The Ad Hoc Committee wants SAPS top management to explain why no action has been taken against the head of organised crime, Major-General Richard Shibiri, for allegedly approaching an investigating officer to not oppose bail in the murder of Vereeniging engineer Armand Swart.

This comes after Crime Intelligence head Dumisani Khumalo gave evidence on Thursday about an investigation by the Gauteng Organised Crime Unit into the murder of Swart.

Khumalo said a senior public prosecutor wrote to the provincial and national commissioners highlighting threats to the investigation and the investigating officers probing a former warrant officer, Pule Tau, who was identified as one of the organisers of hit men within an organised crime syndicate.

The letter by the senior public prosecutor led to a threat and risk assessment and counter-intelligence operation that cracked the infiltration of the police by criminal syndicates.

Khumalo stated that Tau was remanded in custody but then unexpectedly appealed for bail, and that senior officers approached the investigating officers, saying they must not oppose his bail appeal.

“Before the appeal date, they were told he was to get out. They went there and opposed, but the writing was on the wall that everything was arranged. The senior officers came back and thanked us for not opposing bail.”

He said it was at this moment that the Gauteng counter-intelligence operations was set up and managed to implement counter–intelligence operation.

“He (Tau) is back on remand and he resigned a few days after we re-arrested him,” said Khumalo.

Asked to explain what he meant by “everything was arranged” when Tau appealed the bail, Khumalo said there was a member who was sent to talk to the investigating team, and there was a request that they not oppose bail.

“The arrangement came from a senior officer, General Shibiri, who is the head of Organised Crime at head office, who called the members and told them, while preparing for bail opposition, that there are three envelopes for the detective, prosecutor, and magistrate.”

“We have a sworn affidavit to that … Indeed, it (bail) was successful despite the opposition at court,” said the crime intelligence boss.

EFF leader Julius Malema asked why Shibiri was not arrested.

“If you got evidence of interference and defeating the ends of justice, why is he not arrested? When a person commits a crime, he must be arrested there and then. You got an affidavit, why is he not arrested?” asked Malema.

In response, Khumalo said an investigation was at an advanced stage.

“The investigation is almost finalised,” he said.

Ad Hoc Committee Chairperson, Soviet Lekganyane, asked if Shibiri was on suspension, and Khumalo stated that he was unsure if he had been suspended.

“Maybe what we should do is to write to the head of SAPS to request information on this matter,” Lekganyane said.

But, Malema said there should be an explanation why Shibiri was loitering in the police offices amid the serious matter.

“Disciplinary processes should have kicked in and criminal processes should be at advanced stage. We need to know, internally, if he is still there and what are the reasons?” he said.

Lekganyane said they will write to the SAPS management for a response on the matter.

mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za

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