WILD AND SURREAL
Popcru must pay Phahlane R350 000
FORMER acting national police commissioner Lieutenant-general Khomotso Phahlane feels vindicated after he was awarded R350 000 in damages.
The Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, ruled on Friday that the Police and Prison Civil Rights (Popcru) compensate him for defamation over corruption claims the union made against him in 2012.
Phahlane had filed a R500 000 lawsuit against Popcru, its secretary Steve Matsemela and three other police officials who were whistle blowers in the case against him for tarnishing his name during the briefing.
“We always maintained that these were attacks and assaults on my integrity; and unfairly so. These were ridiculous allegations which were far from the truth,” he told Independent Media.
The union had, in a detailed statement released to the media, said that the police forensic laboratory in Silverton, Pretoria, was a den of corruption headed by Phahlane.
The allegations also included sabotage of service, concealing or doctoring crime statistics, theft of drugs valued at R500 million, irregular appointments and failing to address sexual harassment.
Matsemela also claimed Phahlane had lied to a parliament portfolio about the number of cases in the laboratory backlog. The union was also adamant that a R46m DNA machine was “irregularly decommissioned”.
Popcru further alleged that the whistle blowers (three police officers) were victimised and intimidated at their disciplinary hearings.
In his verdict, Judge Ramarumo Monama tore into the credibility of the three officers. He said the allegations were nothing but defamatory and Popcru must publish a written retraction and apology at a press conference before August 1.
“They avoided the relevant questions. They were selective in providing the e-mails which implicated them. They did not impress me,” the judge said.
“… the plantiff is depicted as a liar who misled Parliament, a nepotistic person, and a person who can kill, abduct and harm other people.”
Phahlane said he was happy that finally there was a closure on the allegations.
“I have continued to receive inside information on allegations (against me) based on what happened in 2012. Finally, we have a judgment that has favoured me.
“At least there are obligations to publish a retraction and an apology. They have to pay,” Phahlane said.
Popcru said it had appealed. Spokesperson Richard Mamabolo said it would not make any payment until the appeal was considered.
“We believe that court will come to a different outcome.
“We don’t agree with the first ruling. Our legal team worked hard to appeal the outcome. We thought we were going to win because we had our facts clear, but our appeal can lead to a win.”
Phahlane remains under investigation by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) over allegations of corruption and money laundering, among other charges.