Suspended Lamoer's contract won't be renewed - Phiyega

Cape Town - Suspended Western Cape police commissioner Arno Lamoer's contract will not be renewed, a spokesperson for national police commissioner General Riah Phiyega said on Monday.

"Yes management has decided not to renew General Lamoer’s contract," spokesperson Lieutenant-General Solomon Makgale confirmed in a text message.

He did not answer his phone or reply to further messages asking what had motivated the decision, when Lamoer’s contract had expired, and when a new provincial head would be appointed.

Lamoer was appointed to the position in November 2010.

Asked how he felt about the decision, Lamoer replied in a text message: "No comment."

He and three brigadiers - Darius van der Ross, Sharon Govender and her husband, Colin Govender - together with businessman Salim Dawjee and his son Zameer, handed themselves over at the Goodwood police station in April.

The group, all out on bail, face 109 charges of corruption, fraud, money laundering and defeating the ends of justice.

The charges against the top cops and the businessmen followed a Hawks investigation into allegations that Lamoer and Dawjee had a corrupt relationship. Dawjee allegedly gave money and gifts to the four senior police officers.

At a pre-trial hearing in the Western Cape High Court in August, the State confirmed it was ready to proceed with the trial, while the defence said it would need several months to prepare.

The hearing was postponed to October 23.

Major General Thembisile Patekile has been the acting provincial commissioner, assisted by three deputies.

This article first appeared on News24 – see here.