Ex-spy chief’s kin ‘earned’ millions

JOBS FOR PALS: TOP COP GAVE POSITIONS TO FAMILY

Some who were put in the cybercrime unit ‘had very basic computer skills’.

The Commission of Inquiry into State Capture yesterday heard testimony of how an estimated R5 million was allegedly spent on the remuneration of seven of former crime intelligence boss Richard Mdluli’s family members between 2010 and 2011.

Whistleblower Colonel Dhanajaya Naidoo – who is currently in the witness protection programme – continued to give evidence related to the 250 posts at crime intelligence which were filled with friends and family of senior officials, including of Mdluli.

These family members were appointed in the first quarter of 2010 into the agent programme within crime intelligence, Naidoo told the chairperson of the commission, Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.

The family members included those of former Lieutenant-General Ray Lalla, former police Major-General Solomon Lazarus and Colonel Hein Barnard and other senior officials within crime intelligence. A number of these individuals had criminal convictions, Naidoo added.

Naidoo told the commission about seven of Mdluli’s family members who, despite not possessing the required experience and expertise, were appointed as agents in crime intelligence.

“Their knowledge of computer skills was very basic. I say this because they went for a training course … which was very basic,”

Naidoo said of four of the seven Mdluli family members were appointed at the cybercrime unit. –

Picture: Nigel Sibanda Pennyville residents protest after two people from Noordgesig in Soweto were allegedly killed in a mob justice attack for stealing. New Canada and Main Reef roads were closed off to motorists.