Police should be allowed to carry out their investigations without the comments from the peanut gallery.
This is according to acting national police commissioner Lieutenant-General Khomotso Phahlane‚ who was speaking on Thursday at the Institute for Security Studies in Pretoria.
Phahlane was responding to recent media reports that the arrest of finance minister Pravin Gordhan is “imminent”.
The Sunday Times reported that Gordhan was to be arrested by the Hawks following an investigation into his alleged involvement in the SA Revenue Service’s so-called “rogue” unit.
“My position is that all of us must refrain from commenting on any matter that is under investigation.
“We should not subject any individual or group of people to a trial through the media. It is unfair‚ it is unjust‚ it goes against the spirit of the Constitution.
“Let’s allow the authorities that are charged with the responsibility to do their work.
“In this case the police mandate is to investigate. The purpose of the investigation is to find the truth. Once we have got all the facts‚ which may suggest that there is some unlawfulness somewhere‚ a case put before the National Director of Public Prosecutions.
“I don’t subscribe to a notion of investigation and‚ or trial by the media. Everyone who is competent to do investigations must be given the space to do the investigation without any undue influence‚ fear of favour‚” Phahlane said.
Allow police to do their work‚ implores Phahlane with regards to Gordhan ‘arrest’ reports
This is according to acting national police commissioner Lieutenant-General Khomotso Phahlane‚ who was speaking on Thursday at the Institute for Security Studies in Pretoria.
Phahlane was responding to recent media reports that the arrest of finance minister Pravin Gordhan is “imminent”.
The Sunday Times reported that Gordhan was to be arrested by the Hawks following an investigation into his alleged involvement in the SA Revenue Service’s so-called “rogue” unit.
“My position is that all of us must refrain from commenting on any matter that is under investigation.
“We should not subject any individual or group of people to a trial through the media. It is unfair‚ it is unjust‚ it goes against the spirit of the Constitution.
“Let’s allow the authorities that are charged with the responsibility to do their work.
“In this case the police mandate is to investigate. The purpose of the investigation is to find the truth. Once we have got all the facts‚ which may suggest that there is some unlawfulness somewhere‚ a case put before the National Director of Public Prosecutions.
“I don’t subscribe to a notion of investigation and‚ or trial by the media. Everyone who is competent to do investigations must be given the space to do the investigation without any undue influence‚ fear of favour‚” Phahlane said.
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