Mkhwanazi still stand-in police boss
2012-04-01 17:05
Johannesburg - Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi remains acting police commissioner despite media reports of his imminent resignation, his spokesperson said on Sunday.
Brigadier Lindela Mashigo said he could not comment on a report in the City Press that Mkhwanazi intended meeting with President Jacob Zuma to tender his resignation.
"I am well aware of the writing [in the newspaper]... I have no comment, but to accompany my 'no comment' I am saying that he is still in place as acting national commissioner," Mashigo said.
He also declined to comment on reports that Mkhwanazi objected to the reinstatement of crime intelligence boss Richard Mdluli and finance head Major General Solly Lazarus. Their suspensions were lifted last week.
The City Press reported that Mkhwanazi was "shocked" at political interference around the issue.
On Friday, the presidency denied that Zuma had interfered with a corruption probe into Mdluli's affairs or his reinstatement and said it was an internal police matter.
It also denied that Zuma had asked Inspector General of Intelligence Faith Radebe to rethink her decision to hand over the Mdluli investigation to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
Mdluli was suspended in May after murder charges were laid against him.
Following this, fresh charges relating to fraud and corruption in the abuse of crime intelligence funds were levelled at both Mdluli and Lazarus, but these were provisionally withdrawn.
In February, the NPA announced that the best way to deal with the murder charges against Mdluli was through a formal inquest and not a trial.
- SAPA
