Johannesburg – Suspended National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega on Wednesday said she felt “harassed and intimidated” ahead of the upcoming board of inquiry that President Jacob Zuma has instituted to look into her fitness to hold office.
“Since my suspension last year in October 2015, I have watched with both shock and disappointment at the relentless campaign to harass and convict me in the court of public opinion without regard for any due process,” Phiyega said at a media briefing in Sandton.
Read: Union lashes Ipid over Phiyega charges
On Tuesday Ipid acting head, Israel Kgamanyane, told Parliament’s police committee that criminal cases had been opened against Phiyega and three other top cops for their roles in the Marikana shootings in which police shot dead 34 striking mine workers in 2012.
He said Phiyega and the former police commissioner in North West, Zukiswa Mbombo, were being investigated for giving misleading testimony before the Farlam commission of inquiry which was set up to investigate the Marikana killings.
Read: Marikana: DA wants politicians charged
Ipid also opened cases of defeating the ends of justice against Brigadier Ledile Malahlela and Major General Ganasen Naidoo, Kgamanyane said.
However, Phiyega on Wednesday responded, saying: “I can confirm once more that despite the public pronouncements by Ipid, I have not only being informed via media yesterday and today, I have not been approached to be apprised of my charges or to be requested to give a warning statement. I truly believe that my rights as a citizen are violated”.
She said the tragic events of Marikana remained a source of national pain and were a cause for deep reflection.
Read: Phiyega faces criminal charges over Marikana
“I am therefore saddened that such a tragic event continues to get used as a witch-hunt against me for inexplicable and undeclared personalised vendettas,” said the suspended national police commissioner.
She said the comments made by Kgamanyane, were a sign of a deliberate effort by people and entities in the police ministry to continue with a relentless campaign that sought to “harass, slander and vilify” her.
Phiyega listed a number of parallel investigations of her conduct that had been released over the last three months, which included the leak to the media of Police Minister Nathi Nhleko’s correspondence informing her of his intention to terminate a portion of the allowance she received as part of her salary, as well as the Hawks investigation on defeating the ends of justice with respect to a matter concerning the former Western Cape Provincial Commissioner, Arno Lamoer.
“This relates to false accusations and manipulation of information relating to Act 70 interceptions. The Hawks reported that there is a case of defeating the ends of justice opened in Sunnyside in November 2014,” said Phiyega.
“People that I worked with are harassed, destabilised, and misplaced from their positions, suspended and some resigning. They are being aggressively driven out of the SAPS or rendered useless by having their responsibilities taken away or be put into posts where they do no meaningful work.
“Fear and uncertainty has once again gripped police management. This is bad as it erodes SAPS of good skills as well as the much needed management capability. I am saying this considering how well SAPS has performed in many areas in the past three years. This is a huge subject for another day.”
The suspended general reiterated that she was not seeking any financial gain and that resignation was not in her purview as she just wanted the opportunity to clear her name.
“Should the National Director of Public Prosecution decide to prefer charges against me as recommended by Ipid, as a responsible and law abiding leader and citizen, I shall fully cooperate.”
ANA
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