Farlam opens door to police shake-up – Minister

A panel will be established to help guide the Police Ministry on how to implement the Farlam Commission of Inquiry report’s recommendations, Police Minister Nathi Nhleko told MPs yesterday. Nhleko said the report gave the department a chance to transform the SAPS – an opportunity it had not had since the advent of democracy. ‘One of the issues that require immediate action is an independent panel and a structure, or transformation task team, that will provide technical support which will be led by the Deputy Minister. The panel will combine local (and) international expertise. It will be led by a retired judge,’ Nhleko is quoted as saying in a BDlive report. In the next two years the SAPS would have to focus on implementing the report’s recommendations, particularly with regard to the police’s organisational structure; operating principles; equipment and infrastructure; training and learning; as well as its legislative and regulatory framework. The report notes Nhleko side-stepped the barrage of questions on National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega’s future, noting only that it was an issue for the President to decide.