Suspended Crime Intelligence heads didn't have security clearance
It has been confirmed that suspended Crime Intelligence Head Lieutenant General Richard Mdluli and suspended finance head of crime intelligence Major General Solomon Lazarus were operating without security clearance for over a year.
The reply to my Parliamentary question to the Minister of Police states that Mdluli's security clearance expired on 14 February 2011 and his application for renewal was only received on 11 March 2011 (see below). Mdluli's application had, apparently, been kept on hold. Lazarus's security clearance expired on 6 December 2010 and was never renewed because he failed to provide the correct information.
In May this year, President Zuma said there was "no need for alarm" around the Crime Intelligence unit. On the contrary, the DA would say that there is a great need for alarm when two of its highest ranking officials had been operating without security clearance for years. Both Mdluli and Lazarus are under investigation for bribery, corruption and the misuse of public funds. Mdluli is facing criminal charges including assault, kidnapping and murder. The investigation has been going on for months now, with no outcome in sight. Some of these abuses may have been preventable, if appropriate vetting and security procedures were followed.
The very fact that Lazarus never had his security clearance renewed should have had alarm bells ringing for the Minister. Did he not hear them?
This is further evidence of the massive rot within the Crime Intelligence Unit under this Minister's watch, about which he has seemingly done absolutely nothing. Indeed, he attempted to save Mdluli by simply moving him elsewhere, thinking that cosmetic attention would hide the truth from the South African public. Why is the Minister so desperate to protect Richard Mdluli?
I will today be writing to the Inspector General of Intelligence to ask that the investigation into Mdluli and Lazarus be extended to include how it was that they were allowed to operate as heads of the Crime Intelligence Unit without the necessary security clearance, and how long this investigation is expected to take.
Text of the reply by Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa:
36/1/4/1/201200163
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO 1898
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 3 AUGUST 2012
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 21-2012)
1898. Ms D Kohler-Barnard (DA) to ask the Minister of Police:
(1) With reference to his reply to question 1182 on 29 May 2012, when did (a) the security clearances of certain persons (names furnished) expire and (b) each specified person apply for renewal;
(2) whether each of these persons was subjected to security clearance vetting; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
NW2287E
REPLY:
(1)(a) Lieutenant General Mdluli‘s security clearance expired on 2011-02-14 and Maj General Solomon Lazarus' security clearance expired on 2010-04-14.
(1)(b) Lieutenant General Mdluli's application for renewal was tendered to the Vetting Office at Crime Intelligence Head Office on 2011-03-11. Major General Solomon Lazarus' application for renewal was received by the Vetting Office at Crime Intelligence Head Office with incomplete information on 2010-12-06. It was sent back to Major General Lazarus for corrections, but to date was never returned to the Vetting Office at Crime Intelligence Head Office.
(2) Lieutenant General Richard Mdluli's application for renewal has been kept on hold, pending the outcome of his suspension on 20 April 2011, as well as possible criminal charges and or departmental proceedings. Major General Solomon Lazarus' security clearance vetting (competency determination) could not be continued due to the non return of the outstanding documentation.
Reply to question 1898 approved by the Minister
Statement issued by Dianne Kohler Barnard MP, DA Shadow Minister of Police, August 24 2012
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