The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) welcomes President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement of an independent judicial commission of inquiry into allegations of serious criminal activities and collusion by some of the most senior leaders and officials of the South African Police Service (SAPS), Judiciary and other key organs of state security.
These allegations against some of the most senior leaders and officials of our law enforcement institutions are extremely worrying and threaten to undermine the trust the public has in them. This is something that South Africans, in particular working-class communities who have borne the brunt of our high levels of crime, can ill afford.
President Ramaphosa’s appointment of an independent judicial commission of inquiry is the only sober and rational path to deal with these serious matters, to provide a safe environment for witnesses to give testimony, and for those accused to have the opportunity to respond to such accusations. It is critical that all persons with evidence provide it to the commission.
The Commission needs to be given the full support and resources it requires to fulfill its mandate. It must move with speed to attend to these extremely concerning matters. It will be equally critical for the executive and law enforcement to act upon the Commission’s recommendations once concluded. South Africans have grown weary of commissions and correctly expect to see decisive action resulting from it.
The Federation welcomes the President’s providing the Minister for Police, Mr. Senzo Mchunu, with a leave of absence to enable him to attend to matters affecting him at the Commission, and to provide himself with the opportunity to clear his name. We are confident that the appointment of Professor Firoz Cachalia as acting Minister for Police, will help provide the SAPS with the stability it requires during this period.
It is important to appreciate that these matters weigh heavily on the ordinary members of the SAPS, Judiciary, Correctional Services and other law enforcement organs who risk their lives on a daily basis in defence of the Constitution and to protect the lives and rights of every South African. Ultimately, we must emerge with a law enforcement cleansed of such allegations of criminality and one that is given the tools it needs to win the war against crime and corruption.
Issued by COSATU.
Matthew Parks (COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator)
Mobile: 082 785 0687
Email: matthew@cosatu.org.za
