Johannesburg - The widow of Mgcineni Noki, who became known as “the man in the green blanket” wants embattled National Police Commissioner, Riah Phiyega to “face the music” for her role in the Marikana Massacre.
Mamorapelo Noki was reacting to a statement released by the Presidency on Friday, which said President Jacob Zuma had written to the police chief informing her of his intention to institute an inquiry to look into the allegations of misconduct and/or lack of fitness for the office.
Zuma also gave Phiyega an opportunity to make written representations to him as to why she should not be placed on suspension pending the outcome of the inquiry.
Zuma’s decision comes as the entire team of Phiyega’s provincial commissioners face a possible Parliamentary probe into whether they lied in their submission to Parliament about their meeting of July 16 where they allegedly discussed ways of defending Phiyega in the wake of the Marikana Report.
They told Parliament their statement was misconstrued as it was meant to address negative media reports about police morale.
They are expected to report back to Parliament next Tuesday where they have been ordered to hand over minutes of that meeting.
The Farlam Commission was established to investigate the deaths of the 44 people in Marikana in 2012.The Commission recommended Phiyega face an inquiry into her fitness to hold office.
The Presidency said Zuma has “considered the report of Judge Ian Farlam pertaining to the Marikana Commission of Inquiry, and has also received the comments of General Phiyega on the recommendations and findings it contained”.
It was not clear how much time Phiyega has to make her representations, but informed insiders said it is usually seven days.
Phiyega’s spokesman Solomon Makgale declined to comment.
On Saturday Noki’s widow said she was happy that Zuma was implementing the recommendations of the Farlam Commission.
“I’m happy the President is doing something about it, but it won't bring back my husband. All I want is closure.
“I just want this to be over,” she added.
But she was quick to point out that Phiyega has to face the music.
Meanwhile, police officers who spoke to The Sunday Independent anonymously for fear of possibe reprisals were sympathetic to their chief. “She was not the only person dealing with this thing. This is very sad,” said one officer.
Phiyega is not the only police commissioner to fall from grace. The country’s first female police chief was appointed by Zuma in 2012 after he fired veteran ANC heavyweight Bheki Cele.
This was after a board of inquiry chaired by Judge Jake Moloi recommended Cele be dismissed after the scandal of the lease of Police headquarters in Pretoria.
The inquiry found that, in pushing for the police and public works departments to lease the overpriced buildings from businessman Roux Shabangu, Cele had acted “dishonestly” and “with an undeclared conflict of interest”.
Cele was appointed to the position in July 2009, replacing Jackie Selebi who was suspended following charges of corruption before he was convicted and sentenced to jail.
Sunday Independent