KwaZulu-Natal police chief Lieutenant-General Mmamonnye Ngobeni has confirmed she has been suspended.

In a text message to TMG Digital on Thursday afternoon‚ the embattled KZN SAPS commissioner said: “Yes my dear.

I’m on suspension from tomorrow. Thanx for asking. Further enquiries please liaise with head office.”

A notice of intention to suspend Ngobeni was served by acting national police commissioner Kgomotso Phahlane last month. It appears the official suspension letter was served by Phahlane on Thursday morning.

Ngobeni’s suspension — which has been mooted for several weeks — comes amid speculation over her links with controversial Durban businessman Thoshan Panday‚ who has previously been investigated for fraud.

 According to media reports‚ a PriceWaterhouseCoopers audit found her and Panday had a “possible corrupt relationship“. Panday was also accused of having paid for Ngobeni’s husband Lucas’s birthday party‚ and being involved in a R60-million corruption tender scam. Panday has fervently denied these claims.

National Hawks spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said that any “matters of this nature” were between the employer and the employee‚ and should not be handled through the media.

“Any decision taken by the acting national commissioner is taken within the confines of our regulatory framework‚ balanced with the interests of the [police] service and the individual concerned in mind‚” he said.

Democratic Alliance shadow minister of police‚ Zakhele Mbhele‚ welcomed Ngobeni’s suspension. He said the party wanted Phahlane to set a date for an inquiry into Ngobeni’s fitness to hold office and the terms of reference for the inquiry.

“This is so we may satisfy ourselves that the investigation indeed takes into account all Ms Ngobeni’s (alleged) transgressions. The suspension of Ngobeni is a laudable step towards ensuring accountability for her alleged misconduct and in so doing‚ restoring some semblance of integrity within the SAPS‚” he said.

Ngobeni’s suspension is the latest in a string of top cops facing disciplinary action.

Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union spokesman Richard Mamabolo said the union would be requesting more information about Ngobeni’s suspension.

“We are concerned about what has been happening‚ where there have been a number [of commissioners] suspended or fired. It‚ basically‚ gives the impression that the current national commissioner is hell-bent on ensuring that anyone associated with the suspended national commissioner [Phiyega] is removed‚” said Mamabolo.

He added that this was a “mechanism to pave his way to fulfil his ambition” of becoming Phiyega’s permanent replacement.

Mulaudzi said he would not “dignify Popcru’s statement with a response”.

Mbhele said that the action being taken by Phahlane was encouraging‚ but that the party was “watching carefully that it is not be done to purge perceived Phiyega loyalists” (a reference to suspended police commissioner Riah Phiyega).

“As I’ve said to Phahlane before in parliament‚ my stance is one of cautious optimism‚ and the proof will be in the pudding‚” he said.