Senior police managers Lieutenant Generals Solomon Makgale and Nobulele Mbekela have not responded to notices of intentions to suspend them, acting national commissioner Khomotso Phahlane told the police committee in Parliament on Friday.

It is broadly understood that a group of top cops, including Mbekela and Makgale, are in the firing line because of statements issued in support of suspended National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega. Makgale was Phiyega's spokesperson, while Mbekela serves as deputy police commissioner.

The two senior officers were served with notices of intention to suspend them on Tuesday, Phahlane confirmed to the committee. They have seven days to appeal. Phahlane said they were still waiting for their responses.

“The process dictates you give them timeframes in which to respond. Yes, we are waiting for their responses. But as to the details, we continue to say it is an employer, employee issue and we don’t feel we have to paddle the issues in public.”

Committee chairperson Francois Beukman welcomed the update and agreed it was a matter between the two parties. He said the committee just needed to be sure that the right people were put in to act in place of the two managers.

Support for Phiyega

Makgale and Mbekela came under fire earlier this year for their support of Phiyega.

Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi earlier this week would not confirm or deny whether Mbekela had been served with a notice of intention to suspend her.

News24 reported earlier that Makgale was served with a notice of intention to suspend on Tuesday.

In August, the board of provincial police commissioners issued a statement in support of Phiyega.

The statement was issued a day after she submitted her response to President Jacob Zuma relating to the recommendation of the Marikana Commission of Inquiry that her fitness for office be investigated.

While the police portfolio committee directed the commissioners to withdraw their statement and apologise, Makgale issued another statement on their behalf almost two weeks later to "correct the misconceptions" created by the initial statement.

Makgale has come under fire from members of Parliament for issuing statements in defence of Phiyega.

News24