Politicians reacted angrily at the decision to move Lieutenant-General Richard Mdluli out of his crime intelligence position yesterday. A collective feeling amongst opposition parties was that this was simply not good enough, and that Mdluli should be suspended again.

Mdluli is convinced certain people are conspiring to oust him, amongst them: acting police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkwhanazi, head of the Hawks, Anwa Dramat, and Gauteng Commissioner Lieutenant-General Mzwandile Petros.

Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa told reporters yesterday that the decision was made in light of a widely reported letter Mdluli had written to him, President Jacob Zuma, and others.

Mthethwa said:

This letter seems to have political connotations and has caused tensions within the management of the SAPS. It alludes to some conspiracy theory of some in the management [of the police] ganging up against him. They are so serious as to suggest the meddling of policing functions in politics.

DA parliamentary leader, Lindiwe Mazibuko, wasn’t pleased:

All of the available evidence suggests that Mdluli is not fit to serve in any part of the police service or criminal justice system. President Zuma must re-suspend Richard Mdluli with immediate effect. Anything less is unacceptable. This ‘shifting’ of Mdluli to another part of the SA Police Service does not address these problems.

Mazibuko continued, saying South Africa still didn’t know why Mdluli had been reinstated, especially amidst serious allegations of fraud involving a secret crime intelligence fund.

She’s convinced there has been political interference.

Mthethwa did however announce that he had established a task team to investigate allegations of political interference in police matters.

Sindi Chikunga, an ANC MP who chairs the police portfolio committee, put to bed speculation that Mdluli was to take over as national police commissioner:

There is no vacancy. Nobody is head-hunting a national commissioner. General Mdluli is not being considered.

Yesterday, it emerged that an affidavit penned by Tokyo Sexwale was amongst documents that had been stolen from an advocate acting in a matter against Mdluli.

Mdluli will now reportedly take up a role in the operations department at SAPS.

[Source: 2oceansVibe, TimesLive]