Dismissed cop says late
MBABANE – A dismissed police officer wants to be reinstated, because he says former Prime Minister (PM) Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini was too ill when he heard his appeal.
As a result, Mpendulo Dlamini alleged that Barnabas did not apply his mind when hearing the appeal. Police officers appeal decisions of their disciplinary hearings to their minister, who is the PM.
The former PM, who died on September 28, 2018, heard Mpendulo’s appeal after he had been dismissed.
He said he appealed on August 12, 2014, and it was not heard until four years later. According to Mpendulo, in 2018, he received a call from a certain Mabuza in the Office of the National Commissioner (NATCOM) of Police, who instructed him to report to Cabinet Offices.
He said on arrival, the former PM was present but due to his ill-health, the appeal did not proceed. He said he was informed that Barnabas needed to be rushed to South Africa for a medical check-up.
He stated that on August 30, 2018, he received a phone call from a certain Malinga, who was the Security Police Officer at Cabinet Offices, who instructed him to report to Cabinet Offices on the following day.
Mpendulo stated that he found the former PM, together with Malinga, as well as Ngwane Mabuza and Bonisile Simelane, who had been delegated by the commissioner of police to appear on his behalf during the hearing of the appeal.
He mentioned that there was a caucasian man among them, who was unknown to him. “They were all seated around a table. The first respondent (Barnabas) greeted me and his health condition was bad, because he would say two or three words and then take a sip of water due to severe coughs.
Sick
“Thereafter, he said I should state my story and I explained how I was sick at the time I committed the disciplinary offences. I explained that I was to undergo treatment at the psychiatric centre and as a result, I was dismissed for absenteeism. I had a medical report regarding the time I spent at the psychiatric centre,” Mpendulo submitted.
He alleged that Barnabas asked about his (Mpendulo) health status and he informed him that he had fully recovered.
After further submissions, according to Mpendulo, Barnabas told him that he would deliver a judgment in due course. “I contend that the first respondent was terminally ill when he heard my appeal and he did not apply his mind to the appeal.
“He never addressed my case with an open mind and I had a legitimate expectation that he would refer the matter back to the second respondent (commissioner of police) to write the said letter to the psychiatric centre to come to a just decision.
“The first respondent only relied on the dismissal letter by the second respondent. He abdicated his powers