Anna Majavu

Anna Majavu

Dark clouds seem to be gathering over police commissioner Jackie Selebi with more calls from the post-Polokwane leadership that he be replaced.

Former president Thabo Mbeki put Selebi on long leave in January until criminal charges of corruption against him were resolved.

The case will go to court next April, but Selebi's R1million contract was renewed in June.

Former deputy commissioner Timothy Williams has been standing in, but Selebi often drops in at police headquarters "for tea" with his former deputy.

Since being appointed in September, Safety and Security Minister Nathi Mthethwa has twice called for the appointment of a new police head.

Last month he said having an acting police commissioner for so long was undesirable.

Yesterday he told Parliament it was a " a bad situation", barely 24 hours after ANC president Jacob Zuma said the situation would undermine the government's efforts to fight crime.

Yesterday Mthethwa also repeated his plea for cops to meet fire with fire.

"When police are faced with criminals armed with sophisticated weaponry, we don't believe their task should be to flash some human rights charter," he said.

He also said the first police partnership with private security companies would start tomorrow.