SAPS has refused to disclose the reasons behind the reinstatement of provincial Head of Crime Intelligence, Mzwandile Tiyo following his dismissal in August this year.
Tiyo was axed from his position on grounds of misconduct, allegedly having lost a firearm and laptop, and using the State’s criminal intelligence resources to trace the suspects and allegedly assault them.
This week, Portfolio Committee on Police chairperson Ian Cameron said Tiyo’s dismissal was revoked and “he has instead been encouraged to apply for early retirement”.
Approached for comment on the about-turn by SAPS, police ministry spokesperson Athlenda Mathe, would not confirm the details of the rescission.
“HR matters remain a subject of the organisation and its members both active and out of service. The SAPS is therefore not in a position to discuss intricate details of this matter in the public domain,” said Mathe.
Tiyo’s lawyer Ian Levitt said: “My client appealed the Board’s decision, which we now know was successful.
Ian Cameron utilised his position in Parliament to try to be Judge, Jury and Executioner and failed. I am consulting with my clients on the next steps.”
Meanwhile, Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) provincial secretary, Mluleki Mbhele, welcomed Tiyo’s reinstatement after he had appealed against his dismissal.
“His reinstatement comes after Tiyo followed the correct internal remedies to appeal the decision of his dismissal. It is important to note that every member of the South African Police Service has this fundamental right to lodge an appeal and the SAPS may vary or confirm the decision,” said Mbhele.
On Tiyo’s section 34 dismissal being revoked, the portfolio committee objected “that a man implicated in serious crimes and found unfit for office is being encouraged to take early retirement”.
Cameron said: “The integrity of the South African Police Service will be in serious disrepute if the SAPS continue in the trajectory of only paying lip service to the intention to root out rogue elements within the service. The necessary public trust between the people and the SAPS will further be eroded by such illogical actions that are seemingly counterintuitive.
“The unfortunate thing is that such actions negatively affect the morale of the good officers within the service and the people on the ground continue to suffer under the tremendous stress induced by crime, when taxpayer’s monies must now be used to finance lost salaries and pension payouts. It is most concerning that a whistle-blower at the Philippi Training Academy seems to have been targeted mainly for doing the right thing, yet a senior police official implicated in various acts of illegality is being encouraged to take early retirement. This moment presents an opportunity to reflect on the kind of SAPS we want to build,” said Cameron.
Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC, Anroux Marais, expressed her anger at the re-appointment.
“This is disgraceful and an insult. I am furious about Tiyo’s reinstatement, and the Western Cape Government will fight his return to his post with all power at our disposal. This is a disgraceful decision by the national leadership at the SAPS,” said Marais.
Cape Times