/ 2 November 1999

SELEBI STARTS HIS NEW JOB

NATIONAL police commissioner designate Jackie Selebi started his new job as special adviser to outgoing commissioner George Fivaz on Monday. Selebi was named last month to take over South Africa’s top police job when Fivaz retires on January 1 next year. He will spend the next two months working closely with Fivaz to gain experience. A spokesperson in Fivaz’s office said on Monday that Selebi had arrived at work and was “looking comfortable”. He was being introduced to staff. Selebi told reporters in Pretoria on Friday that it took him less than 90 seconds to agree to succeeding Fivaz when President Thabo Mbeki approached him a few weeks ago. “It was clear to me that someone had to do it. I am ready. In a few months you can ask me: ‘What have you done?’.” Selebi said if he failed to turn crime around, it would not be for lack of trying. “It will be because the problem is too big for me,” he said.