‘Police leadership negatively influenced public safety in SA’

Simply replacing Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega because of Marikana won’t be enough. The Institute of Security Studies’ (ISS) Gareth Newham will on Thursday lay out “the steps that need to be taken to undo three years’ worth of damage due to profound mismanagement”.

An ISS briefing will reflect on the findings of Judge Ian Farlam’s report into the circumstances around the killing of 44 people at the Lonmin mine in August 2012 and “what they mean for the future of the policing in South Africa”.

Phiyega‚ who was appointed to head the South African Police Service (SAPS) two months before the massacre‚ is expected to face an inquiry into her fitness to hold office.

An ISS statement said that evidence “accepted by the six advocates acting as the commission’s evidence leaders is devastating for the leadership of the SAPS”.

Newham – who is the ISS head of governance‚ crime and justice — will “give insight into how police leadership over the last few years has negatively influenced not only the SAPS‚ but also public safety in South Africa”.