THE decision by Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa to "shift" controversial and divisive police crime intelligence boss Richard Mdluli to another position in the SA Police Service is a futile exercise in damage control.

Mthethwa understands the damage done by the presence of Mdluli - and all the wrongs he represents - in the police.

The minister obviously knows that Mdluli is not the kind of cop who should still be holding the position he has held for some time under a dark cloud.

He also knows that Mdluli should not be entitled to any other position in the police until such time as he has been cleared of a myriad allegations.

As things stand Mdluli is the subject of several investigations.

There is an ongoing inquest into his alleged involvement in murdering a man with whom he shared a lover. Tied to this probe are serious allegations that he used his position in the police to tamper with the case.

The auditor-general is probing his alleged abuse of crime intelligence slush funds for personal gain. Theinspector-general of intelligence is probing a number of allegations related to Mdluli.

And now Mthethwa himself has asked the state attorney's office to probe Mdluli's involvement on matters that have "political connotations".

There has never before been a police officer surrounded by so much controversy, facing so many allegations and, more importantly, so unsuitable for his position - yet everything is being done to make sure he stays afloat.

Even Jackie Selebi, former police boss who felldramatically from grace, was never a subject of so much unseemly drama. President Thabo Mbeki's protection of Selebi now pales intoinsignificance.

The situation is so ridiculous that we are now even making comparisons between two rotten apples! And the best Mthethwa can do, probably instructed by President Jacob Zuma, an ally of Mdluli, is to try to lull the public.

Is Mthethwa suggesting that Mdluli will inspire publicconfidence in the area to which he will be "shifted"?

If Mdluli has caused so much trouble in arguably the most sensitive of all sections of the police, why should he be trusted in another role in the police?

The whole Mdluli saga shows the disdain in which important state institutions, including those that deal with sensitive matters of public security, are held by our political leaders.

Thanks to Mthethwa's policy of "shifting" many civilservants and police officers will expect the same treatment.

Is this not a case of a state beginning to crumble?