KZN's chief cop suspended again
Lieutenant-General Mmamonnye Ngobeni is to vacate her office as police appeal a ruling overturning her suspension.
|||Durban - KwaZulu-Natal’s top police officer Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni has again been ordered to vacate her office as police lodged a notice to appeal a court ruling overturning her suspension.
While police declined to confirm they were appealing the order by Durban High Court Judge Nkosinathi Chilli to reinstate Ngobeni, her attorney Ravendra Maniklall on Wednesday said police had served notice of their intention to appeal.
Maniklall said this notice had the effect of again suspending his client.
It is understood that the notice was lodged either on Monday or early Tuesday and that Ngobeni had been ordered to vacate her office on Tuesday.
Asked whether an appeal was being lodged, national police spokeswoman Brigadier Mashadi Selepe, in a written response, said: “Kindly be informed that the department will not deliberate employer/employee relationship issues in the media.
“The department is on record having said that the outcomes of court processes are respected and that the relevant processes will be activated with the competent authority as provided for by the laws of our country.”
Ngobeni was suspended in May. Acting National Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Khomotso Phahlane also gave Ngobeni notice that he intended establishing a board of inquiry to investigate allegations of misconduct and her fitness to hold office.
Judge Chilli ruled that Phahlane did not have the required authority to take such action, and that he needed the support of the police minister and the provincial executive council.
Ngobeni has been in the spotlight over the allegations that businessman Thoshan Panday paid for her husband’s lavish birthday party. She also faces allegations that she ordered the head of the Hawks in KwaZulu-Natal to stop investigating Panday in connection with a R60 million police accommodation tender.
Ngobeni has claimed that she paid Panday back and denies interfering with the investigation against the businessman, that was led by KwaZulu-Natal Hawks boss Major-General Johan Booysen.
African News Agency