BusinessLive reports that trade unions in the police sector have roundly welcomed the removal of Kgomotso Phahlane from the position of national police commissioner, to which they say he should never have been appointed.  

The largest union in the sector, the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru), said his removal was long overdue.  A Popcru spokesman said Phahlane had bloated the upper echelons of the SA Police Service (SAPS), had ignored bargaining agreements and had a dodgy past.  President Jacob Zuma announced on Thursday that Phahlane has been relieved of his duties as commissioner.  After the announcement, Police Minister Fikile Mbalula indicated that Phahlane had been asked to provide reasons why he should not be suspended as head of forensics at the SAPS.  The SA Policing Union (Sapu) said that if the SAPS had exercised due diligence and vetted Phahlane, it would have discovered that he was not fit for the position in light of corruption allegations that dogged him before he took on the role.

• Read this report by Theto Mahlakoana in full at BusinessLive
• See too, Zuma appoints new acting police boss to replace Phahlane, at News24
• And also, SA Policing Union welcomes new SAPS acting commissioner, at News24

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page