When Riah Phiyega was appointed as national commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in June 2012, the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) raised concerns that the many highly experienced senior officers who would be better suited for the job would interpret it as 'a vote of no confidence' by the president. While Phiyega is a trained social worker with some senior business management experience, she has no policing experience or qualifications.
Now - a little over three years after her appointment - Phiyega has been suspended subsequent to the Marikana Commission of Inquiry, which found that she lacked the integrity and leadership required for the post of SAPS National Commissioner.
...