Investigation of Nhleko urged over illegal appointments

The SA Police Union has called for Police Minister Nathi Nhleko to be investigated by a judicial panel after he told Parliament that an investigation into how the police's covert Crime Intelligence Unit appointed a former criminal to a senior position had been closed. Nhleko told Parliament in February the police had closed the investigation, as the allegations were ‘unfounded’. A report in The Times says it is one of 14 cases of perjury the police were meant to investigate around the hiring of criminals into the Crime Intelligence Unit in contravention of police regulations. The Times says it has seen documents dating back to 2012 showing that the then Inspector-General of Intelligence, Faith Radebe, and the former acting National Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi both felt that the 14 appointments should be investigated. But it seems the cases have been shelved. The Times says it is in possession of the names of the 14 Crime Intelligence operatives allegedly illegally appointed in 2010 during the tenure of now suspended head of the unit Lieutenant-General Richard Mdluli. Those appointed have been convicted of, among other crimes, murder, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, fraud and theft. Perjury cases were opened against all 14 of the covert crime intelligence agents for lying about their convictions.