Prison chief 'has new job'

2006-11-09 14:09

Cape Town - South African prisons chief Linda Mti has resigned, a government statement said on Thursday.

It said the correctional services national commissioner quit at the beginning of the month.

"His resignation has been accepted and he will be leaving the public service at the end of November 2006."

Johannesburg police on Tuesday confirmed that Mti - the man the SA 2010 Fifa World Cup organising committee reportedly wants to appoint to head up its security - had been arrested for drunk driving.

It was alleged he was arrested last Thursday after being involved in an accident in Sandringham, Johannesburg.

A weekend newspaper reported that Mti had allegedly smashed his vehicle into the rear of another car.

Gauteng police spokesperson Director Govindsamy Mariemuthoo said while he could not confirm the commissioner's arrest he could confirm an accident after which someone was arrested and taken for a blood test.

"He was released on a warning and will appear in court in January. That's all I can say at this stage. I can't give you the person's name because he hasn't appeared in court yet," Mariemuthoo said.

Later on Thursday, government communications (GCIS) head Themba Maseko told a post-cabinet media briefing at Parliament the executive had accepted Mti's resignation.

The reasons for his resignation would "obviously be a confidential matter between the commissioner and his minister" [correctional services minister Ngconde Balfour], he said.

Maseko added the matter of Mti's resignation had been discussed "for a number of weeks prior to the end of October.

"It is largely because he had been considered for appointment by another body, which we will not mention, and it is up to that body to decide whether to announce the appointment or not."

"So the reason he is leaving is for another post which he is being considered for."

Asked whether cabinet had discussed Mti's car accident and arrest, Maseko said Cabinet "does not discuss accidents".

Johannesburg's The Star newspaper reported last week the 2010 Cup organising committee "want to appoint [Mti] as their head of security".

The World Cup organising committee's communications manager, Tumi Makgabo, confirmed Mti had been asked to join the committee.

Mti is also being investigated by the Public Service Commission over a possible conflict of interest when contracts for prison maintenance were awarded to companies with which he was allegedly associated.

Democratic Alliance spokesman James Selfe welcomed Mti's resignation, saying he hoped the commissioner's successor would have the skill, integrity and experience to tackle the many challenges facing the department.

"Under Mti, the DCS has been characterised by mismanagement while our prisons have remained overcrowded, corrupt and violent.

- SAPA