Confusion over Selebi contract

2009-07-01 07:08

Johannesburg - The presidency and the safety and security ministries appeared to differ on Tuesday over when National Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi's contract expires.

Safety and Security spokesperson Hangani Mulaudzi said that according to their information it expired at midnight on Tuesday.

Presidency spokesperson Thabo Masebe said it expired at the end of July.

"The DA will urgently submit parliamentary questions to the minister of police on this matter.

"We will ascertain amongst other things, if a further R100 000 of taxpayer's money has been wasted by the Zuma administration on an additional month's salary for Selebi," said the Democratic Alliance's safety and security spokesperson MP Dianne Kohler-Barnard.

Zuma, Mthethwa to meet on new commissioner

Earlier, Mulaudzi said President Jacob Zuma and Safety and Security Minister Nathi Mthethwa would meet this week to discuss the appointment of a permanent national police commissioner.

"That process will kick-start this week," said Mthethwa's spokesperson Hangwani Mulaudzi.

Commissioner Tim Williams has been acting in Selebi's position while he is on special leave pending his court case on allegations of corruption and defeating the ends of justice.

Selebi's contract was renewed for 12 months last year by former president Thabo Mbeki while the former Interpol boss waited for his trial to begin.

Mulaudzi cautioned against assuming the end of the contract meant Selebi would no longer be commissioner.

"It does not mean that his contract will not be renewed. If he comes back, let it be," said Mulaudzi.

Selebi, Zuma meet

The appointment of a national police commissioner was Zuma's prerogative, as chief of staff in the government, he explained. Selebi and Zuma met last week, he said.

Presidency spokesperson Thabo Masebe said Zuma would make an announcement on the appointment "at his convenience".

Selebi's lawyer was not immediately available to clarify the expiry date, or to indicate what he intended to do about it - whether he would insist on renewal until the finalisation of his case which is set down for October 5 in the High Court in Johannesburg.

Selebi took special leave in 2007, when it emerged he was about to be charged with corruption relating to his relationship with convicted drug trafficker Glenn Agliotti.

- SAPA