statement issued by Dianne Kohler Barnard, MP, Democratic Alliance shadow minister of police, June 29 2009

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