Ntuli defends ANC position that Masemola failed constitutional duty over Mchunu directive - EWN

African National Congress (ANC) chief whip Mdumiseni Ntuli has defended the party’s position that National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola failed to uphold his constitutional obligations by not rejecting an unlawful directive by Minister Senzo Mchunu.

Ntuli said the directive by the minister on special leave to place a moratorium on crime intelligence appointments was unlawful, and Masemola should have flagged this to the minister.

He said the Constitution requires that police officials must not carry out instructions that are deemed unlawful.

But Ntuli said the ANC understands the fear around refusing to take instructions from a political principal.

“Any Director-General, including a National Commissioner, and with a National Commissioner, it’s even more so because, besides the Public Service Commission guidelines, the Constitution requires that police officers must not carry out instructions that are illegal.”

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