National police commissioner Riah Phiyega has informed Police Minister Nathi Nhleko she will not co-operate with a probe into issues in the SAPS, according to a report.
City Press reported on Sunday that in a letter addressed to Phiyega in October, Nhleko told her he had been advised of a number of concerns pertaining to the functioning of the SA Police Service.
According to the paper he told her he had appointed a reference group to investigate.
"The national commissioner and the administration will be required to co-operate fully with the reference group and [are] particularly required to timeously provide all documentation requested to ensure that the reference group completed its responsibilities within the stipulated time frame," Nhleko reportedly wrote.
Phiyega wrote back to Nhleko informing him she would not co-operate, and to President Jacob Zuma to complain about it, City Press reported.
In her response to Nhleko, Phiyega wrote that any concerns raised with him about the police should have been brought to her first.
"I believe that in the spirit of collegiality and deference to the separation of powers as enshrined in the Constitution, I should have been appraised of the concerns raised by various parties," Phiyega was quoted as writing.
She wrote that the group's mandate was of a "general overboard nature" and that it could infringe on administrative powers vested exclusively in the national commissioner.
Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.