South
Africa: DA's Request for Ipid Probe Into KZN Police Commissioner Granted
press release
By Dianne Kohler Barnard
The DA welcomes the investigation by the
Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) into the controversial
KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Mmamonnye Ngobeni. The DA is satisfied that
the IPID will now deal with this matter with the due consideration it deserves.
Indeed, the DA had requested the IPID investigate
suspected misconduct on her part, sending them copies of receipts allegedly
signed by Mr Panday for the R20 000 party.
This comes after reports this afternoon confirming
that the IPID has launched an investigation into Provincial Commissioner
Ngobeni for suspected corruption and defeating the ends of justice.
The DA send evidence in the form of receipts
allegedly signed by Mr Panday and uncovered by a journalist at The Witness
newspaper, to the IPID.
In 2010 a police investigation was opened into a
R60-m tender scam, centred around Umhlanga businessman and business partner of
Zuma's son, Thoshan Panday. The KZN Commissioner attempted to shut the
investigation down Just four days after the investigation was launched,
Provincial Police Commissioner Ngobeni put a stop to it. Three weeks later, Ngobeni's
husband held a 40-guest R20 000 birthday party, allegedly paid for by Mr
Panday.
When the KZN
Head of the Hawks Johan Booysen took on the investigation into suspected
wrongdoing he was summarily suspended, and fought for for two and half years to
clear his name of a host of charges. He has only recently returned to work.
It would appear that the Provincial Police
Commissioner could not be trusted to investigate without fear or favour, given
her links to Mr Panday. Now that the investigation has been re-opened,
Commissioner Ngobeni should be suspended immediately, before she is given any
opportunity to use her position to obstruct the investigation.
National Police Commissioner, Riah Phiyega, must
now show leadership and suspend Ngobeni to protect the integrity of IPID's work
in this regard.
Dianne Kohler Barnard
Shadow Minister of Police
