New national police commissioner Riah Phiyega.
Speaking on 567 CapeTalk radio, she said she had halted interviews for these positions in six provinces for a reason and these crucial posts could not be toyed with.
“I have a very responsible team and I believe I am very responsible. There is no way we can toy around with these very crucial issues,” she said.
“Four of those people are already acting in those positions so it is not a place that is left in a vacuum … it is just a question of making those posts permanent.”
She said she could not control what people thought of her but they should allow her to do her job, judge her on merit, and whether she had been able to do the job or not.
“I did not stop appointments. I stopped interviews. You would appreciate that I need time to understand what positions we are looking for,” she said.
Major General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi confirmed to the Star on Thursday that the interviews had been cancelled on Phiyega’s instruction.
Five candidates had been flown to Pretoria for interviews on Tuesday but were informed upon their arrival that the interviews had been cancelled.
Of Mhkwanazi, Phiyega said she did not see him as a deputy but as a team member doing a good job.
The positions have been frozen until further notice. – Sapa