General is in thrall to sangoma, say staff

GAUTENG police commissioner Mzwandile Petros is under fire from within the ranks amid allegations that he has become a "paranoid dictator".

Petros - tipped as one of those who could replace suspended national police commissioner General Bheki Cele - is alleged to be guided at work by an in-house sangoma and personal assistant, Captain Nomathemba Gwebile.

On August 15 he even cancelled a crime-fighting strategy meeting in Parktown, Johannesburg, and attended by about 200 brigadiers, generals and senior policemen, after Gwebile walked in and warned of a plot against him.

Gwebile was one of several former Western Cape staffers Petros brought to Gauteng when he was appointed in August last year.

Prior to her move she was a level- three clerk. But, soon after, she was appointed to the rank of captain following a three-month basic training course.

The incident at the provincial head office is mentioned in a two-page memorandum handed to the office of Gauteng Safety and Security MEC Faith Mazibuko on Friday.

Presented under the guise of being from "concerned Vaal residents", the document states: "Lt General Petros' secretary performs her Inyanga (sic) rituals whilst meetings are in progress and tells General Petros that some of the managers with the meeting want to kill him."

The Sunday Times has confirmed, via five senior police officials who were present at the Parktown meeting, how Gwebile arrived shouting Vumani bo," which is loosely translated as "the ancestors are speaking".

Dressed in plain clothes, Gwebile then knelt in front of Petros, making "funny and strange sounds", and he ordered everyone to leave the room.

The delegates waited outside the Ubunye Hall while Petros consulted Gwebile for 10 minutes.

After they were called back, Petros told them that the "spirits" had told Gwebile that some of the "generals and brigadiers" were plotting to kill him.

Petros then cancelled the meeting - a mere 40 minutes into the scheduled day-long planning session.

One of the major-generalssaid: "She looked like she was possessed by ancestral powers. We were all surprised. We did not expect a sangoma in a crime-fighting strategy."

Another general said he was outraged. "I'm a Christian and I don't believe in ancestors. I was scared to see someone holding such a high position relying on a sangoma. He said he trusts her."

The memorandum also contained allegations of cronyism by Petros.

It claimed he allegedly told senior members and managers that he was "untouchable" and that nothing would happen to him - even if they were to report him to Luthuli House, headquarters of the ANC.

In addition, it said he allegedly:

• Used vulgar language with staff;
• Forced a management team at one police station to clean the toilets as cleaners watched; and
• Harassed managers from Gauteng to the point where they resigned - only to be replaced by friends and former colleagues from Western Cape.

Gauteng police spokesman Brigadier Neville Malila would not comment on the specific questions surrounding Gwebile and her role in Petros cancelling the August meeting.

Malila also refused to allow the Sunday Times to speak to Gwebile, saying she was not allowed to speak to the media.

He confirmed he had seen the memorandum and denied the allegations contained in it.

He said: "It is hoped that these individuals are not criminal elements who are hoping to destabilise Gauteng and undermine the excellent work that is being done by members of the South African Police Service."

He added: "It is therefore clear that it must therefore be individuals with personal agendas."

Mazibuko's spokesman Thapelo Moiloa said: "The MEC will go through the memorandum and apply her mind."

Petros has been in the police service for about 15 years and was among provincial commissioners who publicly pledged their support for former national police commissioner Jackie Selebi in 2006 when corruption allegations first surfaced against him.