Nkandla cop is back

01 February 2016 - 02:17 By Aron Hyman and Graeme Hosken

Lieutenant-general Mondli Zuma, who had to hurriedly leave his post as Gauteng provincial commissioner because of undeclared criminal charges, is back - this time as Mpumalanga's top cop. Today Zuma will take over as Mpumalanga provincial commissioner - nearly three years after he had to step down from the Gauteng job.But the new commissioner comes with a history of controversy in both his personal and work life.He was only in the Gauteng job for a couple of hours when it was revealed that he had failed to declare that he had pending charges - including drunk-driving and defeating the ends of justice - to then national police commissioner Riah Phiyega.He had been charged with four counts after it was alleged he tried to evade a roving anti-alcohol patrol in 2008 in KwaZulu-Natal.The charges included failing to stop when ordered to do so, drunk-driving, attempting to escape from lawful custody and defeating the ends of justice.During the incident it is alleged he prevented traffic officers from taking a blood sample and locked himself in a house for about two hours. He pleaded not guilty and a court withdrew the charges in 2013. Another controversy is that he lost his service firearm under suspicious circumstances. According to Talk Radio 702, he still faces charges in this case.Zuma was also the SA Police Service's special projects head and formed part of the police investigation into spending at President Jacob Zuma's Nkandla residence.The report requested by Police Minister Nathi Nhleko found that an extra R31-million was needed for security upgrades.This was after Zuma told journalists ahead of the 2014 national elections that security upgrades were necessary because he and his family were vulnerable at Nkandla, saying his wife had been raped on the property.When journalists visited the multimillion-rand Nkandla site last year they found the security nerve -centre was not operational.Some parts of the upgrades were deemed an undue benefit by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela and there was much contention about the sheer cost of the upgrades.Lieutenant-General Zuma justified the extra expenditure as part of a "contingency plan" to secure the president and his family.Last night he confirmed his appointment to The Times, and said he would speak to us later as he was driving.The outgoing Mpumalanga provincial commissioner, Lieutenant-General Mark Magadlela, confirmed his replacement by Zuma, which he said would come intoeffect today.SA Police Union president Mpho Kwinika said last night it was very "unprocedural" to appoint Zuma when there were still charges against him."I think it would be fair if SAPS informed the public about the debacle surrounding [him]," said Kwinika."They need to rebuild the trust that the public has lost in SAPS."Kwinika also said it would be wrong if it turned out that the national police commissioner Kgomotso Phahlane reinstated Zuma because of an "IOU" resulting from his dismissal as Gauteng provincial commissioner in 2013 as there were criminal charges against him.National police spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi would not comment on whether Zuma was still facing criminal charges.He said Phahlane would make an announcement about Zuma's appointment today.Kwinika asked: "Does the SAPS really owe him his promotion [because when it] appointed him as commissioner of Gauteng he neglected to inform the public about his misdemeanours?"He insinuated that Zuma had lied to Phiyega, who withdrew him only hours after he was appointed."He must make sure that he does not fall into that category of controversy. He needs people to trust him," Kwinika said.He also said replacing the acting police commissioner in Mpumalanga meant that there would be an additional police general at a time when Phahlane had recommended to parliament that the number of generals in the SAPS be reduced as there are too many.Magadlela said that he would retain his rank but that he was uncertain about his future in the SAPS.He said he would find out today.Magadlela also said he could not speak for Zuma regarding investigations against him...

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