The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) on Friday added their voices to calls for police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi’s suspension in the wake of alleged crime boss Glenn Agliotti’s arrest in connection with the Brett Kebble murder.
IFP spokesperson Velaphi Ndlovu said in a statement that to ensure the impartiality of further investigations in the case, the IFP advised Selebi to take a leave of absence.
“Once the investigation and court case is concluded, Mr Selebi can then take whatever course of action is available to him at that time.”
Ndlovu said the IFP was pleased about the positive developments being made in the case, but could not help but raise concern regarding the length of time it had taken the police to get this far.
ACDP leader Kenneth Meshoe said the fact that the Scorpions effected an arrest while the police had been investigating the matter for more than a year proved that the Scorpions had far better investigative skills and abilities than the police.
“This provides further evidence that placing the Scorpions under the police national commissioner would hamper the effectiveness of the Scorpions,” he said.
The relationship between Selebi and “a man who has been accused of a crime such as murder”, raised serious questions that had to be answered by Selebi himself or, failing which, he had to be investigated.
“If Mr Selebi claims that he did not know that his friend Mr Agliotti was involved in activities of this nature, then all the intelligence agencies in the country have failed not only Mr Selebi, but also the country itself.
“If it is so that the national commissioner was aware of the alleged criminal activities of Mr Agliotti, why did he maintain the relationship, if not for some form of benefit?
“These are the questions to which we urgently require answers.”
Selebi should do the right thing and step down while the investigation was taking place, or be suspended by the president with immediate effect.
Selebi should further abstain from interfering with investigations by the Scorpions until the case was closed, Meshoe said.
Earlier, the South African Broadcasting Corporation reported the controversy around Selebi was expected to be discussed at the African National Congress’s (ANC) national executive committee meeting in Johannesburg on Friday.
The ANC earlier expressed support for Selebi, but indicated it could review its position if new information was brought forward, the broadcaster said.
Vindicated
Meanwhile, the man who compiled a dossier painting a picture of a criminal organisation involving senior police officials, including Selebi, said on Friday he felt vindicated by the arrest of Agliotti for the murder of Brett Kebble.
“You should resign now, finished and klaar,” Paul O’Sullivan said about Selebi.
The former security chief at the Airports Company South Africa said the fact that Selebi had a relationship with Agliotti was enough reason for him to resign.
Selebi was recently quoted as saying of his relationship with businessman Agliotti: “[He’s] my friend, finish and klaar.” — Sapa
You first read about it in the M&G
Over nearly six months, while it ran a series of articles about a crime syndicate associated with slain mining magnate Brett Kebble and police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi, the Mail & Guardian was a voice crying in the media wilderness. The arrest of Glenn Agliotti vindicates the M&G‘s multipart exposé:
May 26: Jackie Selebi’s shady Kebble links
The M&G revealed that Selebi was “linked to shadowy figures” Agliotti and Clint Nassif, who worked with Kebble on security and other projects, and that it was “highly likely” that the Scorpions were investigating this network and Selebi’s links to it. We also reported that Agliotti phoned Selebi soon after Kebble’s murder, and that Agliotti and Kebble had been in phone contact 24 hours earlier, when the latter was close to the murder scene. Agliotti and Selebi insisted there was nothing untoward about their call.
June 2: Commissioner did visit Kebble
We detailed Agliotti’s involvement in R18-million fraudulent cobalt deals and his life as a bigamist. We also confirmed Selebi visited Kebble’s home — despite his earlier denial.
July 14: Kebble link in huge drug bust
We reported the Scorpions’ arrest of five alleged syndicate members on charges of smuggling hashish and dagga worth up to R200-million, in a move linked to a wider investigation of Agliotti and his company. We also detailed a contraband tobacco deal involving some of the same actors, and how a crooked cop involved in the deal boasted of taking Selebi’s orders.
July 28: Arrests: Agliotti is next
We identified Agliotti as “the Landlord”, described by the Scorpions in court as among “the syndicate bosses who tend not to get their hands dirty, but manage their enterprises from a distance”. We also examined Agliotti and Selebi’s friendship — Selebi had originally described Agliotti as “my friend, finish and klaar“, but was now backtracking.
August 4: ‘Landlord gave order to kidnap’
We further described Agliotti’s alleged involvement with the syndicate, including claims that he had a syndicate member locked in a container.
September 22: Scorpions raid Agliotti
We reported that the Scorpions had raided Agliotti’s home and business, and that the warrant indicated they were interested in the syndicate’s links with police and Palto, a shady undercover operation linked to Selebi that freelanced for police.
September 29: Selebi, Agliotti and the dirty cops
We expanded on Palto’s role and Selebi’s downplaying of his ties with Palto head Paul Stemmet.
October 27: Kebble’s security boss nabbed
We reported the arrest of Nassif, Agliotti’s friend and former Kebble security adviser, as part of the Scorpions’ larger investigation. We said “Nassif’s arrest could blow the case wide open … he could turn state witness”.
November 3: Kebble murder: The noose tightens
We named the Scorpions’ investigation into the criminal network surrounding Kebble — project “Bad Guys”. The investigation encompassed conspiracy to murder, (the Kebble) murder, corruption (Selebi’s alleged receipt of syndicate money, which he denies), drug trafficking and organised crime (including the July drug bust). We reported claims that Nassif interfered with the Kebble murder probe by moving Kebble’s car to a panel-beater and tried to get it cleaned.
November 10: Inside the Selebi dossier
We described how former airport security boss Paul O’Sullivan, on a mission to expose Selebi, contributed to the Scorpions probe. Selebi has accused O’Sullivan of engineering a “smear” against him.
November 17: Kebble arrest: What now for Selebi?
The arrest of Agliotti on suspicion of murdering Kebble has opened perhaps the biggest can of worms in South Africa’s criminal history. The arrest could have grave implications for Selebi.