The Presidency today rejected suggestions by a Marikana defence attorney that Jacob Zuma is delaying the release of a report into the killings to buy time to deal with top police officials.
In media reports at the weekend‚ lawyer Andries Nkome linked Zuma to the reported retirement of North West police commissioner Lieutenant-General Zukiswa Mbobo and national commissioner Riah Phiyega being “promised a job elsewhere”.
In response‚ the Presidency said that Zuma “does not manage the careers of provincial police commissioners and as such has nothing to do with the reported retirement”.
“Linking the president to this matter and insinuating that it could be linked to the processing of the Marikana report by the president is malicious and mischievous‚” the statement said.
The Presidency also said Nkome “repeated the already refuted allegations that…Zuma has met…Phiyega‚ and discussed an alternative deployment for her”.
“Reports of the said meeting and alleged discussions are a complete fabrication and have been refuted by the Presidency. Anyone who repeats these allegations is perpetuating a lie‚” it said.
Nkome reportedly told media outlets that if the commissioners vacated their posts before Judge Ian Farlam’s report is made public‚ the recommendations he made will be redundant.
Just over a fortnight ago‚ the Presidency released a statement following numerous inquiries “in relation to the release of the Marikana Commission report” into the events which led to the led to the deaths of 44 people.
At the time‚ it said Zuma “is still processing the report and will release it publicly in due course”.
“The commission has made some serious recommendations that require careful consideration. Therefore‚ it is important to apply my mind carefully so that our response ensures that the events that took place in Marikana are not allowed to happen again in our country. Everything is being done to ensure that the matters are concluded as soon as possible‚” said Zuma.
Presidency denies Marikana link to commissioner’s retirement
In media reports at the weekend‚ lawyer Andries Nkome linked Zuma to the reported retirement of North West police commissioner Lieutenant-General Zukiswa Mbobo and national commissioner Riah Phiyega being “promised a job elsewhere”.
In response‚ the Presidency said that Zuma “does not manage the careers of provincial police commissioners and as such has nothing to do with the reported retirement”.
“Linking the president to this matter and insinuating that it could be linked to the processing of the Marikana report by the president is malicious and mischievous‚” the statement said.
The Presidency also said Nkome “repeated the already refuted allegations that…Zuma has met…Phiyega‚ and discussed an alternative deployment for her”.
“Reports of the said meeting and alleged discussions are a complete fabrication and have been refuted by the Presidency. Anyone who repeats these allegations is perpetuating a lie‚” it said.
Nkome reportedly told media outlets that if the commissioners vacated their posts before Judge Ian Farlam’s report is made public‚ the recommendations he made will be redundant.
Just over a fortnight ago‚ the Presidency released a statement following numerous inquiries “in relation to the release of the Marikana Commission report” into the events which led to the led to the deaths of 44 people.
At the time‚ it said Zuma “is still processing the report and will release it publicly in due course”.
“The commission has made some serious recommendations that require careful consideration. Therefore‚ it is important to apply my mind carefully so that our response ensures that the events that took place in Marikana are not allowed to happen again in our country. Everything is being done to ensure that the matters are concluded as soon as possible‚” said Zuma.
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