Richard Mdluli still living the high-life despite three-year suspension
15 June 2015
The DA will today write to the Minister of Police, Nathi Nhleko, to request that he answers a raft of questions pertaining to former, disgraced Crime Intelligence Head, Richard Mdluli, who has been suspended since 3 June 2012 with a salary of just over R1.3 million a year and has been living the high-life at taxpayers’ expense (see City Press report).
Minister Nhleko must account to taxpayers who have been footing the bill for Mdluli’s expenses, which include business class flights, a bodyguard and a full-time driver with a state vehicle, as well as various newspaper subscriptions.
This is according to senior police sources who spoke to the media over the weekend.
Indeed, Mr Mdluli has been allowed to live off the country’s taxpayers because he enjoys protection from a number of senior government officials who will go to great lengths to shield him from due accountability. It is no secret that Mr Mdluli has very close ties with President Jacob Zuma.
Additionally, the deputy National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), Nomgcobo Jiba, Commercial Crimes head, Lawrence Mwrebi, and North Gauteng DPP, Sibongile Mzinyathi have all perjured themselves and frustrated all attempts to carry out an independent investigation into Mr Mdluli.
This they have done through their wholly irrational decision to withdraw fraud, money laundering and corruption charges against Mr Mdluli. Both the North Gauteng High Court and the Supreme Court of Appeal delivered scathing judgments of their blatant attempts to shield Mdluli from justice.
Just over a year ago, the Court ordered General Ria Phiyega to institute a disciplinary hearing into Mr Mdluli and enquiry into his fitness to hold office, given the serious allegations against him of kidnapping, murder and defeating the ends of justice. It is no surprise that this has, to date, fallen on deaf ears.
By our estimation, Mr Mdluli has been unduly raking in taxpayers’ money in excess of R3 million which could have been better spent on building more police stations, bought new police vehicles or equipped police officers on the beat.
The DA will therefore be looking to Minister Nhleko to show political will, and the integrity that his office demands, by providing answers; unlike he has done with the Nkandla debacle.
Minister Nhleko must provide the answers to the following:
How has Mr Mdluli been allowed to be suspended for so long beyond the 60-day timeline by which disciplinary proceedings were to have commenced;
How has he been allowed to hold his current position on suspension for three years while Crime Intelligence remains leaderless and is being driven into the ground;
What is the procedural progress of the criminal proceedings against him, without revealing the merits of the case;
Should Mr Mdluli be found guilty in a court of law; will the Minister commence removal proceedings without delay;
How much exactly has Mr Mdluli been paid, at the taxpayers’ expense, while sitting at home doing nothing; and
On what date will the internal disciplinary hearing start?
It is simply unfair that taxpayers are footing this hefty bill to keep Mdluli in comfort. He represents the worst in our criminal justice system. The application of the law and due process must be consistently applied.
Statement issued by Dianne Kohler Barnard MP, DA Shadow Minister of Police, June 15 2015
