Former Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega Hits Back at Corruption Claims in Parliament

Former South African Police Service (SAPS) National Commissioner Riah Phiyega has strongly denied allegations of unfair dismissals and corruption during her time in office. Appearing in a radio interview after testifying before Parliament’s ad hoc committee on police corruption, Phiyega rejected claims made by ex-Deputy Commissioner Dr Leah Shibambo about her abrupt 2013 firing. She also hit back at former Police Minister Bheki Cele’s accusation that she was appointed to “dismantle” the service, insisting her actions were driven by the need to streamline a top-heavy structure under pressure from lawmakers.

This latest spotlight on Phiyega comes amid ongoing hearings into deep-rooted issues within the SAPS, including criminal infiltration and mismanagement. As the first woman to lead the police force, her tenure from 2012 to 2015 was marked by major changes, but also by controversies that continue to echo more than a decade later. Phiyega, now leading the Safer South Africa Foundation, described the accusations as a mix of real emotions and falsehoods, urging a closer look at the facts behind the 2013 restructuring.

Phiyega’s Defence Against Shibambo’s Claims

In her response, Phiyega acknowledged that Shibambo’s “feelings are probably real” but flatly rejected her version of events as “alternative facts and lies”. Shibambo had testified a day earlier, on 27 October 2025, that she was fired without warning and saw herself as a victim of corruption within the SAPS. According to Phiyega, the decision to restructure was not personal but stemmed from broader pressures to make the police more efficient.

Phiyega explained that Parliament had been pushing hard for changes, saying: “Parliament was putting a lot of pressure on the police to say, there is no way you could be having six deputy national commissioners, the structure is top-heavy.” She stressed that the process started before she took office in 2012 and involved discussions at the national management forum, where Shibambo herself participated.
To counter claims of no consultation, Phiyega highlighted her approach: “I introduced a new way of doing things within the police”, which included talking to every affected person. After a court challenge, she said she offered to keep consulting, but Shibambo refused the role proposed for her – heading the SAPS Education Trust, which supports children of fallen officers.

Shibambo’s Account of the Dismissal

Dr Leah Shibambo, a long-serving officer with over 30 years in the SAPS and a PhD holder, shared a different story. She recalled receiving a simple SMS inviting her to a press conference in August 2013 marking Phiyega’s first year in office. At the event, Phiyega announced new appointments, including a former colleague – described by Shibambo as “a white male” – to take over her duties in physical resources management.

Shibambo said she was shocked, with no prior notice or formal letter. For months afterwards, she kept reporting to work but had no clear tasks, still holding her deputy title on paper. When she pressed Phiyega for answers, the response was delayed. Eventually, Phiyega suggested the Education Trust role, but Shibambo wanted to stay in a proper police position, not something outside the main structure.
Shibambo, who now heads the department at the Stadio School of Policing and Law Enforcement, believes Phiyega targeted her for sticking to rules – calling her someone who “loved the rulebook”. She still seeks clarity on why she was removed, claiming Phiyega bent regulations to push her out. A court later agreed, ruling the dismissals unfair and illegal due to poor process.

The 2013 Restructuring and Court Rulings

The 2013 shake-up aimed to slim down the SAPS leadership, cutting deputy commissioners from six to make the organisation leaner. Phiyega said it followed legal steps under Section 189 of the Labour Relations Act, which allows employers to negotiate on restructures or terminations.

However, in 2014, the Labour Court stepped in after challenges from affected officers, including Shibambo and others like current Hawks head Godfrey Lebeya. The judges found a “complete failure to invoke a consultation process” and suspended the dismissals. Phiyega insisted this was not accurate, quoting the Act: “It gives the employer the opportunity to negotiate with the employee based on the issues or restructuring or termination or whatever.” She added that she asked the court to let consultations continue.

The rulings highlighted bigger problems, with some seeing the changes as rushed and unfair. Critics argued it hurt experienced leaders, while supporters said it was needed to fix inefficiencies.

Bheki Cele’s Accusations of Weakening the SAPS

Former Police Minister Bheki Cele, who testified on 23 October 2025, went further, claiming Phiyega’s 2012 appointment by then-President Jacob Zuma was meant to weaken the SAPS. He said it destroyed key structures, making it easier for looting and corruption during the Zuma era.

Cele used a strong image: removing the “teeth” from a “bulldog” so thieves could steal without fear. He linked this to broader issues in the justice system, including criminal networks infiltrating the police. Phiyega’s time, he argued, marked a low point that fuelled South Africa’s ongoing crime challenges.
Cele, who led the police from 2018 to 2024 after Phiyega’s exit, faced tough questions in the hearings. His words add to the narrative that her leadership, lacking police background, prioritised politics over operations.

Phiyega’s Background and Broader Controversies

Born in 1958 in Leolo village near Burgersfort in Limpopo, Mangwashi Victoria Phiyega – known as Riah – built a career in social work and business before entering policing. With degrees in social sciences and business, she worked in child welfare, mining, and big firms like Transnet and Absa. There, she helped restructure entities and probed corruption, such as in the Road Traffic Management Corporation, where her team recommended major fixes.

Appointed in June 2012 as the first female commissioner, Phiyega had no policing experience, sparking debate. She argued her corporate skills brought fresh ideas. But her term was overshadowed by the 2012 Marikana massacre, where police killed 34 striking miners. The Farlam Commission later found she let politics sway her, failed to act fairly, and tampered with evidence – leading to her 2015 suspension.

A follow-up probe accused her of perjury, unfair labour practices, finance law breaches, and misleading Parliament. These included improper demotions and ignoring rules in senior changes. Phiyega defended herself, saying she inherited a broken system from Cele and was new to the job during Marikana.

Today, as CEO of the Safer South Africa Foundation, she focuses on community safety. Her past roles, like on the 2010 World Cup bid and welfare reforms, show a history of tackling tough issues, but critics say her police stint deepened divisions.

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