CAPE TOWN - Former acting National Police Commissioner Khomotso Phahlane says there has always been political interference in the police service.
He appeared before Parliament's Ad Hoc Committee on Wednesday.
Phahlane said things got worse after the ANC's 2007 Polokwane elective conference.
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"We must not shy away. Political interference has been prevalent in the South African Police Service, and it became more prevalent following the 2007 Polokwane conference where many of these things that lead to where you are taking me happened," he said.
"Because from there on we started seeing practices that were not the norm.
"I'm the last person to be appointed following a submission to cabinet. Everyone else that was appointed after my time, that process did not follow the cabinet process."