Phahlane refutes claims of planned raid on IPID
Acting National Police Commissioner Khomotso Phalane says allegations of a planned raid on the Independent Police Investigative Directorate's (IPID) national office is "outrageous".
Phahlane is responding to a statement by the IPID, who says they are shocked that he would use resources to intervene in an investigation into allegations of corruption against him.
Phahlane's spokesperson Sally de Beer says Phahlane consistently refused to comment, since he considers it unethical and counterproductive to conduct investigations and trials through the media.
"He also respects the position of the Portfolio Committee on Police that the media is not the platform to use to resolve issues of this nature," says De Beer.
Phahlane says he responded to the "propaganda campaign embarked upon by IPID and this baseless allegation", because it casts the South African Police Service (SAPS) in a bad light.
"We can categorically state that there were no plans by the South African Police Service, on my instructions or to my knowledge, to raid IPID's offices," says Phahlane.
"IPID's statement refers to 'reliable information' relating to a planned raid without giving any clarity as to the source of such 'reliable information' or elaborating on why, if such raid had been planned, it was not carried out," he adds.