ISS analyst Gareth Newham and M&G reporter Sarah Evans unpack the realities that lie beneath the numbers from this year's national crime statistics.
National police commissioner Riah Phiyega will not be prosecuted for allegedly defeating the ends of justice following a decision reached by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) this week.
Phiyega, who was appointed by President Jacob Zuma in June 2012, was accused in October last year of interfering in an on-going crime intelligence investigation into Western Cape police commissioner Arno Lamoer and his possible links to so-called underworld characters.
Phiyega was alleged to have tipped Lamoer off that he was being investigated, more than three times – although she denied doing anything untoward.
The NPA released a statement on Saturday saying: “After an investigation by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) the executive director of IPID referred the docket to the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP),Mxolisi Nxasana.
“The NDPP then referred the docket to the director public prosecutions, Western Cape, Advocate Rodney de Kock, to make a decision.
“Advocate de Kock has satisfied himself that the IPID investigation is complete. After duly considering the statements and evidence in the docket and in light of all the circumstances, the DPP has declined to prosecute. It is considered that there are no reasonable prospects of a successful prosecution.”
‘Initiated a conversation’
According to reports, crime intelligence had been monitoring Lamoer’s communications last year in order to establish his relationship with an alleged gangster. It was reportedly from these intercepts that investigators became aware that Phiyega had alerted Lamoer to the investigation.
Members of the Western Cape’s crime intelligence division opened a case of defeating the ends of justice against Phiyega in October last year. The allegations emerged three days after Phiyega placed then acting crime intelligence head Chris Ngcobo on special leave for allegedly lying about his qualifications.
AmaBhungane understands that the police’s top brass underwent a vetting process for security clearance by the State Security Agency during the course of last year. Discrepancies were discovered, Phiyega said last year, relating to Ncgobo’s academic qualifications. Shortly after he was suspended, Phiyega found herself embroiled in the Lamoer affair. She denied that she interfered in the case.
Last year Phiyega’s spokesperson, Solomon Makgale denied that Phiyega had “initiated a conversation” with Lamoer, regarding the allegations “but that the conversation arose as a result of a question by a [Democratic Alliance] member of Parliament. “The department is obliged to reply to such questions,” Makgale said.
Phiyega had become aware that there was an inquiry into Lamoer after the Hawks had briefed her about it on May 29 last year. “[Hawks boss Lieutenant-General Anwa] Dramat, at the time, indicated that the inquiry was initiated at the request of Lieutenant-General Lamoer in July 2012. In other words, Lieutenant General Lamoer has always been aware of the inquiry,” Makgale said.
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