President Zuma must fire Phiyega 

08 November 2014

The DA will urgently write to President Jacob Zuma requesting that he remove the National Police Commissioner (NPC), Riah Phiyega, at once. 

This comes after disturbing reports today that the Minister of Police, Nathi Nhleko, and Phiyega are at war over a reference group established by Nhleko to investigate the conduct of SAPS top brass. Phiyega has refused to give meaning to Minister Nhleko's directive to "fully cooperate" with the reference group (see City Press article).

The Minister is empowered by section 208 of the Constitution to establish an inquiry into the SAPS. Therefore Phiyega's claims that the Minister has no right to initiate this probe is without basis.

Phiyega is trying to avoid accountability for the mess she has caused at the SAPS. Although appointed by the President in terms of section 207(1) of the Constitution, Phiyega is answerable to the Minister of Police on administrative matters of the SAPS.

And given the significant problems at the SAPS, Minister Nhleko therefore has every right to probe the management of the SAPS' top brass. 

Phiyega's appointment has been disastrous from the onset:

Throughout the Marikana crisis she showed her lack of knowledge of policing and failed to acknowledge the police's responsibility in the death of 44 people, going as far as to say that they did not kill them;

No progress has been made in addressing police brutality;

She has failed to rectify the resourcing crisis in the SAPS;

No decisive action has been taken against SAPS members found to have criminal records;

She, herself, has been the subject of an investigation by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) for allegedly defeating the ends of justice.

Her arrogant defiance of the Minister is the final straw and President Zuma must now fire her. Section 207(1) of the Constitution empowers him to discharge Phiyega. 

Commissioner Phiyega was sold to the South African public because of her much-vaunted managerial skills despite the fact that she was removed from her two previous five-year contracts. She has clearly not lived up to her reputation and must go. 

Statement issued by Dianne Kohler Barnard MP, DA Shadow Minister of Police, December 7 2014

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