Masemola must restore confidence in police: Public Interest SA

Non-profit organisation Public Interest SA says there are now expectations for National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola to eliminate corruption and wrongdoing in the police force.

Masemola returned to office today after President Cyril Ramaphosa lifted his precautionary suspension last Friday.

Ramaphosa’s decision came after the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) withdrew all criminal charges against him relating to the alleged contravention of the Public Finance Management Act.

The organisation’s founder Tebogo Khaas says Masemola must ensure that public confidence in the police is restored.

“For us, it is a welcome relief to have General Masemola back; however, as he mentioned in his statement, the president said he must go and clean up the South African Police Service, and we expect him to do that and nothing less.

And cleaning SAPS means making uncomfortable decisions or actions must be taken against anyone and everyone who has been pointed to have done anything wrong or improperly.” Meanwhile, Masemola says he is not returning to work to seek revenge against anyone.

Instead, his priorities, he says, will be stabilising and uniting the SAPS.