Mixed reactions to Phiyega top job
Riah Phiyega’s appointment as head of an anti-crime foundation is a political ploy to allow her to reinvent herself as a crime fighter.
This is according to Gareth Newham of the Institute for Security Studies’ on the recent appointment of the former police commissioner.
Newham is the head of the ISS’s justice and violence prevention programme.
It was announced last week that Phiyega will soon take up a position as chief executive of the Safer South Africa Foundation. The foundation is linked to one of Cosatu’s biggest affiliates, police union Popcru.
“It is of great surprise that people who believe that you need to have integrity, honesty and ability if you are going to assist in making South Africa a safer place would put her in charge of the organisation,” Newham said.
“This is a political move; when she was national police commissioner, she favoured Popcru and they were always strongly behind her. This is just a way of them to say thank you to her for all the support she gave them while she was national commissioner and to give her another lifeline.”
Phiyega was the national police commissioner when the Marikana massacre, in which 34 miners were killed, occurred.
Social activist Yusuf Abramjee said although Phiyega was never found guilty of a crime, her credibility in the safety and security sector was damaged.
“Phiyega’s credibility has been tainted. Her tenure was a complete failure, because of her lack of crime-fighting experience.”
The chairperson of the foundation, Dr Tshenuwani Farisani, said they had looked at Phiyega’s strengths and capabilities, and decided she would be able to assist the foundation build a safer South Africa.
The foundation works with various stakeholders to make South Africa a safer place.
Asked whether it was morally permissible to have Phiyega lead the foundation, Farisani emphasised that she had never been convicted of any crime.
“In South Africa, we promoted forgiveness and reconciliation; our commitment to that should be stronger than the tendency to condemn. I appeal that we support her,” he said.
Popcru spokesperson Richard Mamabolo said it was no secret that they interacted well with Phiyega, but denied having a hand in her appointment.
“We welcome the appointment and we will not shy away from saying we support her. The board appointed her and there is nothing political,” Mamabolo said.