President Jacob Zuma earlier this week refused to be drawn on the merits of an earlier decision to reinstate Mdluli , telling the National Assembly that law enforcement agencies were "operating as they should".

"He [Mdluli] is still in the service. He is working here. There has been no suspension. This is a matter between the employer and employee," Mashigo said.

D A parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko had asked Zuma if he had been told of all the considerations that resulted in the decision to reinstate Mdluli.

He was also asked to say whether the considerations were "rational" and whether Mdluli met all the requirements for performing his duties.

In his response, Zuma said Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa had appointed a team to investigate aspects of the matter, and the inspector-general of intelligence was also investigating.

The appointments, suspensions, reinstatements, transfers, and all staff movements in government departments were the responsibility of those departments "and not the president", he said.

There were government prescripts and procedures to deal with performance issues in government departments.

The president did not manage the performance of officials in government departments, Zuma said.

Mdluli was first suspended last year when he was arrested on fraud and murder charges but the suspension was lifted in March.

Mthethwa announced on May 9 that Mdluli would be moved from crime intelligence to the office of the deputy national police commissioner for operations.

Mashigo refused to confirm on Monday whether acting police chief Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi had signed a notice of intention to suspend Mdluli.

"If somebody has been given a notice of intention to suspend it is an internal matter," Mashigo said.

"If and when somebody is suspended, then I can make it public."

Earlier, Mkhwanazi told SABC radio news: "I signed a notice of suspension on Sunday [May 13] but other than that I'm not sure ... was it delivered and what's the latest on it."