Cape Town – Acting national police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane should be brought before Parliament's police portfolio committee to answer questions following the Independent Police Investigative Directorate’s (Ipid) raid on his home this week, the Democratic Alliance said on Sunday.
The DA would also ask committee chairman Francois Beukman to summon the Ipid to brief MPs about the raid, DA spokesman Zakhele Mbhele said.
"In order for Ipid to have obtained a warrant to search Phahlane’s home the presiding magistrate had to have been presented with compelling prima facie evidence that there is a case to be answered," he said.
"This is extremely concerning. Our country’s top police officer must be beyond reproach, with a squeaky clean record of upholding the law of the Republic of South Africa. With violent crime continuing to ravage communities across our country, South Africans expect and deserve nothing less."
Members of Ipid during a raid on acting national police commissioner Lieutenant-General Khomotso Phahlane’s home in Pretoria North. Picture: Oupa Mokoena
According to reports, the allegations related to a stereo hifi system worth R80 000 given to Phahlane by chemical company Crimetech Laboratories.
This was the same company that supplied forensic equipment and chemicals for the South African Police Service (SAPS) during Phahlane’s time as head of the forensic science laboratory.
"It has also come to light that the director of Crimetech was involved in the interior decorating of Phahlane’s home," Mbhele said.
"This latest information follows an already completed forensic probe by CPN Forensic and Accounting Services – initiated in 2012 – regarding alleged corruption by Phahlane. The DA will also request that this report be tabled before the committee for scrutiny as a matter of urgency. We again urge Lt-Gen Phahlane to subject himself to a lifestyle audit that will help to clarify this matter."
Members of Ipid raid acting national police commissioner Lieutenant-General Khomotso Phahlane's home in Pretoria North. Picture: Oupa Mokoena
Given the major damage caused to the SAPS’s reputation by previous national police commissioners such as Jackie Selebi and most recently Riah Phiyega, this issue highlighted once again the glaring need for an overhaul of the commissioner's appointment process.
This should be in line with the national development plan’s recommendation for a shortlisting and nomination process by a national policing board with multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary expertise.
"One would have hoped that the Minister of Police Nathi Nhleko would have made greater haste in ensuring that this proposal is realised but he has displayed his characteristic stalling on this point, as in others," Mbhele said.
As a result, the embattled SAPS was yet again distracted from fighting crime and ensuring that every South African was safe in their community.
This was equally insulting to all the law-abiding and courageous policemen and women who worked in dangerous conditions to keep criminals off the street. It was high time that the SAPS got its act together, the opposition party said.
This in turn required Parliament doing its job to enforce accountability for anyone and anything standing in the way of a more effective police service that helped create safe streets and safe homes in all communities, Mbhele said.