Cele issues ultimatum to Mdluli

National police commissioner General Bheki Cele has asked suspended Crime Intelligence boss Richard Mdluli to tell him why he should not fire him.

The Sunday independent is in possession of a confidential letter by Cele, dated August 20, in which he gives Mdluli seven days to explain why he should remain a member of the police service.

Cele’s decision is based on a criminal case against Mduli which is currently at the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court.

Cele said it was undesirable for Mdluli to be employed by the South African Police Service (SAPS) and it created a negative impact when the seniority of his position and its nature was taken into account.

“For a divisional commissioner of crime intelligence to remain under the employment of the service (SAPS) while he has the most serious of criminal allegations hanging over him is untenable and works against the interests of the service,” Cele said.

The notice of contemplated discharge states that the amended section 35 of the SAPS Act 68 of 1995 empowered Cele as the national police commissioner with the discretion to discharge a member if such discharge will be in the interest of the SAPS.

However Mdluli’s lawyer, Ike Motloung, said he had no clue about the notice of contemplated discharge.

“I don’t know anything about that notice you are talking about and I don’t want to talk to the press,” Motloung said.

Cele added that: “You (Mdluli) have been criminally charged for allegedly commiting offences of murder, conspiracy to murder, kidnapping, intimidation and assault between 1998 and 1999 with regard to the murder of Abel Oupa Tefo Ramogkibi and the attempted murder of Alice Manana… and for having also allegedly committed the offence of defeating the ends of justice in the period 1998 to 2010.”

Cele added that Crime Intelligence was a highly critical, sensitive and strategic division of the SAPS.

National police spokesman Colonel Vish Naidoo said he was not aware of the notice. - Sunday Independent