Phahlane was giving evidence before Parliament’s ad hoc committee on Wednesday, where he also told members of parliament (MPs) of a plot to have him removed.
Phahlane focused his evidence before the committee on events surrounding his dismissal from the South African Police Service (SAPS).
He also told the committee that police corruption and interference is not a new phenomenon and started as early as 2007.
“Political interference in SAPS has been prevalent in the South African police, and it became more prevalent following the 2007 Polokwane conference, where many of these things happened,” he said.
Phahlane also told the committee about an elaborate plot by former Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) head Robert McBride to get rid of him using the media.
“The attacks directed at me by Robert McBride and Paul O’Sullivan and their sustained campaign through the media, both print and electronic, bares testimony to their control of individual journalists whom they weaponised against me,” Phahlane added.
Phahlane told the committee that his dismissal by the then Minister Fikile Mbalula was unlawful and he’s still fighting it in court.