Cape Town - Senior South African Police Service management confirmed late on Wednesday that it had terminated the contract of Colonel Marthinus Botha over his alleged misconduct in the ongoing investigation into the Deputy National Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Nomgcobo Jiba.
In a statement issued by national police spokesperson Lieutenant General Solomon Makgale, SAPS said: “The South African Police Service (SAPS) can today, 6 May 2015, confirm that it has terminated the employment contract of Colonel Marthinus Botha. The termination of the contract, which was due to end on 30 June 2015, follows possible misconduct by Colonel Botha in relation to the handling of a case opened by the National Prosecuting Authority.
“After obtaining information about the unauthorised and irregular involvement of Colonel Botha with regards to the issuing of a summons against Advocate Nomgcobo Jiba, the Deputy National Director of Public Prosecutions, we requested him to provide a statement about his role. It was clear from the statement he provided that he had secretly met with NPA officials to discuss the case and took instructions from them about the summons without informing the investigating officer, and his commander, Major General Norman Taioe.
“SAPS management is very disappointed that, during the investigation of the case against Advocate Jiba, Colonel Botha conducted himself in an unprofessional manner. His conduct not only blatantly undermined his superiors, but it also had the potential of jeopardizing the investigation. This act has irreparably damaged the relationship between Colonel Botha and SAPS.”
Makgale said that throughout the said meetings, Colonel Botha had been aware that Major General Taioe was the investigating officer in the case and his commander.
“However he apparently chose to disregard General Taioe and kept him in the dark about his meetings with the NPA and the resultant outcome of these discussions – that a summons be served on Advocate Jiba. During these clandestine meetings with the NPA, Colonel Botha was not in possession of the case docket.”
Colonel Botha, who had retired from the SAPS more than two years ago, had been contracted to assist the Detective Service Division, given his many years of experience as an investigator of serious and violent crimes. He added a lot of value to the SAPS’s investigative capacity, particularly in assisting SAPS management during the Oscar Pistorius trial, as well as dealing with blue light robberies in Gauteng and investigations into rhino poaching as the acting head of the National Investigation Unit (NINU) under Lieutenant General Vinesh Moonoo Makgale added.
“It is therefore sad that he and the SAPS had to part ways in this manner. His last day in the office was on 28 April 2015. Management of the SAPS would like to thank him for his contributions and wish him well in his future endeavours.”
ANA