Despite being South Africa’s top police officer, General Fannie Masemola does not have the required security clearance.
Masemola was appointed police commissioner in 2022.
Masemola’s security clearance has expired
According to News24, the country’s most senior police officer was last checked in 2014. The security clearance he received at the time expires in 2019.
The report stated that Masemola tried to get a police clearance in 2019 but was unsuccessful because he was in debt.
“He tried to get a permit, but the vetting process got stuck. It got stuck because he failed to explain what he was doing to solve his debt. His financial status played a big role during the investigation,” a senior police official told the publication.
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Senior police officers cannot have a problem with debt because they risk being vulnerable to criminals who give them money in exchange for favors.
Top cops should not get information about police operations
This means that Masemola has been working for four years without a security certificate, which is essential for a police commissioner to do his job.
It also meant that Masemola was not informed about high-level police operations.
One such operation is how the country’s police plan to deal with the EFF’s nationwide shutdown on Monday.
“It means that they should not be given access to secret, secret, confidential documents and information. It means that they cannot have access to operational plans like the EFF that will be closed on Monday. How can they brief the National Security Council if they don’t have security clearance? this guy can oversee a multi-billion dollar budget without security clearance?
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