‘Zille negotiating in bad faith’

Western Cape Premier Helen Zille File photo: Jason Boud

Western Cape Premier Helen Zille File photo: Jason Boud

Published Aug 14, 2015

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Cape Town - National police spokesperson Solomon Makgale has hit back at Western Cape Premier Helen Zille for publicising the police’s response to the Khayelitsha Commission of Inquiry, saying Zille was negotiating in “bad faith”.

The police’s 22-page response, classified as “strictly confidential”, to the inquiry was made public during a media briefing Zille held last Friday. In the documents national police commissioner General Riah Phiyega had signed, police say the inquiry negatively impacted on and further diminished the public’s perception of the police.

The commission, headed by retired judge Kate O’Regan, was established to probe a breakdown in relations between the police and Khayelitsha community.

A copy of the inquiry’s report was handed to the Western Cape government, the City of Cape Town and the Social Justice Coalition (SJC).

Makgale said before the police gave their response to the report, he and other officials flew to Cape Town to meet Zille to discuss the matter, but on arrival were told she was in Europe. “We are very disappointed that the documents we provided to the premier are now in the public domain. It confirms our view that the premier is negotiating in bad faith.

“Our interest is sorting (out) the problem in Khayelitsha. That’s what we are committed to do, that is what we have been doing and that’s what we will continue to do,” he said.

The police were of the view that the inquiry “was not necessary” since the national commissioner undertook to address the issues raised by Zille. The police said the inquiry’s findings and recommendations were biased and misdirected. One of the inquiry’s 20 recommendations was to build another police station in Khayelitsha.

“The first process was to identify land, which we have done and got from the City. We are now busy with other processes to make sure that construction can start during the course of the financial year,” Makgale said.

Zille’s spokesperson, Michael Mpofu, said: “Prior to our press conference on Friday, Major-General Vuma from the national police commissioner’s office telephonically confirmed that they were happy with the SAPS report being made public.” He said the police’s top brass were made aware, before the meeting, that Zille was abroad and would be represented by an acting premier.

“Since the beginning of this process, we have sought to make progress by writing 21 letters to the police authorities, including the national (police) minister, national commissioner and provincial commissioner,” Mpofu said.

“In her response to the SAPS report, the premier pointed out her concerns about the report being classified in the way that it was and requested clarity on what purpose this classification would serve.”

 

Mpofu said the police should sign a memorandum of agreement if they were truly committed to the process and implement the commission’s recommendations without delay.

Asked about the confirmation, which was made telephonically, Makgale said: “Nothing of such ever happened.”

Meanwhile, SJC spokesperson Axolile Notywala said they would organise pickets in Khayelitsha and the CBD.

“If the minister fails to respond positively, the SJC and Ndifuna Ukwazi will file legal papers to compel the minister to, at the very least, revise the current irrational and inequitable allocation of police resources, particularly human resources, in Khayelitsha,” he said.

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Cape Times

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