Suspended national police commissioner Riah Phiyega said on Wednesday she believes there is a “witch hunt” against her as she prepares to prove her fitness to hold office.
She was responding to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate’s (Ipid) decision to press charges against her. Ipid announced on Tuesday that it has registered cases against four people involved in the Marikana police shootings in October 2012‚ including Phiyega and former North West commissioner Zukiswa Mbombo.
“I’m saddened that such a tragic event continues to be used as a witch hunt against me and others‚” she told a news briefing in Johannesburg.
Phiyega said she would not retire‚ or accept money to leave. Instead she wanted to clear her name.
President Jacob Zuma announced a board of enquiry into Gen Phiyega’s fitness to hold office in October last year‚ in line with the recommendations of the Farlam Commission which investigated the police conduct at Marikana.
Phiyega alleged that the “continuous harassment” of her was designed to distract her from her preparations for the board of enquiry‚ which is expected to sit in May.
Phiyega received an endorsement from the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) on Wednesday morning.
The union said in a statement it has “noted with astonishment” the charges against her‚ and reiterated that “we do not see or know of any reason as to…Phiyega should be charged”.
Most political parties welcomed the charges announced by Ipid‚ but they also cautioned against Phiyega and Mbombo being used as “scapegoats” for those who bore the political responsibility for Marikana.
The Congress of the People said that it “believes that the political head must also take responsibility for what happened on that sad and fateful day…former minister of police Nathi Mthethwa must be charged along with the commissioner and the other three senior officials”.
Phiyega will defend her actions at Marikana
She was responding to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate’s (Ipid) decision to press charges against her. Ipid announced on Tuesday that it has registered cases against four people involved in the Marikana police shootings in October 2012‚ including Phiyega and former North West commissioner Zukiswa Mbombo.
“I’m saddened that such a tragic event continues to be used as a witch hunt against me and others‚” she told a news briefing in Johannesburg.
Phiyega said she would not retire‚ or accept money to leave. Instead she wanted to clear her name.
President Jacob Zuma announced a board of enquiry into Gen Phiyega’s fitness to hold office in October last year‚ in line with the recommendations of the Farlam Commission which investigated the police conduct at Marikana.
Phiyega alleged that the “continuous harassment” of her was designed to distract her from her preparations for the board of enquiry‚ which is expected to sit in May.
Phiyega received an endorsement from the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) on Wednesday morning.
The union said in a statement it has “noted with astonishment” the charges against her‚ and reiterated that “we do not see or know of any reason as to…Phiyega should be charged”.
Most political parties welcomed the charges announced by Ipid‚ but they also cautioned against Phiyega and Mbombo being used as “scapegoats” for those who bore the political responsibility for Marikana.
The Congress of the People said that it “believes that the political head must also take responsibility for what happened on that sad and fateful day…former minister of police Nathi Mthethwa must be charged along with the commissioner and the other three senior officials”.
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