THE South African Police Service Amendment Bill has again come under fire after it emerged that the boss of the crime fighting unit, the Hawks, would also hold the position of deputy national police commissioner if it's passed.
In deliberations yesterday, MPs appeared stunned to hear that despite cries for more independence of the unit, the head of the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigations, the Hawks, would still fall under the national police commissioner under the proposed structure.
"You (the police) are at pains to try to explain the independence (of the Hawks), now (the head will be) a deputy national commissioner as well?" asked MP Mluleki George.
George was speaking during deliberations over the South African Police Service Amendment bill which, if passed, could see the head of the DPCI taking over management and control of the directorate instead of the current boss, the national commissioner of police.
Other MPs also questioned what would stop the national commissioner giving instructions to the Hawks on what constituted a priority crime, thereby overriding decisions made by the elite crime fighting unit.
"There's going to be confusion, there will be too many bosses... they (the members) will be getting directives from two different people," said IFP Velaphi Ndlovu.
DA MP Dianne Kohler-Barnard echoed the concern, adding that the particular clause flew in the face of any possible void in interference in the operations of the unit.
Earlier, committee chairman Sindi Chikunga barred the committee from discussing controversial crime intelligence boss Richard Mdluli, saying the platform was not right to debate Mdluli's fitness to head such a crucial office.
"I don't believe there's much that this committee can do going forward ... the murder charges must be responded to in a court of law, this is not a court of law," she said.
Chikunga said she found it "odd" that members had entered into discussions about Mdluli while deliberating over the bill.
She said in the same vein, it was not in the committee's scope to pronounce on any issues to deal with the allegations pertaining to secret service funds as this was entering the intelligence domain.
It was reported yesterday that Mdluli had drawn battle lines, accusing senior police officials, including suspended police commissioner Bheki Cele, of trying to block his ascendancy to the top.
This was after charges of corruption and those of murder against him were controversially withdrawn.
MPs express outrage on Hawks Bill
THE South African Police Service Amendment Bill has again come under fire after it emerged that the boss of the crime fighting unit, the Hawks, would also hold the position of deputy national police commissioner if it's passed.
In deliberations yesterday, MPs appeared stunned to hear that despite cries for more independence of the unit, the head of the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigations, the Hawks, would still fall under the national police commissioner under the proposed structure.
"You (the police) are at pains to try to explain the independence (of the Hawks), now (the head will be) a deputy national commissioner as well?" asked MP Mluleki George.
George was speaking during deliberations over the South African Police Service Amendment bill which, if passed, could see the head of the DPCI taking over management and control of the directorate instead of the current boss, the national commissioner of police.
Other MPs also questioned what would stop the national commissioner giving instructions to the Hawks on what constituted a priority crime, thereby overriding decisions made by the elite crime fighting unit.
"There's going to be confusion, there will be too many bosses... they (the members) will be getting directives from two different people," said IFP Velaphi Ndlovu.
DA MP Dianne Kohler-Barnard echoed the concern, adding that the particular clause flew in the face of any possible void in interference in the operations of the unit.
Earlier, committee chairman Sindi Chikunga barred the committee from discussing controversial crime intelligence boss Richard Mdluli, saying the platform was not right to debate Mdluli's fitness to head such a crucial office.
"I don't believe there's much that this committee can do going forward ... the murder charges must be responded to in a court of law, this is not a court of law," she said.
Chikunga said she found it "odd" that members had entered into discussions about Mdluli while deliberating over the bill.
She said in the same vein, it was not in the committee's scope to pronounce on any issues to deal with the allegations pertaining to secret service funds as this was entering the intelligence domain.
It was reported yesterday that Mdluli had drawn battle lines, accusing senior police officials, including suspended police commissioner Bheki Cele, of trying to block his ascendancy to the top.
This was after charges of corruption and those of murder against him were controversially withdrawn.
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