Dr Lennit Max: To save SAPS, purge the politics…

The only way to save the South African Police Service (SAPS) is to “sanitise” it from political interference and put proper management in place. So says former Western Province Provincial Police Commissioner, Dr. Lennit Max. He points out that currently, the National Commissioner, his deputies and the nine provincial commissioners are black. He says in terms of current regulations, the National Commissioner can only appoint from Major General upwards in consultation with the Minister. “that… is in itself political interference where the Minister must agree to an appointment”. Dr Max describes a breakdown in trust between Minister Senzo Mchunu - now on special leave - and National Commissioner Fannie Masemola - and says one of them will have to leave otherwise it will “affect the rest of the police and ultimately negatively affecting service delivery to the people”.  He estimates that public trust in the police has dropped below 20% following the explosive allegations of police capture made by General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Dr Max also outlines the various legal mandates of the police as SAPS faces civil claims of more than R14 billion for unlawful arrests and detentions and another R741 million for shooting incidents involving members of the public.

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Edited transcript of the interview