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MEET SA’S NEW POLICE CHIEF

13 Jun 2012
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President Jacob Zuma announced yesterday that the South African Police Service (SAPS) will, for the first time, be led by a woman. This comes after former police commissioner Bheki Cele was (finally) found ‘unfit for office’.

Less than 24 hours after her appointment, expert and public opinion is divided on the suitability of Mangwashi Victoria (‘Riah’) Phiyega for this role. The strongest criticism is that she has no experience in the police force, making her our third national police commissioner in a row not to come from SAPS ranks. She began her career as a social worker before moving into the world of big corporates (mainly ABSA and Transnet) before becoming the chairperson of the Presidential Review Committee on State-owned Enterprises.

Dr Mamphela Ramphele was the first to speak out and ask whether Phiyega had passed the necessary police competency test. Iol.co.za quotes an anonymous police officer who said: ‘We are still reeling from shock. We don’t know who this person is.’ The DA also expressed disappointment over her lack of policing experience: ‘We would have hoped that the president would have acted to restore public confidence in the South African Police Service by appointing someone with a demonstrated ability in crime fighting and police management.’

While everyone is therefore taking a ‘wait and see’ approach there is reason to hope that she could be the man for the job. For starters, everyone who has worked with Phiyega uses words such as humble, professional and efficient to describe her. And on being a woman, Phiyega is quoted as saying: ‘I do not see myself as a feminist. I am a womanist. It embodies the ability to celebrate the best of me as a woman.’ In her essay for the 2011 M&G 2011 Book of South African Women  she wrote: ‘We shall [be the rock which this country shall be rebuilt] when as women we play the game according to our own set of rules — not as second-rate males, but as women.’

What do you think? She talks the talk but will she walk the walk? Will she restore our confidence in and respect for the SAPS? We’d love to know what you think.

Image from Times Live

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Sibongokuhle Gxavu on 7/8/2012: I was excited to see that a woman was chosen for the position. Regardless of her lack of policing experience, I believe that she can restore our confidence in the SAPS. She is a good, honest and humble leader which the SAPS is in need of. But lets wait and see!