National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega has told President Jacob Zuma she needs more time to respond to his letter warning her of a possible suspension.

The Presidency said in a statement on Thursday – the day the deadline expired for her to respond to him – that she had informed him she was unable to do so.

“President Jacob Zuma wrote to National Police Commissioner General Victoria Phiyega on… August 20 2015, informing her of his intention to institute an inquiry into the allegations of misconduct and/or lack of fitness for the office…

“The president also afforded General Phiyega an opportunity to make written representations to him by 26 August 2015 as to why she should not be placed on suspension pending the outcome of the inquiry in terms of Section 8(3)(a) of the [South African Police] Act.

“General Phiyega responded on August 24 2015, stating that she needed further clarity to enable her to respond.”

Zuma said he would brief the public “in due course” on the implementation of the Farlam report, “including the work to be done by the affected ministries such as police, labour, mineral resources, as well as justice and correctional services”.

The report contains recommendations made by the Marikana Commission of Inquiry, headed by retired judge Ian Farlam, which probed the August 2012 shooting of miners at Lonmin’s Marikana Platinum Mine which left 44 people dead during strike-related unrest. Among other things, it recommended a probe into Phiyega’s fitness to hold office. News24