Johannesburg - Controversial former Ekurhuleni metro police chief, Hlula Msimang, who faced two charges of murder, has been appointed as executive director of the City of Joburg’s public safety department.
This was approved at the council’s monthly meeting on Thursday. However, the appointment is subject to his security clearance.
The move was vociferously opposed by the opposition DA and Freedom Front Plus parties.
Msimang, the son of the late health minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, took over as police chief in Ekurhuleni from Robert McBride. Before that he was police chief in Tshwane.
He was charged with murder after a shooting incident at his Bryanston home on February 11 last year, six months before the city’s recruitment process for the job began.
He was selected for the post and was due to start in December last year, but the city withdrew the offer when the murder charges were laid against him.
Msimang’s lawyer at the time said his client had acted in self-defence after the man had broken into his home “undoubtedly… with malicious intent”.
“The constitution clearly states that people are innocent until proven guilty,” said lawyer Bongani Khoza.
Msimang was cleared for another shooting incident when, in 2007, he allegedly shot dead a man he claimed was trying to hijack him.
Despite taking five years to settle, and only after questions were raised by The Star, was the matter investigated and his actions were found to have been justified and in accordance with the law.
The victim, Vincent Marran, was shot dead on the southbound N1 highway in Midrand.
Msimang was never suspended from the Ekurhuleni council during police investigations, but was granted special leave for a few weeks to attend to the matter.
The council stated numerous times that no action would be taken against him until the conclusion of both cases, and said it was satisfied with the report he gave about the incident.
The DA and FF Plus has, however, questioned the decision by the ANC-led council to appoint Msimang.
DA spokesman on public safety, Darren Bergman, said on Thurday: “Even if he has been cleared, how can he be approved for a high-profile job with this baggage and serious accusations – twice?
“Msimang does not have a good track record in his current position as head of police in Ekurhuleni. No reasons have been given to us, or to the public, why charges were dropped. This appears to have been done behind closed doors. His reputation is tainted. The position is an important one.”
The Star