Nhleko hints at sinister forces at work

POLICE Minister Nathi Nhleko has hinted at a campaign against him and the South Africa Police Services, telling parliament there are “sinister attempts to tarnish the work that we do”.

Called to brief the committee on recent issues detailed in the media, Nhleko tried to avoid answering questions about an ongoing saga between himself and Independent Police Investigative Directorate head Robert McBride, saying it was still subject to parliamentary processes.

He has requested that the committee institute an inquiry into McBride.

He said he did not want to discuss the issue because “we wouldn’t want to deal with it outside the directives of parliament”.

DA MP Zak Mbhele, however, said the meeting had been called precisely to discuss, among other things, the issues around McBride.

The minister said recent reports that his alleged girlfriend had received R30-million in state funding and reports around acting police commissioner General Khomotso Phahlane’s multimillion-rand house were “sinister attempts to tarnish the work that we do”.

He said that there were “innuendos and jostling for positions”.

He said rumours were swirling that the Claassen board of inquiry into Riah Phiyega’s fitness to hold office would soon be made public.

“Now if that report says she is not fit, then it means that someone stands a chance to fill that position so you will find people trying to discredit and rubbish certain things.”

He called claims that Phahlane had paid for his home from the proceeds of crime were “ludicrous” and without a “scientific” calculation.

“How do you just look at a house and say you can’t afford it on your salary?”

He called the reports that the Civilian Secretariat for Police had paid R30-million to an NGO run by a woman believed to be his girlfriend “lies” adding “you need to ask why has the lie been told? At what price and for whose benefit?”

ANC MPs on the committee appeared to share some of Nhleko’s fears.

Livhuwani Mabija said there was a “dangerous serpent under the grass” causing trouble.

“There are these attacks on the integrity of the minister and the acting national police commissioner, no matter how good they are,” she added.

Her colleague Angie Molebatsi asked about recent utterances about the police by “rightwing NGOs and foreign citizens”.

Nhleko said while he wasn’t sure who the serpent was, and could not name the NGOs: “If you want to undermine democracy and economic confidence, you must undermine the police.” and mudslinging