Ad Hoc Committee hears how officers were allegedly pressured to apologise to Phahlane

Deputy national commissioner Shadrack Sibiya has been accused of asking three officers to apologise to former divisional commissioner for forensic services Khomotso Phahlane when they reported criminal activities at the SAPS Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), in order to make a "breakthrough" in their careers.

This emerged when Colonel Darius Ramolobe, Captain Edwin Malatjie and Captain Samuel Ramalepe testified before the Ad hoc Committee probing allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

Testifying before the committee, Ramalepe said they held a meeting with Sibiya, who is a deputy commissioner for crime detection and forensics and other senior police officers, in June last year to discuss criminal activities, including theft of drugs among other complaints, within the FSL.

“General Sibiya, during the meeting, proposed that we approach Lieutenant General (Phahlane) and tender an apology in order to make our breakthrough in our career.

“The proposal was rejected with contempt and the meeting was adjourned,” he said.

Ramalepe was detailing the efforts they made to bring to the attention of senior police officers about irregular appointments, irregular procurement, corruption and maladministration, among others at FSL.

The officers are embroiled in a defamation case, which they are appealing after Phahlane was awarded damages.

Responding to questions by ANC MP Thokozile Sokhanyile, Ramalepe said they were disappointed when Sibiya said they must apologise to Phahlane so that their career movement can be cleared.

“It's very much disappointing coming from a very senior officer like him.”

He told the committee that they had requested the minutes of the meeting but they are yet to be given. 

“We have not been favoured with that meeting minutes. The staff officer was just ignoring us,” he said about the officer who was meant to draft minutes.

Ramalepe said upon later demanding the minutes from the woman who was recording the minutes when Sibiya asked them to apologise to Phahlane, they “said they don't have the minutes”.

Ramalepe added that they had reported the matter to National Commissioner Fannie Masemola.

“We indicated to General Masemola to what transpired in that meeting between us and General Sibiya,” he said when replying to ActionSA MP Dereleen James.

Ramalepe added that he had referred their complaint to Lieutenant-General Peter Jacobs to investigate last October.

His colleague, Malatjie said they were told that a report was awaiting sign off by Masemola.

“We are requesting the honorable committee to also get that report,” he said.

Ramalepe said they had tried on several occasions to request the report.

He indicated that they contacted Masemola and his office when they were preparing to appear before the committee but they were not furnished with the report.

Cape Times