Political parties on Monday called on government to extend the KwaZulu-Natal’s top cop’s contract until the 2010 World Cup, saying a new commissioner would take too long to acclimatise before the critical event.
Commissioner Hamilton Ngidi’s post is up for grabs after his contract expired at the end of September.
Ngidi’s contract first expired at the end of March and it was extended because government needed his experience during the April general elections.
”We believe that it will be to the best of the province that Ngidi’s contract is renewed. We don’t want a new best who will try to find their feet at the time when we host the soccer tournament,†said Inkatha Freedom Party’s (IFP) Dr Bonginkosi Buthelezi.
Minority Front’s Amichand Rajbansi said it would be better even if government renewed Ngidi’s contract by another year.
”What we are worried about is the soccer tournament. I believe that he has set up many things for the tournament. He should remain until the World Cup because safety will be very important during the tournament.”
John Steenhuisen of the Democratic Alliance said he was also of the view that Ngidi’s contract had to be extended, saying security was one of the top concerns from overseas soccer lovers.
The African National Congress (ANC) said it would not comment on Ngidi’s contract.
”As the ANC, we would not like to comment on the issue at the moment. The relevant structures will make the appointment at the right time,†said ANC spokesperson in KwaZulu-Natal Nomfundo Mcetywa.
National police spokesperson Nonkululeko Mbatha said interviews for Ngidi’s post would be conducted ‘very soonâ€, saying the post had already been advertised.
Ngidi (61) has been a policeman since 1996.
He was appointed provincial commissioner in 1999 when the KwaZulu-Natal government was still controlled by the IFP. The ANC took over the control of the province in 2004.
Steenhuisen said since 2004, the ANC had been trying to replace Ngidi because he was seen as IFP aligned.
”They wanted to put someone who was pro ANC. The commission established to look into the alleged police inefficiency and ineffectiveness was a way of getting rid of Ngidi.”
He said government had spent about R10-million on the commission and it had never delivered a final report despite the fact that this report was now three years overdue.
KwaZulu-Natal based violence monitor Mary de Haas said it would make sense if Ngidi’s contract was extended until the World Cup as there was no obvious replacement.
She, however, raised concerns that Ngidi had not been a strong commissioner.
”There were allegations that he was giving in to IFP demands. And it seems that he succumbing to the ANC demands,†said De Haas.
Policing has deteriorated in the last 10 years and Ngidi had to take responsibility, she said. — Sapa