Riah Phiyega adamant she consulted senior cops ahead of mass firing

The name Riah Phiyega once dominated headlines as South Africa’s first female national police commissioner. Now, a decade later, her leadership is back under the microscope.

In Parliament’s ad hoc committee hearings looking into corruption in the police service, former Police Minister Bheki Cele accused her of "dismantling" the SAPS.

On Monday, former Deputy Commissioner Dr Leah Shibambo, said she was fired by Phiyega without warning and became a casualty of corruption inside the service.

Phiyega, now CEO of the Safer South Africa Foundation, said that while Shibambo's "feelings are probably real" she flatly rejected her "alternative facts and lies".

So, what really happened at the top?

Phiyega said that the decision to restructure was not made lightly and followed pressure from Parliament.

"Parliament was putting a lot of pressure on the police to say, there is no way you could be having six deputy national commissioners, the structure is top-heavy."

She added that the restructure, which she stressed began before her appointment, was done in consultation with the national management forum, which Shibambo was a part of.

Moreover, Phiyega said that she introduced "a new way of doing things within the police", which she said saw her consult with every person who was impacted by the shake-up.

ALSO READ: Former Deputy Police Commissioner Leah Shibambo breaks silence 10 years after being fired without warning

But the Labour Court in 2014 found that some dismissals under the restructuring were carried out without proper consultation under the Labour Relations Act, and ordered them to be suspended.

"The judgment clearly says there appears to have been a complete failure to invoke a consultation process," challenged 702's Bongani Bingwa.

Phiyega was adamant it was not true.

"What does Section 18 (89) say? It says, it gives the employer the opportunity to negotiate with the employee based on the issues or restructuring or termination or whatever."

Phiyega added that following the judgment, she told the court that she wanted to "continue with the consultation".

She claimed that Shibambo was determined not to take the role that was eventually offered to her, heading the SAPS Education Trust.

To listen to the conversation with Riah Phiyega, former National Police Commissioner on 702's Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa show, click audio below.