Opposition parties on Wednesday condemned the renewal of the employment contract of suspended police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi by President Thabo Mbeki.
The Democratic Alliance said given the fact that Selebi was due to appear in court on Thursday to face charges of corruption, Mbeki’s assertion that the decision was based ”on the need to allow due process to be concluded before a final decision could be taken on the future of his employment contract with the state”, was disingenuous to say the least.
”Due process would actually entail holding over any contractual negotiations until such time as this very serious case was finalised in court,” said the DA in a statement.
The Inkatha Freedom Party said it believed that extending Selebi’s contract was a bad move on government’s part.
”We want to deplore, in the strongest possible terms, the announcement that Mbeki has renewed Selebi’s contract for another year,” said the party’s safety and security spokesperson, Velaphi Ndlovu.
Government Communications said in a statement on Wednesday that Selebi would remain on leave pending the finalisation and outcome of his court case.
”This decision was based on the need to allow due process to be concluded before a final decision could be taken on the future of his employment contract with the state.” — Sapa