Another area where we are seeing inexplicable deals being done is in the area of personnel. On one oversight visit by the Portfolio Committee on Police, I discovered a woman with a Masters degree who had a man with just a Std 8 qualification promoted above her. Firstly, how did someone with only Std 8 get into the SAPS? Secondly, why aren't they promoting highly qualified women? Before those currently in government benches start hurling racist invective at me, let me say they were both black.
The Public Protector is investigating the claims of bizarre promotions within the SAPS at my behest and I assure you we will hear how it is that drivers and secretaries and relatives are bounced up the ranks when they have zero experience or qualifications. [Interjections.]
Others may have forgotten, but I certainly remember that the Public Protector had to pressure the now suspended National Police Commissioner to look into allegations that Richard Mdluli chose not to investigate certain matters in Gauteng. Yet Richard Mdluli was hired anyway, spent a few days in his cell and came back as the head of Crime Intelligence, now shuffled off to who knows where. Nor will we forget that the Acting National Director of Public Prosecutions, Nomgcobo Jiba, who suspended Glynnis Breytenbach, was one of those who owe a huge debt to Richard Mdluli because he came to her rescue when she was suspended over her alleged involvement in a plot to have Scorpions Gauteng boss Gerrie Nel arrested. Nel had prosecuted her husband for stealing a client's money out of his firm's trust account but, of course, the President expunged his criminal record in September 2010. The National Prosecuting Authority, in turn, dropped the charges against Richard Mdluli. [Interjections.]
Minister Nathi Mthethwa has for a very long time been ominously silent on recent disturbing developments within the SAPS, despite his responsibilities in terms of overall control and management of the police.
The lifting of Crime Intelligence boss Richard Mdluli's suspension is but one incident in a growing list of revelations about the SAPS ... [Interjections.] It was listed! [Interjections.] If you presume it wasn't listed, think again! [Interjections.]