Phiyega should be made to face the music and face it on all counts

18 January 2016

Reports alleging that Police Minister, Nathi Nhleko, had received advice to offer an opportunity to suspended National Commissioner (NPC), Riah Phiyega, to resign in a bid to spare her public humiliation when charges would be instituted against her are concerning. Such a move would have been in line with the typical approach of the ANC: soft on accountability and enabling people to evade consequences for wrongdoing or poor performance by quietly slipping them out the back door.

Already Phiyega only has to face limited accountability from the presidential board of inquiry that is an outcome of the Farlam Commission recommendations, because President Zuma has not agreed to the DA's request that its terms of reference be broadened to cover Phiyega's entire disastrous career. 

While the DA would like to see NPC Phiyega removed from the helm of our police service, it would be unconscionable for the ongoing Farlam Commission of Inquiry and Reference Group charges simply to be terminated and swept under the carpet in a political deal that would serve no other purpose than to deny justice for victims of Marikana and South Africans at large, who have been victims of a largely defunct police service.

I will therefore write to Minister Nhleko and President Jacob Zuma seeking their assurance that they will continue investigating the disgraced National Commissioner for her role in the Marikana Massacre and her overall performance as NPC in the Ministerial Reference Group – commissioned by Minister Nhleko. This is because termination of these probes would in effect be telling the South African people that their struggles with crime and a trigger-happy police service are not important. And how can any South African conclude that?

The suspended Police Commissioner should not be allowed to escape taking responsibility for failing the Marikana community and South Africans as a whole. In no way should her dismissal or resignation end inquiries into the extent of her carelessness as Police Commissioner.

The Ministerial Reference Group (MRG) last year found Phiyega guilty of perjury, misconduct, fraud and misleading Parliament. This is after it investigated complaints by managers of the SAPS of irregular promotions and suspensions made by her, which resulted in fruitless and wasteful expenditure. Adding fuel to flame, Phiyega tipped off suspended Western Cape Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Lamoer, about an investigation into him further showing disregard for the law.

The DA believes that until South Africans are free from fear, they cannot reach their full potential and take advantage of the opportunities available to them. Ensuring that South Africans are safe will enable a better quality of life.

It is the state’s responsibility to ensure that South African communities are safe. Officials who hamper this should not be able to get away with a slap on the wrist. Reformation of the SAPS can and should be the primary focus of the SAPS with the objective of making our South Africa safer.

The DA wants a police service that is efficient and led by experienced and ethical senior management who will ensure that every police station has the personnel, vehicles, facilities, equipment and training it needs to combat crime.

Statement issued by Zakhele Mbhele MP, DA Shadow Minister of Police, 18 January 2016