Pretoria – Top police official Tim Williams has been appointed as the acting police commissioner following the National Police Commissioner, Jackie Selebi’s leave of absence.

Making the announcement on Saturday, President Thabo Mbeki said the decision was made following a briefing between himself and acting National Director of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Mokotedi Mpshe.

“A few days ago, I was briefed by the Acting National Director of the NPA that they would be proceeding [in their case] against the National Commissioner of police [Mr Selebi],” said the President.

He said that this therefore meant that the National Commissioner has been given an extended leave of absence.

“I must say that he [Mr Selebi] himself was of the view that this should happen so that whatever should happen in the courts … he ought not to be sitting at Police Headquarters because it would be easy to misinterpret that,” Mr Mbeki said.

The President added that he had met with the entirety of the leadership of the South African Police Service (SAPS), both national and provincial, because he felt it was important to discuss the matter directly with them.

Mr Mbeki indicated that two matters in particular needed to be discussed with the SAPS leadership, namely that legal processes have to be respected, and that the police should ensure that it continues to serve the South African public.

He reiterated that it was necessary to “accept that [the case against Mr Selebi will go ahead] and ensure that we do all that is necessary for the law to take its course without any hindrance from any party.

“I would like to make this assurance that in the first place, the police service are available to extend such assistance to the NPA as it may request of them, and secondly that they [the SAPS] are all at their posts and will do their work as is required by the law and constitution.”

Whilst the NPA has not yet proceeded in prosecuting Mr Selebi, the President said he was sure the NPA would proceed when they thought it was best, but highlighted that “they would do so quite soon.”

The impending charges against Mr Selebi include defeating the end of justice, corruption, fraud, and racketeering.

South Africa’s top cop allegedly received large bribes from convicted drug boss Glenn Agliotti, slain mining magnate Brett Kebble, and business tycoon Billy Rautenbach – currently on the run from authorities.

Mr Selebi on Saturday announced his intention to go on an extended leave of absence, and on Sunday stepped down from his position as head of Interpol.

Answering questions from the media on whether he regretted having not taken the decision to place the National Commissioner on extended leave earlier, Mr Mbeki said: “That if there was anyone who came to me with information indicating that the National Commissioner had behaved improperly, then I would act on such information.

“No one has come to me with such information. What has happened is that as I have indicated, the NPA has said to me that they would act and I said fine, it was their duty to do so and that we would do what was necessary from government.”

According to the NPA, they will be meeting this week to discuss how to proceed in their case against the police commissioner. - BuaNews