Mthethwa caught up in storm over alleged use of police slush fund

And, instead of his call for the Auditor-General to probe the matter calming the waters, it has spurred the Democratic Alliance on to slam as 'futile' Mthethwa's request, notes a Daily News report. It quotes DA police spokesperson Dianne Kohler Barnard as saying: 'It's no good going to the Auditor-General; he has already told us that information relating to the slush fund is classified. Taking the matter to the Auditor-General will bring no transparency to this sorry saga.' According to the report, Kohler Barnard said the DA had been refused access to the Auditor-General's reports on the SAPS secret service account last week, after being told that the reports were classified. A BuaNews Online report says Mthethwa has requested the Auditor-General to investigate allegations that renovations at his private house were paid for, as well as a car purchased on his behalf, from a crime intelligence secret service account. And, notes an East Coast Radio report, the DA wants the Public Protector's probe into crime intelligence boss Richard Mdluli to be widened to include Mthethwa. Full Daily News report Full BuaNews Online report Full East Coast Radio report

Mthethwa has denied City Press reports that the Hawks are investigating claims that he used nearly R200 000 from a crime intelligence fund to make renovations to his KZN home, says a report on the News24 site. The Sunday paper also claimed that Mthethwa was trying to quash the investigation into himself and two other high ranking police officers accused of colluding with him. The claims were made in a 'top secret' police report given last month to acting police chief General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, according to City Press. Mthethwa strongly denied all the claims. According to newspaper, crime intelligence boss Lieutenant-General Richard Mdluli and finance head Major-General Solly Lazarus were both named in the report. Mdluli had been suspected of looting crime intelligence resources by misusing state vehicles, safe houses, and a police travel agency. He was suspended and then reinstated. The Minister was instrumental in having Mdluli reinstated, the report claims. It says the Minister was also instrumental in reinstating Lazarus who was also suspended - going against the will of the acting police chief. According to the alleged police report, Mthethwa had extensive 'security renovations' made to his house, after Mdluli conducted a risk assessment in May 2010. The payments were approved by Lazarus and were illegal as the secret fund was meant to only finance covert counter-crime operations, the newspaper said. Full report on the News24 site Full City Press report

The Hawks said this week they had not been privy to the contents of the report, according to The Citizen. Hawks spokesperson McIntosh Polela said: 'I have not seen the full contents of the report, so I am unable to confirm the claims.' But he did concede that Mkhwanazi had, on the orders of Mthethwa, instructed the Hawks to halt all investigations involving the crime intelligence department. Kohler Barnard has asked Public Protector Thuli Madonsela to probe Mthethwa's conduct. She claimed the Minister had acted selfishly in the saga. Kohler Barnard said the claims made against the Minister were of such a serious nature that they warranted a proper probe by the Public Protector. Full report in The Citizen