South Africa is a gem when it comes to the appointment of high ranking people within the government sector. They would think they’re a company. Although it is shocking, it’s not surprising that Lieutenant-Colonel Nkosinathi Nomvalo was appointed head of the Hawks in Durban despite the fact that there is a case pending for allegedly losing his firearm at a shopping mall.

Two weeks ago he was appointed to head the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigation, but since it seems that the dockets have been removed from the custody of the National Prosecuting Authority and returned to police. Why? No one knows.

Two impeccable police sources with knowledge of the incident confirmed that Nomvalo and another officer had reported their firearms stolen from a car while it was parked at the Galleria Mall in June this year.

Although the matter was investigated by the Hawks when they obtained CCTV footage of the parking lot where the alleged theft took place, the footage shows that no one gained access to the car. The case was then referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions for a decision on whether or not to charge.

It was transferred to Durban Organised Crime Unit. These were sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions for a decision.

The dockets were pulled back by police a day later – the same day that Nomvalo was appointed.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said:

I have spoken to the Senior Public Prosecutor at Amanzimtoti Court and she advised that the dockets were brought to her on the 30th November 2015.

The very next day, 1 December, the [investigating officer] went back to her office and fetched them, citing that he urgently needed to take them back to the SAPS provincial office.

Due to the short time frame at her disposal, less than 24 hours, she was unable to make a decision [on whether or not to charge Nomvalo].

Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi justified the appointment:

On the application form the member disclosed the case, including the CAS number as per requisite.

During the interview he confirmed the case but upon processing of fingerprints with our criminal record centre there was no reflection or record noted on our system.

Let’s be real, are you even that surprised? Our president has a pending court case against him, but he got the top job.

[source: news24]