Just before President Jacob Zuma could release and make public the Marikana report, the provincial police chief made an unexpected announcement.
Lt. Gen. Zukiswa Mbombo is set to retire from her position as the police chief at the end of May.
On Friday, the outgoing police chief will officially hand over the sword of command to the national commissioner, Gen. Riah Phiyega. The police dismissed rumors that Mbombo is leaving her position due to the Marikana report, saying instead, that she is due for retirement. Who will forget that, under the leadership of Mbombo, 34 miners were killed when the police tried to disperse the striking miners in Marikana on 16 August in 2012?
Zuma has since appointed a commission of inquiry to establish what really transpired during the mining strike in Marikana. The Farlam Commission of Inquiry has completed its work and the report is now in the hands of the president to make its findings public, Mbombo was appointed as the police chief in 2010 after she took over the top seat from the former police commissioner, Leseja Beetha who also retired.
A farewell and gala dinner is planned for Mbombo at the police officers’ club on Friday. Mbombo’s spokesperson, Brig. Thulani Ngubane, also resigned in April. The Herald has been reliably informed that more senior police officers are set to resign.
