Police Minister Nathi Nhleko has described a report that former national police spokesperson Solomon Makgale and other senior officers plotted to destroy perceived opponents of suspended commissioner Riah Phiyega, as "strange".
"The minister finds it strange that something like this could have happened. He is not commenting on it at this moment, but says that if there was something that was hatched, it will come out in due course," Nhleko's spokesperson Musa Zondi told News24 on Sunday.
Makgale could not be immediately reached for comment.
The Sunday Independent reported that Makgale and the senior officers met in Durban, following Phiyega's suspension by President Jacob Zuma, where a plan was allegedly hatched to destroy prominent South Africans who were apparently opposed to Phiyega.
This meeting was reportedly preceded by one in Pretoria where a plan to vilify Phiyega's critics and those perceived to be in line for her job were discussed.
The Sunday Independent reported that the campaign, dubbed "Operation Takedown" was discussed at a Durban hotel on October 16.
The presidency announced Phiyega's suspension on October 14.
The campaign reportedly included discrediting former police commissioner Bheki Cele and exposing the divisional commissioner for detective services Lieutenant General Vinesh Moonoo on behalf of investigator Paul O’Sullivan, who has made several allegations against Moonoo.
The campaign's plans apparently also included having Crime Line head Yusuf Abramjee blamed for the negative publicity Moonoo would receive.
The newspaper reported that according to recordings from the meeting, Makgale boasted about how the police managed to destroy suspended head of Independent Police Investigations Directorate Robert McBride.
Acting national police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane told the newspaper that this was the first time he heard of the allegations, but that they would be ruthless if the allegations were proved to be true.
Report of plot to destroy Phiyega rivals 'strange' - Nhleko
"The minister finds it strange that something like this could have happened. He is not commenting on it at this moment, but says that if there was something that was hatched, it will come out in due course," Nhleko's spokesperson Musa Zondi told News24 on Sunday.
Makgale could not be immediately reached for comment.
The Sunday Independent reported that Makgale and the senior officers met in Durban, following Phiyega's suspension by President Jacob Zuma, where a plan was allegedly hatched to destroy prominent South Africans who were apparently opposed to Phiyega.
This meeting was reportedly preceded by one in Pretoria where a plan to vilify Phiyega's critics and those perceived to be in line for her job were discussed.
The Sunday Independent reported that the campaign, dubbed "Operation Takedown" was discussed at a Durban hotel on October 16.
The presidency announced Phiyega's suspension on October 14.
The campaign reportedly included discrediting former police commissioner Bheki Cele and exposing the divisional commissioner for detective services Lieutenant General Vinesh Moonoo on behalf of investigator Paul O’Sullivan, who has made several allegations against Moonoo.
The campaign's plans apparently also included having Crime Line head Yusuf Abramjee blamed for the negative publicity Moonoo would receive.
The newspaper reported that according to recordings from the meeting, Makgale boasted about how the police managed to destroy suspended head of Independent Police Investigations Directorate Robert McBride.
Acting national police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane told the newspaper that this was the first time he heard of the allegations, but that they would be ruthless if the allegations were proved to be true.
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