Richard Mdluli
Suspended crime intellience head Lieutenant-General Richard Mdluli will have to explain why R150 000 of police funds was used to upgrade security at his house when he appears before a disciplinary hearing in July, City Press reported on Sunday.
The 10 charges Mdluli faces were revealed in court papers filed by former acting police chief Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi in the Johannesburg Labour Court this week.
The charges against him relate to his alleged abuse of a crime intelligence “slush fund”, that he misled investigations into 250 covert appointments of crime intelligence operatives, and appointed family members and friends to police positions.
The charge sheet states that Mdluli allegedly spent R150 209 on security upgrades to his Boksburg home, authorised air travel for his wife and children to the value of R84 199, and spent R46 809 on business class tickets for his wife.
Mdluli remains suspended from the police service, pending various court actions.
The Labour Court case in which Mdluli is challenging his suspension is due to be heard this week.
Last year, Mdluli faced fraud and corruption charges for the misuse of the fund, and faced a murder charge for the death of his former lover’s husband. The charges led to his initial suspension. This year, all the charges were withdrawn and Mdluli was reinstated in March. This was widely criticised by, among others, the Democratic Alliance and lobby group Freedom Under Law. Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa later moved him to a different division but Mkhwanazi opted to suspend him.
The suspension was lifted by the Labour Court on June 1 but subsequently overturned by the same court.
‘No doctor can doctor herself’
New top cop Mangwashi Phiyega said she will comment on the investigation into Mdluli after she has read the files on him, the paper reported.
“I will be dealing with it.”
Phiyega said documents seen in newspapers were “adulterated”.
“Now that I’m here, they will show me the real files and maybe when you talk to me 12 months down the line, I will be able to say I did see the real files and what we were seeing wasn’t the real thing,” she told the publication.
Phiyega also commended the Independent Police Investigative Directorate.
“No doctor can doctor herself. It’s critical and important to have the directorate to police us and to regulate us. I really appreciate its existence.”