Police National Commissioner Bheki Cele has insisted he be addressed as "general" from now on after the approval of military rankings for the police, Beeld reported on Wednesday. "I am now called 'general'," he told Parliament's portfolio committee on police on Tuesday. However, committee members continued calling him "commissioner", reported the Afrikaans daily.
Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa's spokesperson, Zweli Mnisi, told the South African Press Association that the military rankings for police had been approved by the Cabinet. "Currently, we just want to finalise some of the [details] around it, but we will make a public announcement soon," Mnisi said.
Mthethwa said in February the implementation of the new ranks would be announced within a "few weeks". But he also insisted Cele could already be addressed as "general".
The idea was first mooted in September last year when President Jacob Zuma addressed police station commanders from across the country in Pretoria. Mthethwa said the idea was to bring the discipline of the military back into the police.
Source: Mail & Guardian
Section 207 of the Constitution of South Africa
"Control of police service
1. The President as head of the national executive must appoint a woman or a man as the National Commissioner of the police service, to control and manage the police service.
2. The National Commissioner must exercise control over and manage the police service in accordance with the national policing policy and the directions of the Cabinet member responsible for policing."
Parliament's portfolio committee on police are correct in referring to the National Commissioner as Commissioner ... regardless of what the "General" may think.
Section 199 (2) of the Constitution of South Africa "The defence force is the only lawful military force in the Republic."
Police National Commissioner Bheki Cele is therefore acting unlawfully by referring to himself as "General".
Source: Constitutional Court
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