NATIONAL police commissioner Riah Phiyega yesterday contradicted her boss, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa, saying she did not remember having a discussion with him about requests for more police deployment at Marikana.
This despite Mthethwa saying he had told Phiyega about the requests he received telephonically from ANC deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa and NUM president Senzeni Zokwana.
In his statement, read out by advocate Dali Mpofu yesterday, Mthethwa says: "I informed them that I would ensure that SAPS attended to this matter ...
"I discussed the issue with the national commissioner and received assurances that [the] SAPS was able to handle the matter."
Asked by Mpofu, who represents survivors of the Marikana massacre, if she recalled this discussion with Mthethwa, Phiyega said she never had a conversation with the minister about either Zokwana or Ramaphosa.
Asked if Mthethwa could have told her the requests were from anonymous sources - of which she gave assurances - Phiyega said she had kept Mthethwa abreast of the situation at Marikana.
"At no point did I discuss any particular name with the minister. We were concerned about Marikana ... Zokwana is not an SAPS member and I am not aware of his discussion with the minister."
Mpofu suggested both Mthethwa and Phiyega succumbed to political influence. But in his statement, Mthethwa points out that he regularly receives complaints and requests from the public, regarding policing matters, and therefore instructs Phiyega to take them up.
Mpofu said Mthethwa would answer for himself, which means he could be called to testify soon.
In his statement, Mthethwa further says Phiyega gave him an assurance that police were not only capable of handling Marikana but were dealing with the situation.
A few days later, police officers shot down striking miners on August 16 last year, claiming self-defence.
The police's action, which saw them implement the tactical phase of their operation, has been criticised as "flawed" by policing experts. - nhlabathih@sowetan.co.za
Top cop contradicts minister's version
NATIONAL police commissioner Riah Phiyega yesterday contradicted her boss, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa, saying she did not remember having a discussion with him about requests for more police deployment at Marikana.
This despite Mthethwa saying he had told Phiyega about the requests he received telephonically from ANC deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa and NUM president Senzeni Zokwana.
In his statement, read out by advocate Dali Mpofu yesterday, Mthethwa says: "I informed them that I would ensure that SAPS attended to this matter ...
"I discussed the issue with the national commissioner and received assurances that [the] SAPS was able to handle the matter."
Asked by Mpofu, who represents survivors of the Marikana massacre, if she recalled this discussion with Mthethwa, Phiyega said she never had a conversation with the minister about either Zokwana or Ramaphosa.
Asked if Mthethwa could have told her the requests were from anonymous sources - of which she gave assurances - Phiyega said she had kept Mthethwa abreast of the situation at Marikana.
"At no point did I discuss any particular name with the minister. We were concerned about Marikana ... Zokwana is not an SAPS member and I am not aware of his discussion with the minister."
Mpofu suggested both Mthethwa and Phiyega succumbed to political influence. But in his statement, Mthethwa points out that he regularly receives complaints and requests from the public, regarding policing matters, and therefore instructs Phiyega to take them up.
Mpofu said Mthethwa would answer for himself, which means he could be called to testify soon.
In his statement, Mthethwa further says Phiyega gave him an assurance that police were not only capable of handling Marikana but were dealing with the situation.
A few days later, police officers shot down striking miners on August 16 last year, claiming self-defence.
The police's action, which saw them implement the tactical phase of their operation, has been criticised as "flawed" by policing experts. - nhlabathih@sowetan.co.za
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