As more and more revelations about top cop Khomotso Phahlane come to the fore, many are wondering what could possibly have gone wrong, writes Lebo Kheswa.
As more and more revelations about the country’s top cop’s opulent lifestyle, allegations of corruption and dubious conduct come to the fore, many are starting to wonder what could possibly have gone wrong, especially as many had breathed a sigh of relief when it was announced that Lieutenant-General Khomotso Phahlane had been appointed Acting National Police Commissioner.
Here, it seemed, was a dedicated career policeman who would drive the much-needed change in our country’s police force.
Phahlane wasted no time, shaking up leadership and announcing necessary operational changes and interventions, such as deploying student cops at shopping malls during the festive season when criminals normally run amok.
The man worked hard to nurture sound relations with the management echelon of the police service and placated the trade unions, such as Solidarity and Popcru, by promoting white police officers and those from the former non-statutory forces, including the Azanian People's Liberation Army and Umkhonto we Sizwe. He further reached out to the Institute for Security Studies and AfriForum by declaring farm murders a priority.
Kudos came thick and fast, including from hard-to-please quarters, such as the parliamentary portfolio committee on police. To top it all, crime statistics began to decrease. The country thought that a solution, albeit temporary, had finally been found for the problem of police leadership and the service's ability to tackle crime.
However, it was not long before things started to become unhinged, with murmurs of concerns about Phahlane’s conduct with junior female colleagues and whispers of corruption.
Soon after his appointment, he had to deal with allegations of indiscretion, including those of a sexual nature. Then came the promotion of General Mondli Zuma, who was accused of drunken driving, failing to declare his criminal record and losing a state-issued firearm.
Phahlane argued that the matter pertaining to the firearm had been resolved. What he failed to tell the public was that General Zuma had paid an admission of guilt fine for the negligent loss of firearm - an offence for which many police officers have been dismissed. It is unclear whether the required internal disciplinary inquiry was even held.
But when you have been at the forefront of helping Police Minister Nathi Nhleko put together a video to show that Nkandla’s swimming pool was a fire pool, as General Zuma did, promotion looms in spite of one losing a state firearm.
More recently, allegations that Phahlane had acquired his house, sound system and several vehicles through corrupt means have surfaced. Phahlane launched a strenuous public relations offensive, taking the fight to his accusers.
In the midst of this, it emerged that the "heroic" act for which he was awarded a medal was not quite as brave as police management claimed. Phahlane hid behind a sofa and covered his face with a cushion, while it was his wife and a beautician at the spa who fought off armed attackers. It also emerged that Phahlane was not entirely honest when he declared that an investigation started by suspended commissioner Riah Phiyega had cleared him.
While on this public relations offensive, Phahlane conveniently forgets that the KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner is under scrutiny for apparent deeds similar to those he is accused of.
She is accused of having used a police service provider to organise a birthday party for her husband. Naturally, she denies the charge, saying that while she used the service provider she paid R20 000 for the party.
What is more puzzling is that Phahlane’s conduct is not of a man who is innocent. If you are going to take the public into your confidence when facing allegations, rather tell the whole truth, not half-truths, or keep quiet and deal with the issue via the courts. He has reportedly set up a high-level investigation team to probe those investigating him and witnesses.
To add insult to injury, Phahlane and Nhleko cheerfully accepted an award from Alleluia Ministries, which is led by a man largely believed to be a con artist. He reported filled the conference room to capacity with unmarried women, who had to fork out R5 000 during a prayer service with a promise that they would have a ring on their finger within 90 days.
As the saying goes, “Birds of a feather flock together”. The security cluster is led by men who have been caught out for telling lies in public.
To paraphrase Abraham Lincoln, you cannot fool all the people all the time. We know about Nhleko and the fire-pool video. The court has judged Hawks boss Berning Ntlemeza to be a liar and Phahlane is clutching at straws to prevent his otherwise cushy lifestyle from being known.
In a normal society, you'd expect such people to be embarrassed, apologise for their actions and do their best to win back public confidence. This is because we have learnt from many great leaders that leadership and integrity cannot be separated.
In this regard, a Forbes magazine article by John Marriott, “When leaders lie bad things happen”, is instructive. The title says it all. It's about leaders in both the corporate and political worlds who are caught lying in public and suffer the consequences by either losing their jobs or not being re-elected.
But in South Africa, particularly under President Jacob Zuma, leaders have absolutely no regard for how they and the institutions they lead are regarded after they have told lies in public. It's quite apparent they don’t care. They regard the public as a bunch of idiots over whose eyes you can pull the wool and to whom you can tell more lies while dipping your hands into the public purse.
* The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media.