Phiyega to blame – or government?

RETIRED Judge Farlam was appointed by president Zuma to head an inquiry into the Marikana Massacre which killed 34 miners in the North West Province.

The report stated that police commissioner, Riah Phiyega could not remember pertinent details relevant to the shooting. She stated she could not recall the pedantic details. A memory stick containing the recordings of the critical “D-Day” meeting suddenly vanished.

Phiyega congratulated the police for their tactics used, and she is also accused of misleading the Farlam Commission.

People want her to be held accountable, which makes legal sense. However, is she totally accountable for the loss of the 34 miners – or must the government take equal liability for putting a person with no experience as a national

RIAH PHIYEGA commissioner? Phiyega has never served in the police before. Thus taking decisions on operational matters fell outside her field of expertise.

The North West provincial commissioner, Zukiswa Mbombo, was also involved in operational decisions although she had one year of experience in crime prevention.

The Marikana killings maybe could have been prevented if transparent selection protocols were used to appoint personnel who have the necessary experience in the police department. A fundamental criterion in any job is experience.

How can someone who has never served in the police be catapulted to a status of police commissioner? It is in this context that the civil rights group Afriforum has stated that it is under Phiyega’s inept leadership that crime levels have increased.

It is an obligation on the State to employ experienced and skilled public representatives. In this instance it seems as if they have not delivered.

The proposition of compensation is on the table and may be considered by the State. If the State decides to pay victims, it will send out a subtle but strong signal that we messed up. VIJAY SURUJPAL

Phoenix