Police commissioner Khehla Sitole to leave post
National Police Commissioner Khehla Sitole will vacate his top job at the end of March following a “mutual agreement” with President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday.
The agreement will see Sitole’s contract come to an end earlier than expected, bringing an end to a tumultuous term at the helm of the police force.
According to the Presidency, the split is amicable and “in the best interests of the country”.
“The time until General Sitole’s departure will enable a proper handover of various tasks, including all ongoing investigations, to one of the senior members of the team at the SAPS that had been assisting General Sitole,” says acting spokesperson Tyrone Seale.
Sitole took up office in November 2017, under the previous administration.
His term as police commissioner has since been riddled with controversy.
In 2021, Ramaphosa instituted an inquiry to probe Sitole's fitness to hold office after he allegedly failed to cooperate with the Independent Police Investigative Directorate in their probe.
In December of the same year, Police Minister Bheki Cele threw Sitole under the bus earlier this month about his perceived absence during the catastrophic July unrest that left more than 350 people dead and billions of rands in damages.
Last month, Sitole was also reportedly hauled over the coals by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) for allegedly failing to cooperate in an investigation into the murder of Cape Town’s top cop Charl Kinnear.
Sitole’s replacement will be announced in due course.
“An announcement will be made in due course on filling the position of SAPS National Commissioner following General Sitole’s departure,” Seale adds.
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