Call on Cele to resolve office squabble

PARLIAMENTARIANS want Police Minister Bheki Cele to resolve the strained relations between the Office of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) judge and the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service.

This follows a back and forth wrangle between DPCI Judge Diale Kgomo and head of the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service Alvin Rapea as the House was briefed on the annual report of the ombudsman for the Hawks.

At the centre of the accusations is the independence of the DPCI judge and the lack of resources, which Kgomo blamed squarely on Rapea.

Things heated up when Kgomo was asked why he had brought his complaints to the committee. He told MPs Cele had postponed 10 meetings where issues would have been discussed.

Kgomo charged that Cele did not listen to his office and instead to Rapea, whom he viewed as a stumbling block.

Rapea hit back, saying his crime was to refuse to upgrade Kgomo’s secretary to be his professional assistant.

Rapea said that as an accounting officer, he had to follow policy and that the auditor-general had warned that accounting officers would be held accountable for irregularities.

He claimed Kgomo had yet to sign a memorandum of understanding that spelled out how they manage their relationship, and that he should ask to be assisted to comply with prescripts.

The committee had harsh words for the two and said Cele should intervene. “It looks like there is no working relationship between the secretary for police and DPCI judge. The disadvantage is that the minister and the deputy are not here,” acting committee chairperson Kebby Maphatsoe said.