Zille questioned on charges against officer

WESTERN Cape Premier Helen Zille has been drawn into internal battles within the province’s police management after she was interviewed by a police investigator probing disciplinary charges against one of his colleagues.

While Zille denied that she had been subpoenaed to give testimony in the case against police sergeant Francois Joubert, she might still testify at his disciplinary hearing when it sits next month at Customs House on the Foreshore.

Zille and her Community Safety MEC, Dan Plato, have been vocal in their criticism of the SAPS, particularly its fight against crime and gangsterism on the Cape Flats.

Joubert is facing several disciplinary charges brought by Mitchells Plain cluster commander Gregory Goss.

Goss said the charges were brought against Joubert for “disappearing dockets”, and that he was never a member of Operation Combat.

Goss has been accused by ANC activist Colin Arendse of executing a campaign against former Umkhonto weSizwe members who are now working for the SAPS.

While this was happening, Arendse claimed that police would not investigate his complaint against the provincial head of detectives, Patrick Mbotho, who confirmed to another publication that he had sent a pornographic clip to a police Whatsapp group.

Police spokesperson Andre Traut said the police would not comment on internal disciplinary matters “in the open domain”.

Zille, through her spokesperson, Michael Mpofu, confirmed yesterday that she had met and given a statement to an investigator.

Arendse, in a letter to Zille, questioned why she and Plato would be involved with internal police matters. He had claimed that both had regular interactions with Mitchells Plain police colonel Tony Roux, who was investigating disciplinary charges against Joubert.

Plato would not comment on the matter.

Police Minister Fikile Mbalula’s spokesperson, Vuyo Mhaga, would not comment on the allegations contained in Arendse’s letter, which had also been sent to the police ministry.

Zille and Plato have been vocal in the calls for the SAPS to be reined in, and said that the provincial government should have a say in the allocation of police resources throughout the province.