Update on appointment process of IPID Head

27 February 2020

The Portfolio Committee on Police has resolved that the Minister of Police will have to write to the Speaker of the National Assembly to request an extension of the timelines on the appointment of the executive director of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid).

The Ipid Act stipulates in Section 6(6) that the Minister must fill in a vacancy within a reasonable period of time, not exceeding one year. The contract of the former Head ended on 28 February 2019, which means the year stipulated by the Act is Friday, 28 February 2020.

The committee is of the view that a fit and proper person must be appointed to head such a critical institution, as it serves as watchdog over the South African Police Service. The committee therefore awaits the completion of the appointment process by the Minister.

Nonetheless, the committee has urged the Minister to speed up the process of head-hunting and nominating a credible candidate, so that the committee and Parliament can consider and confirm or reject the nomination.  

Issued by Malatswa Molepo, Media Officer, Parliamentary Communications Office, 27 February 2020