MPs blast Phiyega’s backers
PARLIAMENT’s police committee has lambasted the national police spokesman and other senior officers for their public support of national police commissioner Riah Phiyega.
CAPE TOWN — Parliament’s police committee has lambasted the national police spokesman and other senior officers for their public support of national police commissioner Riah Phiyega, and has summoned them to appear before it to explain themselves.
MPs across the political spectrum agreed yesterday that the statement by spokesman Gen Solomon Makgale and other commissioners in the South African Police Service (SAPS) had dangerously strayed into the political arena in supporting Ms Phiyega despite the findings of the Marikana commission that questioned her fitness to hold office.
It was the clearest indication yet that MPs will support President Jacob Zuma if he orders an inquiry into whether Ms Phiyega should remain in her job.
Opening the meeting, committee chairman Francois Beukman raised the issue of the leadership of the SAPS.
“On the matter involving concerns over the leadership of the police and its decision-making, the committee said the importance of having credible and effective police leadership could not be overemphasised. The committee has indicated it will await the outcomes of the processes announced by the president. We therefore want to record our displeasure with a statement that was issued by Lt-Gen Solomon Makgale on 1/08/2015 with the heading The SAPS Board of Commissioners fully supports General Riah Phiyega.
“Our observation is that the issuing of the statement is unfortunate and not appropriate in the current set of circumstances,” said Mr Beukman. His conclusion was that the Constitution and the National Development Plan envisaged a professional police service that is subject to civilian control and oversight.
“The committee will not support a situation where this principle is compromised or watered down. Hence, the committee will call on the said officers mentioned in the press release to appear before the committee on Wednesday August 12 at 9am,” he said.
Democratic Alliance MP Dianne Kohler Barnard said she agreed 100%, adding that: “I am astounded at Gen Makgale and the commissioners’ attempts to influence the situation. This is a crude way of trying to protect Gen Phiyega and they should be fighting crime not playing politics.”
Freedom Front Plus MP Pieter Groenewald agreed, saying this was yet another indication she was not suitable for the position.
During a later discussion on a draft white paper on policing, Institute for Security Studies head of the governance, crime and justice Gareth Newham said it was critical that appropriate personnel be put in the top jobs at the SAPS.
“Leadership is crucial if police officers and the public are to trust them,” he said.
Both Ms Kohler Barnard and Mr Groenewald asked Mr Newham whether he believed the national commissioner should be a career officer coming through the ranks of the SAPS. He agreed, saying there were many experienced and well educated officers in the SAPS.
He added that a good system might be where Parliament developed a shortlist of candidates for the post and then recommended three to the president. At present the president simply appoints the national commissioner.
How the head of the police was appointed was critical for the legitimacy of the appointment, Mr Newham said.