The Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Monday that South Africa deserves answers as to why Deputy Minister of Police Maggie Sotyu’s daughter received a top job at the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) despite there being more qualified candidates than her.
“I will therefore write to the Public Protector‚ Thuli Madonsela‚ to investigate this matter‚ in lieu of Sotyu being investigated internally‚” said Dianne Kohler Barnard‚ DA shadow minister of police.
“Appointment processes of senior personnel must be transparent and the candidates must be appropriately selected on the basis of merit and not their political connectedness.
“Given that police misconduct is on the rise‚ it is vital that the persons appointed to IPID be up to the task‚ rather than being family deployees of ANC leadership.”
It is alleged that the deputy police minister was improperly involved in the appointment of her daughter‚ Boniwe Sotyu‚ to IPID. This comes after reports at the weekend alleging that Sotyu’s daughter was appointed to the position of deputy director of investigations in the Free State provincial office of the IPID.
“A total of 90 candidates applied for the job — several of whom were far more qualified than the deputy minister’s daughter.”
According to the advertisement for the job that appeared in a Sunday newspaper on March 29‚ the position required a relevant bachelor’s degree or a diploma in law or policing‚ at least four years’ experience in management of criminal investigations‚ project management and an “essential” and “thorough knowledge and understanding of criminal law‚ criminal procedure and law of evidence”.
Boniwe Sotyu‚ according to a press report “only has three years and four months’ relevant experience‚ has an allegedly unrecognised national diploma in policing‚ believed to be from the Safety and Security Sector Education and Training Authority”.
Despite knowing all this‚ Kohler Barnard said‚ the interview panel asserted that she was the best candidate and acting IPID head confirmed Sotyu’s appointment‚ saying he was happy that she was suitably qualified.
“This appointment smacks of nepotism and favouritism for the daughter of the IPID’s own deputy minister. This case cannot be ignored given that it is a second case of suspected nepotism at the police watchdog.”
The aim of IPID is to ensure independent oversight over the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Municipal Police Services (MPS)‚ and to conduct independent and impartial investigations of identified criminal offences allegedly committed by members of the SAPS and the MPS‚ and make appropriate recommendations.
Kohler Barnard said‚ “Indeed the Public Protector is empowered to investigate in terms of paragraph 2(b) of the Executive Ethics Act specifically‚ whether or not Sotyu: exposed herself to any situation involving the risk of a conflict between her official responsibilities and her private interests; used her position or any information entrusted to her‚ to enrich herself or improperly benefit any other person; and acting in a way that may compromise the credibility or integrity of her office or of the government.
“The appointment of the children and family members of senior ANC affiliates‚ despite more suitably qualified candidates applying‚ appears more and more to have become the norm rather than the exception‚” said Kohler Barnard.
DA: Deputy police minister should be suspended pending nepotism probe
“I will therefore write to the Public Protector‚ Thuli Madonsela‚ to investigate this matter‚ in lieu of Sotyu being investigated internally‚” said Dianne Kohler Barnard‚ DA shadow minister of police.
“Appointment processes of senior personnel must be transparent and the candidates must be appropriately selected on the basis of merit and not their political connectedness.
“Given that police misconduct is on the rise‚ it is vital that the persons appointed to IPID be up to the task‚ rather than being family deployees of ANC leadership.”
It is alleged that the deputy police minister was improperly involved in the appointment of her daughter‚ Boniwe Sotyu‚ to IPID. This comes after reports at the weekend alleging that Sotyu’s daughter was appointed to the position of deputy director of investigations in the Free State provincial office of the IPID.
“A total of 90 candidates applied for the job — several of whom were far more qualified than the deputy minister’s daughter.”
According to the advertisement for the job that appeared in a Sunday newspaper on March 29‚ the position required a relevant bachelor’s degree or a diploma in law or policing‚ at least four years’ experience in management of criminal investigations‚ project management and an “essential” and “thorough knowledge and understanding of criminal law‚ criminal procedure and law of evidence”.
Boniwe Sotyu‚ according to a press report “only has three years and four months’ relevant experience‚ has an allegedly unrecognised national diploma in policing‚ believed to be from the Safety and Security Sector Education and Training Authority”.
Despite knowing all this‚ Kohler Barnard said‚ the interview panel asserted that she was the best candidate and acting IPID head confirmed Sotyu’s appointment‚ saying he was happy that she was suitably qualified.
“This appointment smacks of nepotism and favouritism for the daughter of the IPID’s own deputy minister. This case cannot be ignored given that it is a second case of suspected nepotism at the police watchdog.”
The aim of IPID is to ensure independent oversight over the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Municipal Police Services (MPS)‚ and to conduct independent and impartial investigations of identified criminal offences allegedly committed by members of the SAPS and the MPS‚ and make appropriate recommendations.
Kohler Barnard said‚ “Indeed the Public Protector is empowered to investigate in terms of paragraph 2(b) of the Executive Ethics Act specifically‚ whether or not Sotyu: exposed herself to any situation involving the risk of a conflict between her official responsibilities and her private interests; used her position or any information entrusted to her‚ to enrich herself or improperly benefit any other person; and acting in a way that may compromise the credibility or integrity of her office or of the government.
“The appointment of the children and family members of senior ANC affiliates‚ despite more suitably qualified candidates applying‚ appears more and more to have become the norm rather than the exception‚” said Kohler Barnard.
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