Fourteen retired top cops are to assist police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi in the fight against crime, the Sunday newspaper Rapport said.
The 14, all former commissioners, were asked in October to assist Selebi on an advisory council on policy matters.
The newspaper said it appears that Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula already approached the 14 in March about the possibility of using their law-enforcement expertise.
The former top cops would not be reappointed to the police but would be paid per hour for their work.
Council members will soon meet again, in Durban, to brief Selebi on their work, Rapport said.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said it is commendable of Selebi to acknowledge, at least, that current police top management does not have the required experience to address growing problems in the police.
The DA’s spokesperson for community safety in the Western Cape, advocate Lennit Max, commended the choice of the panel as ”retired commissioners … who grew through the ranks from constables, and not … fly-by-night commissioners”.
He added that he hoped the recommendations by the newly appointed panel would be seriously considered and implemented by virtue of policy documents. — Sapa