"The re-militarisation of the police in recent years has not garnered greater community respect, nor has it secured high conviction rates"

National police chief Riah Phiyega said yesterday that plans were in place for the demilitarisation of the police under the National Development Plan.

She said this while being cross-examined at the Farlam Commission of Inquiry in Rustenburg by evidence leader Mbuyiseli Madlanga, SC.

He asked her about efforts she had taken to bring the SAPS in line with recommendations contained in the NDP.

Reading several extracts of the plan, Madlanga said it called for "an urgent demilitarisation" of the police service.

"The re-militarisation of the police in recent years has not garnered greater community respect, nor has it secured high conviction rates," he read.

"Certainly, a paramilitary police force does not augur well for a capable developmental state. The commission believes that the police should be demilitarised. Do you see that?" he asked Phiyega. Phiyega agreed.

Madlanga continued reading: "Demilitarisation requires changes in the police insignia, military ranks and force orders, to create a civil police service as a first stage of community policing."

He then asked Phiyega to explain what steps she had taken to employ the NDP's short-term recommendations.

"We have noted the recommendations. We are engaging the NDP, looking at how we can implement those recommendations," she replied.

Asked whether she agreed with the NDP recommendations, the police chief said: "I think you are asking me a binding and difficult question. I have said that the SAPS, like other sectors, have noted the recommendations and are looking at implementing them."

Chairperson of the three-member commission, retired judge Ian Farlam, urged Phiyega to answer the question.

She said: "It is difficult for me to say I agree or I don't agree. With certain reservations and discussions we will embrace the recommendations."

Madlanga asked: "Does that mean the SAPS is still studying the recommendation? Do you have a committee looking at the recommendation?"

Phiyega responded: "We are in the process of looking at the plan. In our main national management forum they have received letters from me, saying we will have a session to discuss this (NDP).

"This is work in progress. I am leading a team that is working on the matter."

Madlanga requested a copy of the letters.

Earlier, Phiyega said the police intervention plan for the Marikana mines was good, but got disrupted during implementation. Because of this disruption the outcome included the shooting deaths of 34 striking mineworkers, which was unintended, she told the commission.

Madlanga asked the police commissioner whether the police intervention at Marikana could be described as a success.

"Taking into account all the factors you have referred to, would you say that the operation was a success?" he asked.

"On August 16 we do know that 34 people were killed and more than 70 were injured. I want you to make a judgment and tell this commission, whether based on the SAPS's own tests, you can say the (Marikana) operation was a success?"

Phiyega said: "I think I need to be responsible when answering. I have said the plan was good, and it was disrupted. It is important for me to take all those issues into context.

"The outcome was intended. The plan was good, it was disrupted and we had an unintended outcome. We cannot have a simplified definition of success. It would be a broad definition of success."