Phiyega's doublespeak
offers SA little hope
22 Sep
2013 | Marvin Meintjies
THIS is not "a story of hope". This is
about Riah Phiyega.
CAN'T PUT
A FOOT RIGHT: National police commissioner General Riah Phiyega at the release
of the crime stats in Pretoria this week. She insisted the crime situation was
under control. Picture: Moeletsi Mabe
The
national commissioner of the SAPS can't put a foot right.
We've
barely managed to digest how badly she bungled the matter of appointing a new
police chief for Gauteng, when she covered herself in more excrement this week.
For those
with short memories, Mondli Bethuel Zuma was appointed successor to Mzwandile
Petros on Saturday, August 31. A few hours later, he was fired.
Phiyega
had to withdraw his appointment because Zuma was facing criminal charges -
something that had clearly slipped his mind and could not be found out during
the extensive vetting that must have been done before his appointment.
You'd
think, after that, Phiyega was due a win. But you'd be wrong. This is not
"a story of hope".
Crime
statistics released this week show alarming increases in murder, attempted
murder, house robbery and car hijackings.
To make
matters worse, the police boss and her minister, Nathi Mthethwa, tried to gloss
over the true impact of crime on our lives.
By
focusing on ratios (crimes committed per 100000 people), Phiyega was able to take
advantage of the fact that the latest census showed population growth of
4million.
This
naturally has an effect on crime stats, showing fewer crimes committed per
100000.
But the
raw data shows that the actual number of crimes committed has increased.
Phiyega
had the temerity to characterise the crime stats as a "story of
hope".
But this
is not a story of hope.
Even more
concerning was the statement this week from the commission of inquiry into the
Marikana massacre.
The
commission said the police had withheld evidence, fabricated documents and lied
in a bid to mislead the inquiry. Startling allegations.
If true,
it is the most damning indictment of Phiyega's leadership.
The
irony, of course, is that she gave Mondli Zuma his marching orders for not being
honest about the charges he was facing.
Yet
Phiyega stands accused of trying to fudge the truth to cover her backside twice
this week. And in doing so, she jeopardised the already shaky trust between the
public and the police.
With so
much evidence stacking up against Phiyega, it does not take the forensic and
analytical skills of a CSI character to reach the conclusion that she is not
fit for purpose.
Phiyega,
with no policing experience, once famously said that she felt being head of the
SAPS was a calling. Millions of South Africans now wish she ignored that call.
Or that she was on Cell C and the call failed.
