The spokesperson for the police ministry said Bongani Mbindwane was appointed for his political "know-how".
Former chief executive of Platfields Limited Bongani Mbindwane has been appointed as a political adviser to Minister of Police Fikile Mbalula.
“The appointment is still in process and we are in the process of finalising it”, Mbalula told the Mail & Guardian. “Like any appointed adviser in the various departments, his job will be to liaise with me, work close with me and most importantly advise on political issues. That is why I hired him.”
Mbindwane is a well-known Twitter personality, where he consistently takes a pro-Zuma stance, twarring with critics and earning him a “Zuma cheerleader” tag.
In April, he tweeted: “Some days make one imagine a Zuma third term as president of the glorious ANC.” On May 10, he tweeted: “The anti Zuma sausage machine is a red herring against the full emancipation of the black body. Racism and racial empathy gap is at play.”
The spokesperson for the police ministry, Vuyo Mhaga, said Mbindwane’s personal views were not a factor. “We must learn how to separate the professional and the personal. Mbindwane’s personal views are his own and have nothing to do with what he is capable of doing as a professional. What he says and does in his own time and what he stands for have nothing to do with his appointment as adviser,” he said.
He said Mbindwane was the minister’s preferred candidate for the position and will prove to be a good addition to the minister’s team, given his understanding of the South Africa’s political scene.
“The minister appointed Mbindwane for his political know-how. He understands the South African politics and according to the minister he was the right man for the job and I am certain he will prove to be a worthwhile recruitment,” said Mhaga.
Mbindwane served as director and chief executive of Platfields before the company’s shares were suspended on the JSE because of its failure to submit financial results on time. He holds a BA Law and a diploma in environmental management.