Paul Kirk
Lieutenant General Basie Smit, one-time commander of the South African Police’s (SAP) hated internal security branch and apartheid killer Eugene de Kock’s boss, is the South African president of the International Police Association (IPA).
The IPA is a fraternal organisation of serving and former police officers that enjoys consultative status with the United Nations,
With branches in 62 countries and a membership of thousands, including senior officers of nearly every member nation’s police force, Smit now has considerably more influence than he could ever have dreamed of having while he was a member of the SAP.
He left the police in disgrace amid allegations of gun-running, corruption and defeating the ends of justice. Now he is back in the police, thanks to his association with the IPA.
The honorary president of the South African branch of the IPA is the outgoing South African Police Service (SAPS) National Commissioner, George Fivaz.
The IPA’s South African Web page on the Internet is provided free of charge by the SAPS’s information services division.
The Mail & Guardian attempted to pose a number of questions to Alan Carter, the international secretary general of the IPA.
After sending Carter’s incredulous secretary an explanatory letter and brief highlights of Smit’s police career by e- mail, he was contacted by telephone in his Nottingham office for comment the following day.
The interview began courteously.
Said Carter: “Yes, you are from the media, I am delighted to answer any questions about the IPA that you ask.
“I can give you any comments you want over the telephone. No need to fax them or anything silly like that.”
Carter them immediately changed his tune on hearing the call was in connection with his association’s South African chapter.
At no time was Smit’s name mentioned and at no time was Carter told the interview related to any sort of past wrongdoings by IPA members at all.
“I absolutely refuse to give any comment to you on South Africa,” he said. “South Africa is one of 62 regions and is a very good member of the IPA. That is all I will say.
“I have no idea who you are and I have no idea as to whether or not what you sent me is true. I will not comment. You say you are a journalist, but you could be any sort of troublemaker.”
When pressed as to whether he was aware of exactly who the president of the IPA in South Africa was, Carter denied having received any e-mail on Smit.
“We are not some sort of secret society, but I get about 60 messages a day and have not gone through the messages yet. I cannot even say if I have received yours or not. Goodbye, sir.”