Mdluli's job a 'police matter'

2012-05-24 20:55

Cape Town - Police crime intelligence boss Richard Mdluli is still at work and his possible suspension is a matter "between employer and employee", national police spokesperson Brigadier Lindela Mashigo said on Thursday.

Earlier this week President Jacob Zuma declined to be drawn on the merits of an earlier decision to reinstate Mdluli to the SAPS, telling in the National Assembly that law enforcement agencies were "operating as they should".

"He [Mdluli] is still in the service," Mashigo said.

"He is working here. There has been no suspension. This is a matter between the employer and employee."

Zuma had been asked by Democratic Alliance parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko whether he had been informed of all the considerations resulting in the decision to reinstate Mdluli.

He was also asked to give his view on whether the considerations were "rational" and whether Mdluli met all the requirements for performing the duties of his post.

In his response, Zuma noted that Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa had appointed a task team to investigate some aspects of this matter, while the Inspector General of Intelligence was also probing aspects that were within her mandate.

However, ultimately, the appointments, suspensions, reinstatements, transfers, and all staff movements in government departments were the responsibility of those departments "and not the president".

There were government prescripts and procedures in place to deal with performance issues within departments.

The president did not manage the performance of officials in government departments, Zuma said.

Mdluli was first suspended in 2011 when he was arrested on fraud and murder allegations, but that suspension was lifted in March this year.

Mthethwa announced on 9 May that Mdluli would be moved from crime intelligence to a position in the office of the deputy national police commissioner for operations, Fannie Masemola.

On Monday, Mashigo declined to confirm whether acting police chief Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi's office had signed a notice to suspend Mdluli.

"If somebody has been given a notice of intention to suspend it is an internal matter," Mashigo said.

"If and when somebody is suspended, then I can make it public," he added.

Earlier Mkhwanazi told SABC radio news: "I signed a notice of suspension on Sunday [13 May] but other than that I'm not sure... was it delivered and what's the latest on it."

On Friday, Mdluli told the public broadcaster he had not been served with a suspension notice.

Mkhwanazi said it was up to "a deputy national commissioner" to communicate to Mdluli.

- SAPA