Stop the rot in the SAPS
HOW is it possible that those who appoint top officials in the SAPS get it so wrong so often? In recent years, Jackie Selebi, Bheki Cele and Riah Phiyega were appointed National Police Commissioner, only to leave under a cloud.
Others who have had run-ins with the law included Hawks head Berning Ntlemeza and Crime Intelligence boss Richard Mdluli, who has been under suspension on full pay since 2012, pending the outcome of a trial on a number of charges, including kidnapping and assault.
On Thursday, the activities of yet another top cop, acting commissioner Khomotso Phahlane, came under the spotlight. And it’s being asked: Are we about to see another change?
It is obvious politics is at the heart of much of the dirty laundry being aired within the upper echelons of the SAPS.
Different departments are zealously investigating those viewed as representing political rivals. It is not a healthy situation, but, if this leads to the exposure of corrupt officials, ordinary people will welcome the clean-out.
Last month, Phahlane took Independent Police Investigations Directorate (Ipid) head Robert Mcbride, forensic investigator Paul O’sullivan, his assistant attorney, Sarah Jane Trent, and magistrate JR Tsatsi to court in a bid to have a search and seizure warrant set aside.
He also wanted to interdict Trent and O’sullivan from taking part in the investigation against him.
On Thursday, Ipid filed responding papers – which proved to be a bombshell. According to Ipid investigator Mandlakayise Mahlangu, among allegations that surfaced were that almost three-quarters of a million rand in cash – in plastic bags – had exchanged hands from the boot of Phahlane’s vehicle, to pay artisans working on his house.
Further payments of more than R200000 for electronic equipment were recorded.
He also allegedly bought motor vehicles worth hundreds of thousands and later, trading these in, was paid much more than the trade-in values.
As the investigation continued, death threats were allegedly made against Mahlangu and Mcbride from someone claiming to be a cousin of someone they were investigating.
Phahlane should be suspended while an investigation into his finances is concluded. Meanwhile, it is hard to escape the conclusion that there is a rot in the SAPS that urgently needs to be removed.