Kingdom Mabuza

Kingdom Mabuza

Deputy chief of the beleaguered Ekurhuleni metro police, Themba Mvelase, has been suspended for alleged misuse of council property.

Mvelase is the second-most powerful metro policeman to be suspended. His boss Robert McBride suffered the same fate for allegedly driving a council vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

It is alleged that Mvelase drove the council vehicle to Mpumalanga without authority. But acting police chief Ashok Boodhoo claimed he did not have details of the incident.

Acting city manager John Leibrandt confirmed the suspension but would also not reveal details.

"He got a pre-suspension letter last week and was given until Monday to state reasons why he should not be suspended," said Leibrandt.

McBride, who is still suspended, allegedly rolled the vehicle several times last December.

He first denied the allegation and relied on the testimony of three metro police officers who cleaned up after him at the scene of the crash.

But the South African Police Service apparently turned the officers against him and they spilt the beans on a wide-ranging cover-up.