Phahlane claims SAPS political interference began at ANC’s 2007 conference

Former acting Police Commissioner Khomotso Phahlane has told Parliament’s ad hoc committee investigating police corruption that political interference in the police started at the African National Congress (ANC)’s 52nd national conference in Polokwane.

Phahlane said the 2007 conference, where Jacob Zuma was elected ANC president, is when illegal practices really took hold of the police.

It's the same conference where cellphone spying "grabber" devices are said to have been used.

ALSO READ:

Ad Hoc Committee warns Phahlane against using the inquiry to discuss his labour dispute over his dismissal

Former Acting Police Commissioner tells parliament Mbalula had no legal power to suspend him

Phahlane was giving evidence before Parliament’s ad hoc committee on Wednesday, where he also told members of parliament (MPs) of a plot to have him removed.

Phahlane focused his evidence before the committee on events surrounding his dismissal from the South African Police Service (SAPS).

He also told the committee that police corruption and interference is not a new phenomenon and started as early as 2007.

“Political interference in SAPS has been prevalent in the South African police, and it became more prevalent following the 2007 Polokwane conference, where many of these things happened,” he said.

Phahlane also told the committee about an elaborate plot by former Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) head Robert McBride to get rid of him using the media.

“The attacks directed at me by Robert McBride and Paul O’Sullivan and their sustained campaign through the media, both print and electronic, bares testimony to their control of individual journalists whom they weaponised against me,” Phahlane added.

Phahlane told the committee that his dismissal by the then Minister Fikile Mbalula was unlawful and he’s still fighting it in court.