The Police Chief who couldn't

Today we go back to the murky world of South African politics. Last week, Thursday, acting South African Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, was being grilled in parliament by the National Assembly's oversight committee.

Answering questions about investigations he replied that 'powers beyond us' were dictating who was to be investigated and who was to be left alone. He continued, 'We have been told in many instances, of late, we don't have the right to investigate certain case dockets.' He further went on to claim that the 'powers beyond us' had instructed him to hand over case dockets to the inspector general of intelligence.

One such case, could be that of Richard Mdluli, crime intelligence boss, who had charges, including murder, fraud and kidnapping, against him, suddenly dropped. Furthermore, internal probes into corruption and using the police division's funds to fund cars, houses, family holidays and to illegally employ family members as 'covert agents', were dropped on the orders of an un-named senior National Prosecuting Authority official. This, despite Inspector General for Intelligence, Faith Radebe, recommending the probes continue.

Lt General Mkhwanazi, obviously did not elaborate on who the 'powers beyond us' were though and Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa (well through a spokesman of course), has stated he knows of no such instruction. This is the obvious response. Not a believable one- but obvious non the less.

His spokesman, Zweli Mnisi, when asked if there would be an investigation into these troubling claims, was quick to shoot the idea down, as is ANC fashion. He added that as the statements were made in a public forum in parliament, we should accept that the media and/or the committee would have asked for further clarity, should they have wanted or needed to, at the time.

From mine, and I am sure the public's point of view, the claim by an acting head, of this enormity, is very serious. Especially since there were many fingers pointed at President Zuma for wanting Mdluli reinstated and his charges suddenly being dropped without cause. It raises the question as to how many other cases have been swept under the rug, that the public does not even know about. It also shows the level of political interference in the running of police matters.

The South African Police is in a very bad state of health. With two of it's previous heads being investigated (one in jail, the other fighting for his political life), the many cases of brutality and murder hanging over it's head by it's force members,  the laziness and unwillingness to assist people by many members, their arrogance and bulling ways and the number who are up for armed robbery, murder, theft, fraud and other charges, in their private capacity for crimes they were involved in while off duty.
There are good cops, do not get me wrong, but the force as a whole, has no respect or trust int he public's eyes anymore. Many have even said they are worse now, than the 'apartheid police'.

Our President is the rotten apple on top of the heap and he has proved that he is doing what he can to solidify his base of power, and thus ensure his second term. He will choose police heads, who will serve as his puppets, knowing well that they will keep their hands off his allies. This is an open secret.

What we need are career policeman to head up key police positions, not career politicians. The police need to be independent and need to have the scope to investigate anybody and everybody, who warrants an investigation. Their should be no intimidation or instruction, that certain people are immune to investigation.

The reality is that the Zuma crowd will continue to consolidate it's position, changing laws and key allies as the cumbersome train moves ahead, destroying everything in it's way. The destination is a second term, and right now, that seems to be a priority.
Sadly, in the process they are running a country into the ground and ensuring it's citizens, their salary payers, are a distant second to their own power needs and self enrichment, and that is why, until Zuma is out of government, this country will continue it's downhill slide.