‘Underpaid’ under cover

MALIBONGWE DAYIMANI A former crime intelligence informant is suing the police because he feels underpaid for the undercover work he did that resulted in the conviction of five Mdantsane policemen in 2013.

A letter written by lawyer Mzwandile Mqalanto on behalf of former police reservist Simphiwe Vala reads: “Our client was paid R65,000 for the operation. Our client is not satisfied with the money paid for this operation as it is too little as compared to the money paid to him which was R150,000 for a tip-off in a non-project operation.”

Eastern Cape crime intelligence boss Brigadier Sindile Mgobo wrote back to the lawyers confirming that Vala helped with operation “Cooler Bag”, which netted four constables and one reservist.

Mqalanto wrote that operation Cooler Bag was a national project, which should carry more money in informer fees. He said Vala felt “demoralised” because “the police cheated him”.

Mgobo said Vala was paid a monthly remuneration from the State Security Agency and the money was equivalent to the information Vala provided.

But Vala said his reward payment was delayed. “He had to wait for the trial and conviction of the suspects, according to the lead investigating officer.”

Eastern Cape provincial police spokesperson Colonel Sibongile Soci, in a response emailed to the Dispatch last week, said: “Payment of informers and/or partaking in a takedown operation is a matter between the SA Police Service and the informer. It is not the policy or practice of the SAPS to disclose information or discuss such matters with the media.”

In another letter dated January 23 to provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Liziwe Ntshinga, Vala claims that during a cross-examination in the trial of the cops, his name was mentioned in court by investigating officers, which had endangered him.

This entitled him to be paid more.

Mgobo countered this, saying: “It is the accused policemen who mentioned the name of Vala before court during crossexamination by their lawyer.”