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The Portfolio Committee on Police has resolved to call the Acting National Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Khomotso Phahlane, and the Independent Police Investigative Directorate’s (IPID) Executive Director, Mr Robert McBride, to a meeting to be held on Tuesday, 16 May 2017. This is to provide Committee members with an opportunity to make enquiries about reported acts of interference by some SAPS members in IPID’s work.

Committee Chairperson Mr Francois Beukman said this today as Committee members expressed concern over reports that some SAPS members have meddled in some of IPID’s high-profile investigative work. These reports were revealed by Mr McBride during last week’s committee meeting.

Mr Beukman says IPID is established in terms of Section 206 (6) of the Constitution to investigate any alleged offence or misconduct by a member of the service. As such, any unlawful interference in the investigations of the IPID cannot be tolerated.

“In terms of the oversight role of this Committee, it is essential that we are kept abreast of developments in this regard. We also need assurances from SAPS that there is no deliberate attempt to undermine the constitutional mandate of IPID,” said Mr Beukman.

Issued by Parliamentary Communication Services on behalf of the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Mr Francois Beukman