Embattled top cop Richard Mdluli has been suspended again, instructed to return state equipment and barred from entering police offices.
The Sunday Independent can reveal that acting national police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi signed the suspension letter on Friday.
Mdluli’s suspension comes after he failed to convince Mkhwanazi why he should not be suspended pending the outcome of an investigation for his alleged involvement in a decade-old love triangle murder of his former lover’s husband Oupa Ramogibe.
The suspension letter states that Mdluli is barred from entering any SAPS building while on suspension.
He has also been instructed to return keys, state vehicles, laptops, a state-issued cellphone and all other accessories that belong to the police.
Four police sources – who spoke on condition of anonymity – said the notice of suspension was served on Mdluli at his home by Lieutenant-General Fannie Masemola.
But Motloung has allegedly written to the police saying his client heard on the news that he had been served with the notice of suspension.
Police spokesman Brigadier Lindela Mashigo said on Saturday the police served Mdluli’s suspension letter to his lawyer Ike Motloung after numerous unsuccessful efforts to reach Mdluli personally.
Contacted for comment on Saturday, Motloung said he was in a meeting. Mdluli could not be reached for comment.
He is still, on the other hand, facing internal disciplinary action for allegedly authorising the purchase of luxury cars in order to solicit a discount for himself.
Top police officials told The Sunday Independent that more suspects would be suspended and arrested for their involvement in looting the crime intelligence slush fund.
Mkhwanazi has shifted all staff members at the cash advance office – which administers slush funds for informants and intelligence operations – and replaced them with 12 new employees.
And only one man – Masemola – is authorised to approve any claim related to the controversial fund. The slush fund, estimated at R300 million, is the subject of a probe involving high-ranking officials, including Mdluli, who are suspected of using it for their private interests.
Mkhwanazi’s “clean-up” campaign is said to lead to a mass exodus in crime intelligence, which will see senior managers being charged internally and criminally.
With such changes in the sensitive unit, Mkhwanazi is unlikely to stay on as acting police commissioner, and labour director-general Nkosinathi Nhleko’s name is punted as a possible successor. But he said on Saturday he had not been approached.
“I am shocked to hear that I have been tipped to be the top cop. It’s a non issue and doesn’t deserve my attention,” he said.
Mdluli’s suspension comes at a time when the leadership of the country’s criminal justice system is unstable.
Prosecutions chief Menzi Simelane is on special leave while national police commissioner Bheki Cele has been suspended. The fitness of both men to hold office has been questioned by the courts and a special inquiry.
The country’s civil intelligence services are still without permanent leaders.
Mdluli wreaked havoc in crime intelligence. He was first suspended by Cele.
Mkhwanazi served him with disciplinary papers in February but he lifted the suspension on Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa’s instructions.
The Sunday Independent last month revealed that Mdluli had penned a letter to President Jacob Zuma, Mthethwa and Mkhwanazi alleging a conspiracy to remove him from his job by senior police officers.
Mdluli named Cele, Gauteng provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Mzwandile Petros, head of crime detection Lieutenant-General Godfrey Lebeya and Hawks head Lieutenant-General Anwa Dramat as the cops who conspired to have him removed.
Mdluli has been at the centre of a political storm and is perceived as Zuma’s henchman – amid denials – to ensure and guarantee him a second term as party president at the ANC’s national conference in Mangaung in December.
Some of Zuma’s own ministers told The Sunday Independent last month they were concerned about Mdluli’s power and alleged abuse of state resources to deal with opponents.
The concerns included unlawful eavesdropping.
Zuma referred the matter to the cabinet security cluster. Sunday Independent