Phiyega’s National Commissioner appointment was to weaken SAPS: Cele

Former police minister, Bheki Cele, says he thinks that the appointment of Riah Phiyega as National Police Commissioner in 2012 was a deliberate attempt to weaken the SAPS.

Cele told the Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee that is investigating allegations including corruption and criminal infiltration in the justice system.

Phiyega was first woman to hold the post as a National Commissioner. However, she was suspended in October 2015 by the former President Jacob Zuma following a recommendation of the Farlam Commission of Inquiry into the deaths of protesting miners in Marikana in 2012.

Cele was the police minister between 2018 and 2024. He told EFF MP, Leigh-Ann Mathys that under Phiyega’s tenure, operational structures were destroyed to facilitate looting.

“Well, the opinion is that if I know I want to steal but I know there is a bulldog, I will take the teeth out of the bulldog so that I do things proper, maybe someone took teeth out to do things proper? Who did that? Those that were leading? Who was leading at the time? Zuma was President. So, it was under the Zuma administration.”

 Parliament Ad Hoc Committee | Former Police Minister Bheki Cele