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The DA has written to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Ian Cameron MP, to request that an urgent engagement be held to deal with the brewing dispute between the National Police Commissioner, Fannie Masemola, and Acting Police Minister, Prof Firoz Cachalia.South Africans cannot afford a stalemate forming between our top law enforcement officials in a time of crisis for the South African Police Service (SAPS). The time for tit-for-tat press statements and sideline commentary, is over. Our most senior SAPS and political leadership must now show South Africans a united front, dedicated to combatting corruption, and wholly invested in rebuilding a SAPS that serves and protects.

On Friday, Masemola stated that the 121 dockets which were allegedly removed from the Political Killings Task Team last year, had been returned to KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner for investigation. Shortly thereafter, Cachalia lambasted Masemola, charging him with acting prematurely in returning those dockets to the KZN SAPS before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry has begun its work.

With the Madlanga Commission being delayed, and a brewing power struggle is emerging between the Acting Police Minister, the National Police Commissioner, and Deputy Police Commissioner, Shadrack Sibiya, urgent action is required.

If the Acting Minister and the National Commissioner will not deal with these matters between themselves, the Police Committee must bring Masemola and Cachalia to the same table and put an immediate and swift end to a dispute that risks undermining these crucial investigations and further damaging public trust in our law enforcement agencies.

While the DA notes the suspension of officials linked to the delay of the Madlanga Commission, it is also imperative for investigative work to now begin.

The SAPS is in dire straits, with the safety of South Africans hanging in the balance. We cannot allow conflict between the SAPS' highest officials to undermine these crucial investigative efforts.

Issued by Lisa Schickerling MP - DA Spokesperson on Police