Khomotso Phahlane testifies on his controversial removal as acting police commissioner

Former acting SAPS national commissioner Khomotso Phahlane on Wednesday told the Ad Hoc Committee investigating allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi about the circumstances of his removal from the position as well as his suspension.

Giving evidence on the resumption of the public hearings after the December recess, Phahlane said he was in Pretoria in June 2017 when he received a call from the office of former Police minister Fikile Mbalula.

“I was asked to travel to Cape Town for a meeting with the minister,” he said.

Phahlane also said he travelled to Cape Town and waited for more than three hours to meet Mbalula amid media reports involving an investigation by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate into him.

The meeting, which was also attended former deputy minister Bongani Mkhongi, lasted less than five minutes, he said.

“The minister asked in view of all this negativity in the media, is it not better for you step aside? I agreed because I am not glued to any position. I accepted the position of acting national commissioner from the president (Jacob Zuma) knowing members of SAPS can be deployed anywhere at any given time as long as they are to serve the people of the Republic.,” Phahlane said.

He was giving evidence to the Ad Hoc Committee that is investigating the allegations involving parts of the criminal justice system that were made by Mkhwanazi at a press briefing in July 2025.

The investigation covers the alleged unlawful disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team, the moratorium on filling of vacancies in the Crime Intelligence unit, and alleged corrupt relationships between senior leadership of SAPS and criminal gangs, as well as political interference in the work of the police service.

Phahlane told the inquiry that when he enquired who he should give a hand-over report to, Mbalula told him “don’t worry about that”.

He also said Mbalula had told him to go home when he enquired what he had meant about him “step aside”.

“He said go home. I shook the minister’s hand and left,” he said, adding that as he left, he saw Mbalula’s former ministerial advisor entering with one of the top police officials, Lesetja Mothiba, who was appointed to the position he had occupied.

Phahlane said while he was waiting for his flight, Mbalula “made an announcement to the effect that I am removed” and that he had been given 48 hours to state why he should not be suspended and “incorruptible” Mothiba was the new acting national commissioner.

“I am giving all that to say I was not removed by the president of the Republic of South Africa as the Constitution and the SAPS Act dictate. I was made to step aside by the Minister of Police.”

Phahlane also said it was only days later that he was served with a suspension notice by Mothiba in what he described as “the mess the minister created” at a time when he was suspended verbally without documents.

“If I were to be removed, it was to be the president who in the first place appointed me. To date, I have not received a letter signed by the president saying ‘you are removed as acting national commissioner’.” 

Earlier, Phahlane told the inquiry that he was appointed as the acting national commissioner in the place of former commissioner Riah Phiyega in 2015.

“I was in a committee (meeting) when the announcement was made that Riah Phiyega was being suspended,” he said, adding that his appointment was not made by the minister, but by the president.

Phahlane matriculated in December 1984, and joined the police service in November 1985.

He served as a police officer in various capacities until he obtained the rank of a lieutenant-general.

Phahlane said he was at home looking after his family.

“I was unlawfully dismissed, and that matter is currently before the Labour Appeal Court, which may pronounce its decision this week or next week,” he said.

mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za