Making former prisons chief Linda Mti 2010 World Cup security chief is ”inappropriate” and ”a national disgrace”, opposition parties said on Wednesday.
”How is it that the LOC [local organising committee] saw fit to appoint a man whose professional reputation is in tatters and whose managerial performance is clearly not up to scratch?” asked Democratic Alliance MP James Masango in a statement.
The Inkatha Freedom Party said his appointment is a ”national disgrace”. Party MP Velaphi Ndlovu wondered whether Mti just happened to know ”the right people in the right places”.
Both parties drew attention to Mti’s 2006 drunken-driving incident and the fact that the Department of Correctional Services received five qualified audits five years running under his administration. He also came under fire for having received a R30 000 performance bonus during his tenure.
Further, Mti was last year investigated by the Public Service Commission over a possible conflict of interest when contracts for prison maintenance were awarded to companies with which he was allegedly associated.
Masango said he would take the matter up with Parliament as soon as it resumes next week.
The LOC on Tuesday confirmed Mti’s appointment.
Mti resigned as head of correctional services in November last year.
His resignation came a few days after Johannesburg police confirmed that he had been arrested for drunken driving after being involved in an accident in Sandringham, Johannesburg. It was reported that Mti slammed into the back of another car. The driver of the vehicle alleged at the time that Mti could not stand up straight and his speech was slurred.
On Tuesday, Gauteng police said that Mti’s case had been struck off the court roll as the results of his blood test were not yet available.
”It was taken off the court roll because of no blood report,” said Director Govindsamy Mariemuthoo.
”Once taken off the court roll [it] does not mean there is no case.”
Mariemuthoo said the case against Mti could be back on the court roll once the blood report had been received. He could not say when this would happen.
Blood tests could take six to eight weeks, although it could be influenced by other factors, he said. — Sapa