Community Safety MEC Albert Fritz has confirmed that provincial police commissioner Khombinkosi Jula is leaving at the end of the month to resume duties in KwaZulu-Natal.
“We hope to get an indication from Minister Bheki Cele on Thursday on who the possible replacement will be,” he said.
Fritz didn’t want to speculate on who will head the province’s police service.
“We want an open process and want to give all the candidates a fair chance. We will give our input during the interviews with candidates,” he said.
A source reveals Peter Jacobs and Jeremy Vearey are the frontrunners for the position, unless somebody from outside the province is appointed.
The relocation of Jula became a matter of interest after senior police officers and the Solidarity union accused him of creating divisions within the police.
Fritz didn’t want to speculate on who will head the province’s police service. File image
The infighting among the top brass of the police in the province had largely been blamed for the inability to get to grips with escalating crime in the province.
Matters came to a head when Anti Gang-Unit chief Andre Lincoln said officers purportedly appointed by Jula to the unit ordered a tracing operation of suspects without his authorisation.
Safety MEC Albert Fritz has confirmed that provincial police commissioner Khombinkosi Jula is leaving at the end of the month. File image
Six AGU members were wounded during the failed operation carried out in Samora Machel informal settlement last month.
Lincoln then, in a letter, requested that the members appointed by Jula be removed from the AGU.
National police commissioner Khehla Sithole confirmed he held talks with Jula about
taking up a position in KZN.
On Monday, national police spokesperson Vishnu Naidoo said the minister would make an announcement.
Cape Argus