Acting national police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has denied allegations that he spent R35 million on a fleet of luxury cars from a Secret Services account to ensure the budgeted funds were spent.
But he conceded that 149 vehicles costing in the region of R35m had been bought in the last quarter of the 2011/2012 financial year for distribution within crime intelligence activities in all nine provinces, including the head office.
He said the cars had an engine capacity of 1.4 and 2.0 litres and were not luxury vehicles.
A top-secret report said this was done after a decline in the operational spending patterns of crime intelligence due to infighting.
A visibly angry Mkhwanazi was addressing the media at a briefing at the Pretoria West Police Academy on Thursday night to respond to allegations of mismanagement in the report, which was due to be handed to Parliament’s joint standing committee on intelligence.
He called the urgent meeting on Thursday to respond to the allegations.
Mkhwanazi said the vehicles were replacing old cars and those that had been boarded.
“It is on this score that I would like to categorically state and vehemently dismiss any wrongdoing as suggested by The Star in their lead article.”
He added there were individuals who were planning things to discredit his management. “I will be raising this with the relevant authorities.”
He vowed not to rest until he had found out who penned the report.
“The truth will come out one day. Rest assured and tell your sources that I’m not going to rest until I know the originality of the report,” he said.
He told The Star reporter who had written the story “Sohlangana Ezulwini (We will meet in heaven)”.
Asked if this was a threat, Mkhwanazi said all he meant was that the truth would come out.
“I don’t threaten people. Why would I do that?”
Sapa reports that Mkhwanazi said he was ready for any investigation into the allegations.
“I would welcome the Public Protector, Parliament, the United Nations or anyone to investigate me. They are all welcome, I will put the cards on the table,” he said.
The Star