Response to the statement by the National Commissioner of Police Riah Phiyega – By Daniël Lötter – Front National South Africa.
No apologies for affirmative action – Phiyega
October 1, 2014Johannesburg – Government and business should never be apologetic about implementing affirmative action, national police commissioner Riah Phiyega said on Wednesday.
“We need to ensure that affirmative action does not get stunted,” she told delegates at a Black Management Forum conference in Johannesburg.
“Let’s stop being apologetic about things we need to do.”
Phiyega said affirmative action was a conscious attempt to redress past injustices. Although it should continue, it should happen within the confines of the Constitution.
Response:
The National Commissioner of Police, Commissioner Riah Phiyega, made an interesting statement here: “We need to ensure that affirmative action does not get stunted. Let’s stop being apologetic about things we need to do.”
We are not surprised at that statement at all, Commissioner.
But let us have a closer look quickly:
You made the statement while addressing delegates at a Black Management Forum conference in Johannesburg. They would obviously agree with you. My question is: Why is there such a thing as a Black Management Forum in a so-called non-racial society? I plan to set up a White Management Forum soon… would you regard it as racist to set up a forum for white people, seeing that one for black people already exist?
No, we are not surprised at the statement at all, Commissioner.
You say that nobody should apologise for enforcing Affirmative Action, because it is a conscious attempt to redress past injustices. It is a failure, that is what it is. No apologies? Why then do you expect white people to apologise for apartheid – it was a conscious attempt to address future injustices, but because it failed, we are now faced with those future injustices, such as the shameless oppression of a minority group by keeping them out of the employment industry. Let’s be fair, Commissioner – Affirmative Action is keeping a generation of young South Africans without a secure future, decent employment and prospects of a career, because you want to address “injustices” of a previous dispensation – they were not even born yet when apartheid ended!
If you could not manage to address these so-called injustices in 2 decades, what makes you think you will be able to do it in 200 years? Commissioner, you need more than a law which says: Give preference to the black man in appointing him in the job. The black man must actually have the skill to do the job, more than that – he must be willing to do the job.
Affirmative Action drove our most skilled people out of the country. Affirmative Action is creating an economic crisis in this country. It is actually easy to understand: Company has 20 employees. In stead of training one to take over the management of the company, the first black guy who applies is appointed as Managing Director. He has no idea what to do, because his only skill is to be black.
Company goes bankrupt, 20 employees out of work – MD gets appointed into another position because of the impressive CV he offers. One vicious circle of reversed apartheid and blatant black on white racism. That is how basically revolting it is to adopt legislation to favour the vast majority of people. Most countries in the world have Affirmative Action to protect the minority! You have got it all arse about face here!
Fair, you don’t need to apologise for Affirmative Action, but take my word for it: Not once more will white South Africa apologise for apartheid!
No, we are not surprised at your support of affirmation action, Commissioner.
Do you know why we are not surprised by that? Because you are in your position because of Affirmative Action. Be honest now, Commissioner Phiyega: How many crimes did you solve in your career? How many arrests have you made? How many crimes have you prevented while being a police officer?
As far as I can find out: None. Kindly correct me if I am wrong. You have been a social worker, you have worked for ABSA, for Child Welfare, for the Chamber of Mines, for the Road Traffic Management Corporation and you have served on the 2010 Fifa World Cup Bid Committee. But, Commissioner, you as the nr 1 Police Officer in South Africa have not done one day on the beat. Your life has never been endangered in tracking down and arresting criminals. I kind of have an idea of what happens in a charge office – my dad was a police officer. I know how a boy lies awake wondering whether his father is safe while driving out after a gang of robbers at night. Do you? No, of course not. You see Commissioner, you are in your position because of Affirmative Action, not because of applicable education or experience.
And you have a challenging position. Let us look at your immediate predecessors. Commisioner Jackie Selebi, who once also was the President of Interpol (the nr 1 Policeman in the world) was also the only Police Commissioner, as far as I can determine, who ended up in jail for corruption and fraud himself. The Commissioner who became a criminal. His successor, Triggerhappy “genl” Bheki Cele, who was supposed to fix the mess, was removed for corruption as well in October 2011. Do you remember pres Zuma’s statement about him? “The board has found General Cele to be unfit for office and has recommended his removal from office in terms of the provisions of section 8(6)(b)(v) of the South African Police Service Act No. 68 of 1995,” said Zuma
And then you were appointed to fix the mess. Have you read the Media 24 newspapers over the past week or two, Commissioner? Let me quote:
“The Sunday Independent reported that Zuma had ordered a ministerial probe into Phiyega’s conduct. The police ministry had reportedly finalised terms of reference and was securing legal advice.
According to the report, citing unnamed sources, a committee would investigate, among others, allegations that she tipped off Western Cape police commissioner Arno Lamoer about an investigation against him by crime intelligence, and that she misled the public when she claimed she was not aware Lieutenant General Mondli Zuma faced criminal charges when she appointed him Gauteng police commissioner.”
Maybe you can understand why we had respect for genl Johan Coetzee end genl Johan van der Merwe who were fine, upstanding, professional Policemen who worked (do you see the emphasis on the word “worked”?) their way up through the ranks and brought dignity and respect for the blue uniform. Maybe you would rather consider looking at them as an example.
Do you remember your press conference on 19 September, Commissioner? The one where you expressed concern about the fact that 47 people are murdered in this country every day. Why is that so? Were you not appointed to address the crime situation? Is it really viable to believe that in the entire South African Police Force there was not one suitable officer with actual experience, Black, White, Coloured or Indian?
I trust, dear Commissioner, you will not be offended if I ask a small favour: Kindly forget about Affirmative Action – you and yours attained a position enviable enough as a result of it – rather take a moment and tell us what you plan to do about a few things.
These few things would be:
• 47 murders per day!
• The massacre of the white farming community which is swept under the carpet
• The virtual war zone that gangsterism and drugs turned the Cape Flats into
• The hijackings, transito robberies, rapes and torture and burglary and mayhem in our streets.
• But maybe above all: When is South Africa’s nr 1, AA appointed police officer going to start arresting corrupt civil servants? When commissioner? Is corruption not a crime?
You see, that, unless I am very much mistaken, Commissioner, is what you were appointed for in the first place. I don’t see much progress, do you? Maybe spend less time with politics and more time with doing what you are supposed to do. Show us that Affirmative Action works…if you can…
South Africa Today – South Africa News
