Phahlane: ANC Conference Marked Turning Point for Police Interference

Key Takeaways:

• Former acting national police boss Khomotso Phahlane claims that political interference in the South African Police Service (SAPS) escalated after the 2007 Polokwane conference
• Phahlane alleges that he has been the target of a campaign to discredit him, led by individuals such as Robert McBride and Paul O’Sullivan
• The ad hoc committee investigating accusations of a drug cartel infiltrating South Africa’s criminal justice system, politics, and private security is set to wrap up its witness testimony by February 6, 2025
• Crime Intelligence boss Dumisani Khumalo and suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department head Julius Mkhwanazi are set to testify before the committee in the coming days
• The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, running parallel to the ad hoc committee, will resume on January 26 and enter its second phase, where implicated individuals will be allowed to respond to allegations against them

Introduction to the Issue
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has been embroiled in controversy in recent years, with allegations of corruption and political interference plaguing the organization. Former acting national police boss Khomotso Phahlane, who was fired and accused of corruption, has come forward to claim that political interference in the SAPS escalated nearly two decades ago. Phahlane, who insists he has been the target of a campaign to discredit him, detailed his stance on political meddling while testifying before Parliament’s ad hoc committee investigating accusations that a drug cartel has infiltrated South Africa’s criminal justice system, politics, and private security.

The Polokwane Conference and Its Aftermath
Phahlane referred to the 2007 Polokwane conference, where Jacob Zuma was elected the president of the African National Congress (ANC), as a turning point in the SAPS. He claimed that after the conference, some police officers, especially those with struggle credentials who fought apartheid and were integrated from non-statutory forces, revealed their allegiance and loyalty to political formations and/or leaders. This, according to Phahlane, impacted negatively on discipline and the management of conduct at all levels within the SAPS. Senior police managers were purged from key positions and redeployed, leading to a decline in the overall effectiveness of the organization.

Phahlane’s Testimony and Controversial Past
Phahlane’s testimony before the ad hoc committee was marked by controversy, with some members questioning the relevance of his statements to the committee’s terms of reference. Phahlane portrayed himself as a former officer who was horribly wronged years ago and is still trying to clear his name of accusations that he deems unwarranted. He repeatedly said he was the target of a narrative intentionally crafted to tarnish his name. The committee’s chair, Soviet Lekganyane, instructed Phahlane to adhere to the committee’s reference terms, stating that they were not a dispute resolution forum.

The "Blue Lights" Case and Dismissal
Phahlane was arrested in 2019 in connection with the "blue lights" case, which involved millions of rands linked to an allegedly fraudulent tender to supply emergency equipment to the SAPS in 2016. He was later dismissed from the SAPS in 2020, connected to a 2014 contract worth R92-million awarded to Ethemba Forensic Group for the provision of specialized cameras to the police. Phahlane was accused of causing a R24-million loss, but he denied any wrongdoing. He insisted that he had been "unlawfully dismissed" and that an appeal he lodged in the Labour Court over this may be finalized within a fortnight.

Allegations of a Campaign to Discredit Phahlane
Phahlane has previously insisted that he has been nefariously targeted by individuals such as Robert McBride and Paul O’Sullivan. He alleged that they had run a "sustained campaign" against him through the media, via select journalists. This is similar to the earlier testimony to the ad hoc committee of the sidelined police minister Senzo Mchunu’s chief of staff, Cedrick Nkabinde, who claimed that a team had been assembled to ensure that Phahlane would not be appointed in a permanent capacity as national police commissioner.

Upcoming Testimony and Investigations
The ad hoc committee is set to continue its hearings, with Crime Intelligence boss Dumisani Khumalo and suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department head Julius Mkhwanazi scheduled to testify in the coming days. The committee plans to wrap up its witness testimony by February 6, 2025, and compile a report on its hearings by February 20. The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, running parallel to the ad hoc committee, will resume on January 26 and enter its second phase, where implicated individuals will be allowed to respond to allegations against them. The commission will also recall Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, among its first witnesses, to testify again in the third phase of the commission.