Johannesburg - Police Minister Bheki Cele has ordered the City of Johannesburg to lay criminal charges over its group forensic and investigation services' (GFIS) purchase of multi-million rand counter-intelligence equipment.
In a letter dated July 14, Cele said he had received a report on the Joburg mayor Dr Mpho Phalatse's alleged subversion of evidence implicating former Gauteng Hawks boss Shadrack Sibiya in unlawful seizure of counter-intelligence functions of the State Security Agency (SSA).
The minister also alluded to allegations of misappropriation of R8 million on counter-intelligence unvetted by the SSA.
"Having noted the contents of the report, you are advised to open a criminal case in order for the SA Police Service to investigate the matter," Cele said in a letter to acting Joburg city manager Floyd Brink.
In addition, Cele referred the matter to national police commissioner General Fannie Masemola.
Sibiya successfully interdicted Al Jama-ah Joburg councillor Thapelo Amad last month.
The South Gauteng High Court ruled that Acting Judge Molefe Matsemela ordered the party, its officials and any other person(s) acting on its behalf to stop publishing any statement that says or implies that Sibiya’s appointment was irregular and that he was unfit for office, that the GFIS improperly procured sophisticated surveillance technology for the purposes of spying on councillors.
On June 29, Acting Judge Matsemela also ordered Al Jama-ah and Amad to stop stating that the GFIS is engaging in improper and unlawful conduct by inter alia spying on councillors and gathering information by illegal means including intercepting councillor’s communications and “tapping phones” as well as alleging that Sibiya has not obtained the requisite security clearance from the SSA.
Al Jama-ah and Amad must also not claim that the GFIS is a so-called rogue unit that lacks credibility, integrity and impartiality and that the unit and its now former boss Sibiya were politically-motivated or compromised, according to the judgment.
Sibiya has since returned to the police after waging a lengthy battle against his axing at the Labour Appeal Court.
Amad said he and Al Jama-ah were appealing Acting Judge Matsemela's ruling.
However, the City of Johannesburg has maintained that the equipment is legal and has been given the green light by the SSA.
"The procurement and use of the equipment are in line with the legal security mandate of the GFIS, which is to prevent, detect, investigate and resolve all crimes committed against the city relating to fraud and corruption, theft of city assets, vandalism, maladministration including unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure, breaches of security, cybercrime, illegal connections as well as hijacked and problem properties," it said.
Cele's spokesperson Lirandzu Themba did not respond to queries sent to her on Saturday about the grabber.
The Saturday Star