Calls for investigation into IPID's operations amid corruption allegations, political influence

A senior official at the trade union body, the Public Services Association, has called for an investigation into the work of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).

This follows the Association's call for a retired judge to investigate a complaint against KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, rather than the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), which is the police watchdog responsible for such inquiries.

In an interview with IOL, the official - who asked not to be named for fear of their life - detailed how investigations at IPID are allegedly hampered by senior officials who receive instructions from certain politicians.

"This is why we are asking for a retired judge to investigate the allegations against the commissioner which we see as a witch hunt because he is exposing corrupt officials and politicians. 

"Investigators and staff at IPID are victimised and threatened with their jobs if they don't comply with how an investigation must turn out. They work under the influence ofs the top. They are not free or fair to conduct their work. And we are calling for the Public Service Commission to investigate IPID and all the controversial cases that they were tasked to investigate. They will discover some shocking things," said the source.

The source added the Association was waiting for a response to its request to the Public Service Commission to investigate IPID before deciding on its next step.

"We can no longer sit back and watch how IPID is being used by corrupt officials. We've also seen how IPID conducted previous investigations and staff were told what they need to do. One case involved the office of the public protector and we have evidence of how investigators were influenced from the top.

"Mkhwanazi is being targetted because he is exposing corrupt officers and politicians. We dont believe he will receive a fair outcome if the allegations against him are left to IPID to investigate," added the source.

IOL also spoke to an investigator within IPID who backed up the allegations of interference within IPID. "We work in fear of our lives because if we don't comply we are threatened. Some investigators are followed home to scare them, others are relocated to work in other provinces and some quit out of fear. The organisation is run by two people and they have total control over everything," the investigator told IOL.

IPID has been dogged by allegations of interference previously and accused of being 'captured' by outside influence. It has denied this previously.

Mkhwanazi is being investigated for allegedly protecting a prison official accused of drug dealing. He has rejected the allegations, calling it a smear campaign for his clampdown on corruption within the police force and those working with corrupt politicians. He has previously told IOL some of those include senior government politicians.

The complaint against him to IPID also took a bizarre twist this week when it was first reported that National Police Commissioner, Senzo Mchunu, had filed the complaint. However, IPID later retracted this, calling it an 'error', saying the complaint was made anonymously.

Mkhwanazi has received unprecedented support across South Africa, with the hashtag #handsoffMkhwanazi trending on social media platforms.

IOL