New Police Minister Nhleko must fire Phiyega

11 June 2014 

The DA will push for the Minister of Police, Nkosinathi Nhleko, to remove Riah Phiyega as National Police Commissioner at the earliest sitting of the Police Portfolio Committee.

By firing Phiyega, the new Police Minister can show that he is committed to improving the state of our police service that has been in rapid decline over the last five years. 

Phiyega's appointment has been disastrous from the onset:

Throughout the Marikana crisis she showed her lack of knowledge of policing and failed to acknowledge the police's responsibility in the death of 44 people, going as far as to say that they did not kill them;

No progress has been made in addressing police brutality;

She has failed to rectify the resourcing crisis in the SAPS;

No decisive action has been taken against SAPS members found to have criminal records;

She, herself, has been the subject of an investigation by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) for allegedly defeating the ends of justice.

Commissioner Phiyega was hired because of her much-praised managerial skills and on that basis she should be fired for her clear lack thereof. It is obvious that she lacks the managerial skills and political will to reform South Africa's Police Service.

The DA believes that Minister Nhleko, if he is to show any leadership, must get rid of Phiyega as a matter of urgency.

In her place he must hire someone who is fit for purpose, with actual policing experience. 

Statement issued by Dianne Kohler Barnard MP, DA Shadow Minister of Police, June 11 2014

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