Police bosses disagreed on appointment
Minister’s decision riled national commissioner Phiyega, sources say
THE SECONDMENT of a senior police officer to the ministry is said to be one of the reasons why suspended national commissioner General Riah Phiyega and Minister Nathi Nhleko fell out.
The Star has learnt that Major-General Bethuel Mondli Zuma, who headed the Nkandla investigation, is facing criminal charges for losing his service firearm under suspicious circumstances in August last year.
Zuma, who is not related to President Jacob Zuma, had been appointed Gauteng police commissioner, but Phiyega withdrew his appointment when it emerged that he was facing criminal charges for drunk driving and defeating the ends of justice.
The Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court acquitted him of the charges.
Phiyega said at the time that she became aware of the charges against Zuma after announcing him as commissioner.
But it emerged recently that one of the allegations before a ministerial committee looking into misconduct charges against Phiyega is that she misled the public when she claimed that she was not aware of the charges against Zuma.
It has been reported that several documents disputing her statements have emerged, including a declaration believed to have been signed by Zuma four days before his appointment.
The Star has learnt that in April this year, Nhleko requested that Zuma be moved to his office to head special projects, one of which was the Nkandla investigation. Zuma was the head of border policing at the time.
Senior officials said the request was not supported by Phiyega, partly because of the new criminal charges Zuma is facing. The new charges relate to an incident last year when Zuma lost his state-issued laptop and 9mm Beretta.
He reportedly told police that after spending the night at Regal Inn Xpress in Pietermaritzburg, he put his firearm in his laptop bag and went shopping, leaving the bag in his Hilux.
The next day he noticed the bag was missing. However, the vehicle was locked and there was no sign of forced entry.
The laptop contained information on border policing and ports of entry.
The National Prosecuting Authority has issued a summons for Zuma to appear in the Pietermaritzburg Regional Court on January 18 to face a charge of the negligent loss of his firearm.
Nhleko’s spokesman Musa Zondi said Zuma was instructed by the minister to assist with special projects.
Zondi denied there was tension due to “functional and operational objectives”. “We find it strange that this matter is being raised now via the media when Major-General Zuma has always been at the SAPS and no issue was ever raised.”
Zondi said the minister was aware that Zuma had reported the theft of his service pistol and a laptop computer. He had been given a bill of R17 000 to pay for the stolen items.
“It is a matter that is before our courts, consequently it would be imprudent for the minister to be drawn into details of this matter, which is sub judice,” Zondi said.