National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega has not been suspended pending an inquiry into her fitness to hold office, Police Minister Nathi Nhleko said on Wednesday.

“You would know as much as I do that the national commissioner has not been suspended. Any decision regarding the national commissioner rests with the president,” he told journalists.

He was speaking following a presentation to Parliament’s portfolio committee on police.

The committee was presented with a transformation plan for the SA Police Service following recommendations by the Farlam Commission.

The Presidency recently announced that an inquiry had been instituted into allegations of misconduct and/or whether Phiyega was fit to hold office.

This followed recommendations made by the Marikana Commission of Inquiry, headed by retired judge Ian Farlam, who probed the August 2012 shooting of miners at Lonmin’s Marikana Platinum Mine which left 44 people dead during strike-related unrest.

Nhleko said there was an “either/or” approach in the debate about political appointments, when in fact there should be a balance.

“A political appointment does not translate to inefficiency and tardiness and any other thing you can think of.” News24