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ON THE MOVE: Police crime intelligence boss Richard Mdluli. Photo: Gallo Images

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• Mdluli 'shifted' by Police Minister

Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa announced the temporary demotion of the crime intelligence boss yesterday.

Mthethwa told parliament during his police budget speech that the decision was taken jointly by him and acting national police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

But, it can be revealed that concerns raised by senior ANC politicians, and threats by some within police crime intelligence to resign, led to yesterday's decision.

Mdluli, who attended the parliamentary session, put on a brave face as the decision was announced.

"I am happy; I'm a policeman, I can work anywhere," Mdluli said smiling.

This week Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula revealed that when he was deputy police minister he suspected that his phone was being bugged.

He said that when he questioned Mdluli about it, the spy boss denied it. But he later discovered that Mdluli, in a report to President Jacob Zuma, listed him as being part of a plot to unseat Zuma.

Yesterday it was reported that an "explosive" affidavit by Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale about Mdluli was one of the items stolen from Sexwale's lawyer's home during a burglary.

However two senior government officials, who did not want to be named, said Mdluli's removal was "just a ploy to divert attention from the security and political mess Mdluli has created".

"If they are serious about resolving this matter, why are they not suspending him? Why shift him to another division?

"Mdluli must be taken out of the police if the suspicion of him being protected by [people in] high office is to be removed.

"Most of us remain convinced that Mdluli is there to safeguard a political project. The announcement that he is being shifted is nothing but a game."

A senior ANC official said the latest tactic was a ploy to "buy time".

"But we are not letting go; pressure must bear on him until his masters come out."

But Mthethwa's spokesman Zweli Mnisi denied that the decision to reassign Mdluli was political, insisting it was based on discussions between Mthethwa and Mkhwanazi.

Mnisi said the decision was taken after the recent rows between senior police managers which were sparked by the "widely reported" letter written by Mdluli pledging his support to Zuma.

In the letter Mdluli pledged to politically support Zuma in his bid for re-election at the ruling party's conference in Mangaung in December.

In parliament, Mthethwa said: "There have been unfortunate public accusations and counter-accusations within police management which were sparked by a letter reportedly written by Mdluli to, among others, the police minister.

"The letter seems to have political connotations and has caused tension within police management, alluding to some conspiracy theory of some within management ganging up against him."

Mthethwa said the state law adviser would lead a team to investigate Mdluli's letter, in which he alleged there was a conspiracy by senior police officers to oust him.

"This team is specifically investigating the letter and not financial mismanagement and alleged nepotism within crime intelligence, which is being looked at by the inspector-general for intelligence," he said.

Mkhwanazi said Mdluli's removal was "part of my clean-up, which is only at its beginning".

"While it is a temporary movement, he will no longer be in command of any division," he said. "What will happen to him will be decided by departmental matters, including investigations, which are currently under way."

Asked if more officers would be shifted, Mkhwanazi said: "There are those, who if they still need to be dealt with, will be dealt with."

Mnisi said: "We do not shift people through a carte blanche or one-size-fits-all approach. Each case is independently handled to ensure fairness."

Mkhwanazi confirmed he would take control of the crime intelligence division.

At least three officers who worked under Mdluli before he was suspended in April last year said that more than a dozen experienced crime intelligence officers had applied for transfers after hearing that he would command them again.

The unhappiness in the police is not confined to the spy unit - cracks are showing in other specialised units.

Senior members of the organised crime unit, including from the Hawks and from the commercial crimes unit, have threatened to resign.

SA Police Service Union general secretary Oscar Skommere welcomed Mdluli's transfer but said it was not enough.

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Comments

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Thu Jun 20 01:48:03 SAST 2013 ::

May 10, 2012

Mctoff

Suspend him, invistigate, arrest him & throw away the key.
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May 10, 2012

MorenaWaPolelo

This is why the ANC is loosing the black middle class vote, because the black middle class cannot be lied too, you cannot bribe them with a so called free house or grant or food parcels ect. The black middle class know what is going and cannot be lied too. This Mdluli issue every one can see its a hot red hot potatoe and Mdluli has got them by the ballz, he is not letting go and he is squeezing......how can this fools be so naive as to think that we do not know what is going on when the signs are clear for every one to see!!!
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May 10, 2012

Pointman

Does not matter where he gets shifted to, he will be bought down. It is clear that he has taken sides politically so he is making enemies. When his current master is not in charge anymore, they hyenas will pounce to get even with him.
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May 10, 2012

kudi

Fire him and take him to court
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May 10, 2012

Nys1

"I am happy; I'm a policeman, I can work anywhere, Mdluli said smiling “
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Who is fooling who here , the ANC think that we are as stupid as they think . this is another time delaying ploy to sneak Zuma quietly into the second term .

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May 10, 2012

MommaC

mmmmm political stinkyness smeared all over this.
The line between party and state has been crossed so many times that nobody even seems to know where it is anymore. The ANC was a flippin army of its own, Why can't they use their own internal intelligence gathering to fight their own internal wars instead of hijacking the state facilities?
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May 10, 2012

RobinH

"just a ploy to divert attention from the security and political mess Mdluli has created".

EXACTLY. Tell us something we don't know.
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May 10, 2012

CheeseBoy

Nys1
"I am happy; I'm a policeman, I can work anywhere, Mdluli said smiling “
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Who is fooling who here , the ANC think that we are as stupid as they think . this is another time delaying ploy to sneak Zuma quietly into the second term .



My thoughts exactly. If it was an ordinary joe like me facing similar charges, they'd have locked me up and thrown away the key ages ago. redeployement is nothing more than a tactic to hide the filthy dirt bag under the carpet until after Mangaung
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May 10, 2012

Sinudeity

Jacob will be the end of the ANC. As for Richard, nothing new, for the ruling party to merely deploy corrupt scumb@gs. Dont attend a meeting, get fired. Steal millions from South Africa, nothing happens to you. Eish, the quicker the ANC dies, the better.
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May 10, 2012

Kinggeezo

Are we saying that no one in the S.A.P.S or in any of these fancy specialized units have a clue on Managing Discipline? Why not suspend him like they did to Cele? Where is consistency and transparency? These guys are playing kindergarden's mind games.
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