Opposition parties said on Wednesday that President Jacob Zuma had made a big mistake in appointing a political ally with no professional crime-fighting experience as the new national police commissioner.

Bheki Cele's appointment "is nothing more than a political promotion for one of President Jacob Zuma's closest allies," Inkatha Freedom Party spokesman Velaphi Ndlovu said.

The Democratic Alliance said Zuma was repeating the mistake former president Thabo Mbeki made when he appointed Jackie Selebi "a close associate of his from the ANC's political ranks" as police commissioner.

"A decade later, President Zuma has done precisely the same thing," the DA's Dianne Kohler-Barnard said.

Cele, the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for transport and community and safety liaison, will replace Selebi nearly two years after the latter was first charged with corruption and defeating the ends of justice.

The DA and IFP said he lacked the skills and experience to become South Africa's top cop, while civil rights group AfriForum said it has pleaded in vain for Selebi not be "replaced by a redeployed ANC politician.

"Unfortunately this has now happened."

No trust from Cope

The Congress of the People said it did not trust Cele to be impartial and did not approve of his "abrasive" manner.

It said that during recent violence in KwaZulu-Natal he "never attempted to ensure neutrality of SAPS in policing the area".

The IFP said Cele's appointment was "a serious blow for our fight against crime in South Africa because Commissioner Cele does not possess the necessary experience and expertise that this high office requires.

"We were hopeful that government would do the right thing by appointing a career policeman or woman with a proven track record within the SAPS as South Africa's new police chief.

"But clearly our government is more interested in deploying loyal ANC cadres to top positions to serve the interests of the ruling party rather than serving the interests of all South Africans," said Ndlovu.

Ndlovu said Cele's appointment bodes ill for the new priority crime investigation unit, the Hawks, because it could not be politically independent.

"One thing is for certain now: the Hawks will never be able to emulate the Scorpions' success.

"By appointing a political head to take charge of the SAPS, the IFP believes that this new elite crime-fighting unit will be subjected to political manipulation on a regular basis and will operate in a vindictive manner against those perceived to be enemies of the ruling party."

'Unfortunate statements'

The DA said Cele's track record included no professional police experience, but that he had a history of unfortunate statements.

These included calling a man a racist for complaining after his blue light escorts rushed him to a meeting at 160 kilometres an hour and urging police to "shoot to kill", a remark which Cele defended on Wednesday.

"The 1977 Criminal Act stipulates that police are allowed to use a deadly force when attacked," he told reporters.

United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa said Selebi's stint as commissioner proved that appointing a civilian to lead the police was bad for morale.

"One has to note that the appointment of a civilian to lead trained policemen has affected the performance and the morale of the police in the past. It stands to be seen whether Cele would succeed."

The Freedom Front Plus was also disappointed that Zuma did not make an appointment from within the ranks of the police.

"The appointment sets the red lights flickering as it appears as if Zuma, just like Mbeki, wants to retain total political control over the police," said spokesman Pieter Groenewald.

"The crime situation in the country requires that an experienced and expert person from the ranks of the police should be appointed," he said.

"Cele will definitely have to resign from all levels of the ANC otherwise the police will be politicised even further."

The ANC and the South African Communist Party have welcomed Cele's appointment, with the ruling party saying he would be able to lead the police with "vigour and determination" and draw on his experience "in the forefront of fighting crime in KwaZulu-Natal."

The SACP urged Cele to improve the working conditions of police officers, to fight corruption in their ranks and to fill vacancies in the force, especially in detective branches and specialised units.

ID welcomes appointment

The Independent Democrats also welcomed Cele's appointment ? as a cost-cutting move.

"We have paid for a commissioner to be on long leave, instead of at work, for two years and this will therefore save taxpayers a lot of money," said ID leader Patricia de Lille.

She said if he did not want to "go the same route" as Selebi, Cele should "not... allow any political interference in his work".

"... South Africa needs a commissioner that can take us into his confidence, be open and honest about his plans and ensure that every community and every single person becomes involved in the fight against crime," De Lille said.

She said Cele urgently needed to meet with provincial commissioners to come up with a co-ordinated anti-crime strategy, "because crime remains out of control".