South Africa's suspended police chief Riah Phiyega has come out fighting following findings by a police watchdog body that she should be charged with defeating the ends of justice.
The charges relate to the deaths of miners in what local media dubbed the “Marikana Massacre”. Police gunned down 24 miners who were on a pay strike at the UK-owned Lonmin mine, which lies about 100km (62 miles) north-west of Johannesburg..
Ms Phiyega who was suspended by President Jacob Zuma last year for being “unfit to hold office” following the incident, said in a press conference in Johannesburg that the action against her was an attempt to tarnish her reputation.
Opposition parties have welcomed the findings of the watchdog body, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate.
If a trial goes ahead, Ms Phiyega would be the most senior official to take the fall over the deaths.
Many memorials have been held on the site where 34 miners died
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