Phahlane: Police able to ‘preserve human life’ with a hashtag

In the two weeks since his appointment‚ Khomotso Phahlane has had to deal with massive student uprisings and accusations that three of his officers executed a suspect but the acting national police commissioner says it’s just what he does.

On the same day as he was appointed acting national commissioner in the place of Riah Phiyega‚ the #feesmustfall protests started at Wits University.

Over the course of his first week in office‚ the movement gathered momentum‚ spreading to campuses across the country and eventually resulting in protestors breaching Parliament’s gates and chaotic scenes at the Union Buildings.

Police were heavily criticised for their use of force‚ rubber bullets‚ stun grenades and pepper spray.

And while Phahlane told Parliament on Wednesday that it was a “difficult and challenging period”‚ he said in an interview with the Times Media afterwards: “I can’t say it’s a baptism of fire. Our policing mandate is to police any situation.

“I was appointed acting national commissioner by the president and I committed to do exactly what the mandate of policing expects of me.”

He said: “It is unfortunate that soon after being appointed acting‚ we had this two-week period where we had to focus on policing the marches and the protests but we are grateful that we have delivered.”

Formerly the divisional police commissioner for forensics‚ the scenes which played out across South Africa are a far cry from the laboratory‚ but Phahlane said it had no effect on him.

“My stress level cannot be increased at all. I have spent 30 years in this organisation‚ so protests and things like this will not add stress. No‚ I remain the same person.”

This eventful start for the country’s top cop is somewhat reminiscent of the battle faced by now suspended Riah Phiyega in her first months in office as she faced the increasingly violent platinum strikes‚ which eventually resulted in the Marikana massacre.

However‚ Phahlane told Parliament that by introducing their own hashtag #maximumrestraint‚ police were able to “preserve human life”.

“We are satisfied that we managed with what was at our disposal‚” he said.

Questioned by the committee over whether there had been a directive “from above”‚ he said: “I don’t take kindly to that. The national commissioner gives direction and the same instruction was given to all levels: apply maximum restraint.”

In that same week‚ and unbeknown to him‚ three Krugersdorp police officers were alleged to have executed an armed robbery suspect who had been disarmed and injured.

And while the national commissioner’s office had been notified of the death‚ as in any case where a police officer kills a suspect‚ he said that he had only learned of the evidence pointing to the death being an execution when it was published in the Sunday Times last week.

“What featured in the Sunday Times remains unfortunate‚ against the spirit of the Constitution and against everything the law prescribes‚” he told the police portfolio committee.

He said it was a serious offence that the station commander‚ who had become aware of the video evidence during the Independent Police Investigative Directorate investigation‚ had not escalated the matter.

The station commander‚ whom Phahlane did not want to name‚ was served with a notice on Monday to make recommendations why he should not be suspended. – Parliament Bureau