ANOTHER TOP COP IMPLICATES MTHETHWA IN MEDDLING

Former minister accused of protecting ex-crime Intel boss Mdluli from prosecution

- MAYIBONGWE MAQHINA

POLITICAL interference in the police became prevalent after the 2007 ANC Polokwane elective conference, says exacting police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane.

“From thereon, we started seeing practices that were not a norm,” Phahlane said.

He made the remarks when his evidence was being led by Ad Hoc Committee chief evidence leader Advocate Norman Arendse.

The committee was established to probe allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi that police minister Senzo Mchunu, who is currently on enforced leave, disbarred the Political Killings Task Team for the benefit of criminal syndicates. Mchunu has denied the allegations.

Phahlane said the appointment of former Crime Intelligence divisional commissioner Richard Mdluli that was followed by former minister Nathi Mthethwa fell outside the established practice.

Phahlane said Mthethwa failed to present the submission on the appointment of Mdluli to Cabinet in 2009.

“I am the last person to be appointed following a submission to Cabinet. Everyone appointed after my time, that process did not follow the Cabinet process,” he said.

Phahlane was the divisional commissioner for human resources at the time of Mdluli’s appointment.