Top cops face parly grilling amid nepotism accusations

Intelligence boss says wife never appointed as PA

The newly appointed acting head of crime intelligence‚ Major-General Pat Mokushane‚ used his first appearance in parliament to defend himself against nepotism allegations.

Mokushane and acting national police commissioner Lieutenant-General Lesetja Mothiba appeared before parliament’s police committee to detail their plans to restructure the police’s criminal intelligence unit.

But MPs wanted to know more about Mokushane’s past following claims that there were skeletons in his closet.

Shortly after Mokushane was appointed‚ reports surfaced that he did not have a top secret security clearance and that he had appointed his wife as his personal assistant.

ANC MP and committee chairman Francois Beukman quizzed Mokushane about the security clearance, while DA MP Zak Mbhele asked about the appointment of his wife.

Mothiba said: “General Mokushane has assured me he has it – but he has been very busy, I am still waiting for a copy of it.”

But Beukman questioned how he had appointed Mokushane without the correct paperwork “ready in his file?”.

Mothiba agreed that it was something he should have done‚ but said he had been more concerned with Mokushane’s experience and background in crime intelligence.

Mokushane, meanwhile, said he had undergone the vetting and polygraph testing required for clearance about “three or four years ago”.

He said the polygraph examiners would indicate whether a person had reacted incorrectly to any of the questions‚ and no such concerns had been raised.

He said reports that his wife was appointed as his PA were entirely untrue.

“My wife has been with the crime inte lligence head office in the technical support unit for four years. She is not a PA nor is she in my office‚” he said.

MPs were also concerned that the restructuring would cause human resource problems.

Mokushane told the committee that: “Head office is ‘top heavy’. We need to shift the resources onto the ground where they are needed.”

He said intelligence officers weren’t getting the information they needed‚ yet “you can go into any car wash in any township and get information for free”.

He plans to shift officers to station and cluster level‚ but in areas of their choice.

Mbhele said there had already been concerns from officers and unions about officers being forced to move. ANC MP Phindile Mmola questioned whether they would be able to retain their ranking. Mothiba assured MPs that the process would be properly handled.

‘ ‘ My wife has been with intelligence support unit for four years