11 disciplinary charges
The South African Police Service has laid 11 disciplinary charges against Lieutenant-General Khomotso Phahlane. They include:
Irregular promotions: Phahlane allegedly made two irregular appointments as divisional commissoner of forensic services. The charge relates to the appointment of a Colonel Traut (Kleinhans) to the position of brigadier as section head of project management and strategic planning. The post had allegedly not been evaluated and did not exist in the approved structure. The other appointment was the promotion of a Colonel Daku from the rank of a captain, skipping the rank of lieutenant-colonel. Phahlane denied the appointments were irregular.
Breach of financial disclosure requirements: It is alleged Phahlane failed to declare five of his vehicles – a Land Rover Discovery 4, a Nissan Navara bakkie, a VW Amarok, a Toyota Hilux and a Range Rover Sport – in terms of the Saps employment regulations. Phahlane has said that disclosure of vehicles only became compulsory in August 2016, and the vehicles were all purchased before then.
Failure to disclose close personal relationship with Jolanta Komodolowicz, which presented a conflict of interest: Phahlane argued he only knew the businesswoman a year after her company began its contract with Saps and there was no proof their relationship was corrupt.
Authorising procurement without verifying a needs assessment was done: This was in relation to the purchase of nearly R15 000 worth of chemicals for the component, criminal record and crime scene management. Phahlane contends the charge is factually incorrect.
Unacceptable, disgraceful actions: Phahlane allegedly instructed his estate manager and security manager not to cooperate with Ipid and instructed a security guard not to allow Ipid officers access to his property.
He allowed an investigation team led by Major-General Mabula to probe Ipid investigators: Phahlane allegedly instructed officers to probe Ipid investigators while he was under investigation for allegedly defeating the ends of justice. Phahlane said he believed investigator Paul O’Sullivan, who was assisting Ipid, was a threat to his personal security after he took photos of his house plans.