Peeved top cop denies spending R35m on posh cars

INLSA

Acting National Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi at a media briefing. Picture: Sizwe Ndingane

SOLLY MAPHUMULO

ACTING National Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has denied allegations 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 had been bought, and that they cost in the region of R35m, during the last quarter of the financial year 2011/2012.

They were for distribution within the crime intelligence activities in all nine provinces, including the head office.

He refused to explain the models of car bought, saying only they had an engine capacity of 1.4 and 2 litres and were not posh cars.

According to the report, this was done after a decline in the operational spending patterns of crime intelligence due to infighting within the SAPS.

A visibly angry Mkhwanazi was addressing the media at a briefing at the Pretoria West Police Academy last night to respond to allegations of mismanagement in the top-secret report, which was due to be handed to the joint standing committee on intelligence.

Mkhwanazi called the urgent meeting yesterday to respond to the allegations. He said the vehicles had been bought to replace 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 (Pretoria News) in their lead article,” Mkhwanazi said.

He added that there were individuals who were planning things to discredit his management. “I will be raising this with the relevant authorities,” Mkhwanazi said.

He wouldn’t be drawn into explaining who the authorities he was referring to were.

He vowed that he was not going to rest until he had found out who had penned the report. “The truth will come out. Rest assured and tell your sources that I’m not going to rest until I know the origin of the report,” said a fuming Mkhwanazi.

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