THE ANNOUNCEMENT was made by President Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa on Thursday.
Masemola, who served as deputy commissioner, is being described as the right fit for the task given his many years of experience within the police service.
Says Pres Ramaphosa, Masemola has an outstanding record of achievements in policing across South Africa.
“General Masemola has been a deputy police commissioner with an outstanding record of achievements and policing across South Africa, this includes with helping with the de-escalation of violence in KwaZulu-Natal after our first democratic elections where he was stationed.
General Masemola also brings to this position his experience in drastic reducing of cash-in-transit heists in the period around 2016,” Ramaphosa said.
The recommendation came from a selection panel that nominated Masemola as a preferred candidate out of 24 candidates.
Masemola is reportedly a ‘close ally’ to Police Minister Bheki Cele.
Senior researcher at the Institute for Security Studies, Dr Johan Burger, said that he brought extensive knowledge to the position.
“I think it’s the right thing to appoint someone who comes from a policing background and who fully understands the police as an organisation and the responsibilities of the police,” Burger said.
SA Police Union spokesperson Lesiba Thobakgale said that they fully supported Masemola’s appointment.
“He is an easy man to talk to – when we knock on his door he would give us an ear, he is not somebody who would shut you out, he is not somebody who is harsh, he is very humble somebody,” Thobakgale said.
Masemola replaces the beleaguered Kehla Sitole who was on a collision course with Cele but denied ever not ‘seeing eye to eye’.
The well respected all-rounder Thobakgale is expected to steer the sinking ship that SAPS is, in the right direction, build morale and confidence in the system.
Image GCIS (Fannie Thobakgale introduced by Pres Ramaphosa as new national Police Commissioner).
