Johannesburg – The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) inquiry into the July unrest has heard details about how National Police Commissioner Khehla Sithole was nowhere to be found during the unrest.
This was revealed on Tuesday by Police Minister Bheki Cele’s statement, which was submitted to the commission.
Sithole appeared virtually to give his testimony to the commission in Umhlanga, north of Durban.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, the inquiry learnt that the commissioner did not visit the affected areas, including KwaZulu-Natal.
In his statement to the commission, Cele said he worked with the national deputy commissioner instead.
Evidence leader Advocate Keke Matshabi read Cele’s statement.
“The national police commissioner was nowhere to be seen and the minister had to work with the deputy commissioner in an effort to contain the unrest,” read Matshabi.
Sithole also appeared to be uninformed about the looting in July, including the Phoenix violence which claimed 36 lives.
“Do you know how many were killed in Phoenix?” asked the evidence leader.
“Yes, I received the report,” Sitole replied.
“Do you how many people were killed in Phoenix? the evidence leader repeated.
“At the moment, I would not give you the full report,” replied Sithole.
But Sithole told the commission that he was not missing in action and that if someone was looking for him they should have reached out to him.
The SAHRC also heard that public order police KwaZulu-Natal were otherwise occupied when the violence started.
This was revealed by provincial Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi on Tuesday.
He said that the unit was already attending to other situations when the crime wave began.
