MPs to start inquiry into tops cops’ support of Phiyega
MPs are set to start an inquiry on Friday into the conduct of several top police officials who in August issued statements of support for now suspended national police commissioner Riah Phiyega.
In a media statement issued on Thursday, Parliament’s portfolio committee on police said it would determine the circumstances surrounding the issuing of the statements, which resulted in the top police officials, which include the nine provincial police commissioners, being lambasted for stepping into the political arena instead of fulfilling their mandate to serve and protect.
“In August 2015, the Committee expressed serious concerns over this conduct and resolved to hold an Inquiry in terms of National Assembly Rule 201 and adopted terms of reference which included, inter-alia, scrutinising certain documents in order to help the Committee arrive at a determination,” the committee said.
“The documents the Committee will be interrogating tomorrow include the agenda, minutes, recordings and attendance register of a meeting of the SAPS BOC (Board of Commissioners) that took place on 15 and 16 July 2015 in Magoebaskloof, Limpopo.”
The provincial commissioners were made to eat humble pie during an August sitting of the committee, with each having to make a public apology to MPs for issuing the statement.
While the provincial commissioners told MPs they were not forced to issue a statement in support of Phiyega, MPs want to test the veracity of their claims.
The media statement supporting Phiyega was issued while a process to appoint a board of inquiry to look into her conduct during the 2012 Marikana massacre which left 34 miners dead was being done by the President.
Phiyega was eventually suspended by President Jacob Zuma on Wednesday, pending the outcome of the inquiry.
ANA
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