Please note Riona Gokool, MPL sound bite in English
• Reply confirms that Premier is aware of the allegations.
• Issue raises serious concerns around accountability within Phoenix SAPS.
• DA will continue to exercise rigorous oversight.
A written parliamentary reply (view here) to questions by the Democratic Alliance in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) has revealed grave allegations of collusion between a high-ranking Phoenix SAPS officer and local known drug dealers.
The reply confirms that KZN Premier, Thami Ntuli, is aware of the allegations and that the matter is currently under investigation by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID). It also confirms that the officer was previously suspended without pay following a disciplinary process and has since been removed from duties involving Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and domestic violence matters.
These revelations raise serious concerns around accountability within Phoenix SAPS and reinforce the need for greater transparency. Residents deserve to know that allegations of police misconduct, particularly those involving the handling of firearms and alleged failures to act against criminal elements, are treated with the utmost seriousness.
KZN’s Department of Community Safety and Liaison – which falls under the Office of the Premier – has further confirmed that it has initiated an audit of all related dockets that were struck off the court roll, withdrawn, or closed as undetected. This is a positive step, but it must be conducted thoroughly and without interference, with findings made public to restore confidence in the criminal justice system.
While the Premier has declined, at this stage, to support an independent investigation due to certain cases remaining active, the DA firmly believes that public confidence can only be restored through transparent oversight and decisive action.
The people of Phoenix deserve a police service that acts without fear or favour and places the safety of the community above all else.
As a responsible partner within KZN’s Government of Provincial Unity (GPU), the DA will continue to exercise rigorous oversight and monitor the progress of the IPID investigation and the departmental audit. Any individual found to have acted unlawfully or negligently must be held fully accountable