South African top cops eat humble pie
Briefing Parliament’s portfolio committee on police, Phiyega’s deputies and provincial commissioners sought to explain the statement issued on August 1, as a means of addressing the negativity among the SA Police Service (SAPS) rank and file following the release of the Farlam Commission of inquiry report into the Marikana massacre which recommended that the national commissioner face a board of inquiry.
MPs from across the political divide were not impressed, expressing outrage that police management had dared to involve themselves in political matters, instead of doing their jobs.
“Maybe we should remind SAPS of their core mandate to protect the citizens of this country and not to get entangled in politics,” said African National Congress MP Angelina Molebatsi.
Democratic Alliance MP Dianne Kohler-Barnard agreed, saying: “It’s absolutely bizarre. What were you thinking? It is shameful. You have stepped clearly into the realm of politics.”
In the end, the MPs demanded a retraction of the statement, an apology to President Jacob Zuma for issuing the statement ahead of him making a determination on whether Phiyega would face a board of inquiry, and a promise that this would never happen again.
The country’s top police officers had no choice but to comply.
“We regret..that the statement did what we never intended it to do and it will never happen again,” said Phiyega’s deputy Nobubele Mbekela.
Each provincial police commissioner was called upon to make a public declaration.
“On behalf of myself, I do withdraw the statement unconditionatly.
It turned out to have unintended consequences and shall not be repeated and one learnt from what happened,” said Limpopo provincial police commissioner Fannie Masemola.
Northern Cape police commissioner Janet Basson continued in similar vein.
“I apologise to the committee. I apologise to the President of the country and I commit this will never happen again,” she said, with her colleagues from other provinces doing the same.
Phiyega was not present at Wednesday’s meeting, as portfolio committee chairman Francois Beukes had asked her to excuse herself as MPs felt it would not have been proper for her to be there while they sought answers on a matter directly involving her.
ANA