Pretoria - Crime Intelligence head Lieutenant-General Richard Mdluli is to be shifted from his current position and moved to another division which will be determined by the Acting National Police Commissioner, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa has announced.
Delivering his Budget Vote speech in Parliament on Wednesday, Mthethwa said the move would be effective as of today, adding that a task team had been instituted to investigate certain allegations.
The minister noted that there have been unfortunate public accusations and counter-accusations within the management of SAPS.
"What seems to have sparked this is a widely-reported letter, which Lieutenant-General Mdluli is reported to have written to, amongst others, the Minister of Police.
"This letter seems to have political connotations and has caused tensions within the management of SAPS. It alludes to some conspiracy theory of some in the management ganging up against him," Mthethwa said.
He said the task team would investigate these allegations because they were "so serious as to suggest the meddling of policing functions in politics".
"Whilst this probe is underway, we have, in consultation with the Acting National Police Commissioner, decided that Lieutenant General Mdluli should be shifted from his current position with effect today, as the head of Crime Intelligence and moved to another division," he said.
Mdluli has been informed of the decision and has pledged his support to the process.
With regards to allegations against Mdluli, in relation to mismanagement of Crime Intelligence funds and nepotism, the minister noted that the Inspector General of Intelligence has the legal mandate of oversight with regard to the financial management of Crime Intelligence.
"As part of her mandate, she is further able to look into any other issue that may arise in the course of this investigation. And contrary to what the media is saying, this investigation is still in process. We are not going to be subjected to any public, analysts or media courts," he stressed.
Turning to allegations of murder and torture by the Hawks team in Cato Manor, Mthethwa said these could not be ignored.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate, together with a team from the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation national office, has been tasked with investigating the allegations.
