GAUTENG PREMIER ADMITS INVOLVEMENT IN POLICE COMMISSIONER FIASCO

Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane today admitted that her provincial executive was involved in the process whereby National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega appointed Major-General Bethuel Zuma as Gauteng police commissioner.

She disclosed this today in reply to my questions in the Gauteng Legislature where I quoted Section 207 (3) of the Constitution which mandates that the National Police Commissioner appoint a provincial commissioner "with the concurrence of the provincial executive".

Mokonyane said that she had "faith and trust" in the process followed by Phiyega and it was now "water under the bridge".

This is a poor evasion of accountability. A simple Google search would have picked up that Bethuel Zuma faces charges of drunken driving.

The Gauteng Provincial Government failed to do the most basic background check that could have prevented the fiasco where Zuma's appointment was revoked within hours.

Instead of acting Gauteng police commissioner Lieutenant General Lesetja Mothiba  who was announced today, we should have had a permanent appointment to fight the high crime in this province.

Statement issued by Jack Bloom MPL, DA Gauteng Caucus Leader, September 10 2013

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