ANC says Masemola should have stood up to Mchunu - EWN

The African National Congress (ANC) has criticised suspended national police commissioner Fannie Masemola for failing to act against minister Senzo Mchunu’s directive to interfere in crime intelligence appointments.

The ANC said that Masemola should have stood up to Mchunu when he issued his directive as the accounting officer because it was unlawful.

The ANC made the submission during the Ad Hoc Committee’s meeting on Wednesday night and wants it to form part of the committee’s draft report.

The Ad Hoc Committee investigating allegations of police corruption continued its report deliberations with more submissions from parties.

The ANC in its submission said that Masemola should have resisted Mchunu’s directive to place a moratorium on crime intelligence appointments.

This formed part of Mchunu’s directive to also disband the Political Killings Task Team.

ANC MP Khusela Sangoni said that Masemola should have known better and challenged what she said is the directive’s unlawfulness.

"He ought to have known and he should know and I’m quite certain that he is aware that that power resides with him. I think it would be very remiss of us not to send a very strong message that is meant to empower accounting officers to resist this political pressure."