The Buck Stops Here

The new police commissioner has a huge challenge ahead - but Lieutenant General Sehlahle Fannie Masemola is more than ready for it

- By Lesego Seokwang

He's always wanted to be a policeman. His father was a cop, as were his uncles and he can't think of a time when he didn't want to work in the field of law enforcement.

But if his dad had his way, South Africa's new police commissioner would've become a teacher. “I didn't like that, says Lieutenant General Sehlahle Fannie Masemola, the man now occupying one of the hottest seats in the civil service.

“My first choice was to be a police official, and other choices were to be a lawyer or a magistrate.

With the support of his uncle, he pursued his dream and after rising through the ranks in various positions, he's now tasked with turning around a police force that's widely seen as ineffective and corrupt.

“You have the weight of the nation's expectations resting on your shoulders, President Cyril Ramaphosa told him at the announcement of his appointment.

“I indeed assume this ultimate top position and leadership role during a challenging time where public trust and confidence in the police has gone low, was Masemola's response in his first speech as commissioner.

He takes over from Khehla Sithole, who'd been appointed by former president Jacob Zuma.

He knows there are many challenges but he's more than ready for it, Masemola tells YOU. At 1,8m he's a tall man, and a cuts an imposing figure – he appears to almost tower over the flags that flank him in the boardroom where we meet but he's unexpectedly soft-spoken.