Phiyega asks for support from police

NATIONAL Police Commissioner General Riah Phiyega has distributed an e-mail to all police members asking them for support as pressure for her to be suspended mounts.

A formal complaint against the commissioner has been lodged with police watchdog the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID). Phiyega, whose 16-month career as police boss has been marred by controversy, may face charges of defeating the ends of justice.

She is alleged to have tipped off Western Cape police commissioner Lieutenant-General Arno Lamoer about crime intelligence’s investigations against him. However, Phiyega has denied this. In an e-mail sent out to “SAPS All e-mail Users” with the subject “Message by the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, General MV Phiyega”, she wrote that there was a “plan to change the SAPS into a professional outfit with committed members who serve the country as outlined in our Code of Conduct”.

“With each day that goes by, I see the SAPS taking steps forward. It is an uphill battle and the steps are tiny, but they are steps forward nonetheless. These baby steps encourage me and I trust that they have the same effect on you,” Phiyega said. “Having said that, I feel that it is time for those amongst us who are keen to see the SAPS move forward and achieve the set objectives, to stand up, raise their voices against those who want to drag us backwards. ”

She lambasted the crime intelligence unit – a division of her department – saying: “Although I do not expect my colleagues to behave in such an underhanded manner whereby they concoct a story and then open a case against me, it however comes as no surprise given some of the mischievous activities conducted by crime intelligence in the past.”