Johnathan Paoli
Former Deputy National Police Commissioner for Support Services Lieutenant-General Francinah Vuma told Parliament on Wednesday that she believes she was pushed out of active service because she pursued disciplinary investigations against senior South African Police Service (SAPS) officials.
She made the statements while appearing before the ad hoc committee that is investigating allegations of political interference in and criminal infiltration of the country’s justice system.
“My suspicion was that because I was busy with these matters, making follow-ups and ensuring that disciplinary steps were taken in the relevant business units, it might have been one of the reasons they decided to remove me from office,” Vuma said.
Vuma said she was suspended for three and a half years on full pay while another officer was appointed in an acting capacity to perform the same role.
“While they are paying me money, they are appointing other lieutenant generals to act in my positions. And they are paying them money. So they are paying two salaries for one position, in one post,” she said.
EFF leader Julius Malema questioned why disciplinary proceedings against her were never concluded, saying that the prolonged suspension amounted in practice to an unlawful dismissal.
“It is correct. They will say: those people, they don’t want to see you. They say, as long as you stay at home, it’s fine,” Vuma responded.
MK Party MP Sibonelo Nomvalo asked whether her testimony pointed to ministerial interference that ran deeper than had previously been understood.
“In a day, we will receive two or three directives that say: ‘I want a response by four o’clock’ or I want a response by a certain time frame. It was actually deeper than what we understand,” Vuma replied.
ANC MP Xola Nqola focused on whether oversight bodies had been compromised and whether Vuma had received unlawful instructions. Vuma said National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola had instructed her to abandon investigations.
“General Masemola, when I was giving him feedback on the status of disciplinary matters, he said ‘you should leave these things to die a silent death’,” Vuma said.
IFP MP Albert Mncwango asked Vuma to clarify her claim that Masemola had said he was “under pressure from the top”.
“What did you understand the top to be?” Mncwango asked.
Vuma said she had assumed, in the circumstances, that Masemola was referring to since suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.
Patriotic Alliance MP Ashley Sauls compared SAPS leadership dynamics to gang hierarchies, asking whether those who tried to do the right thing were treated as enemies.
“Those who want to do right are the enemy. Is that how the SAPS system has become?” he asked.
“It is more or less the same as what you just described. People who are principled are being discarded and discriminated against or victimised,” Vuma responded.
Vuma said she had rejected an offer of early retirement that was tied to a non-disclosure agreement.
“An offer was made to me that I must accept to retire early on condition that they will pay me beyond my retirement period. And in that offer, I was supposed to sign a non-disclosure agreement, which I refused because my determination was to clear my name,” she said.
Controversial businessman Kishene Chetty is expected to appear before the committee as a public participant on Thursday.
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