Mthimkhulu dares Katlholo
Mompati Tlhankane | Monday March 6, 2023 06:00
Katlholo was suspended from work on June 2, 2022, which means he has been on suspension for 8 months with full pay in compliance with legislative requirements, according to Mthimkhulu.
Responding to a question in Parliament yesterday Mthimkhulu said disciplinary hearing or proceedings have not been commenced as yet as they await investigations on the matter. "Hao bona a ise a ye court go supa sengwe," Mthimkhulu said.
“We are investigating his office and his actions during his time in office. The reason we suspended him is because we wanted smooth investigations, and we couldn't do that while he was in office and sitting closer to the investigation,” Mthimkhulu added.
He was responding to a question from Serowe South Legislator, Leepetswe Lesedi. Lesedi had asked the Minister when a disciplinary hearing will commence and if the Minister of State President does not see the need to give the DG full authority over the full conditions of service of the Directorate to portray a sense of independence of the Directorate.
Mthimkhulu pointed out that if a person is in a position of authority and can prevent investigations from being conducted against him and the office, it is only right to suspend him. “Section 4(2) of the DCEC Act provides that “the Director-General shall be responsible for the direction and administration of the Directorate”. It is important that I point out that the Directorate is a public office subject to the Public Service Act therefore the DG in his direction and administration of the Directorate must ensure compliance with that Act,” he added.
Speaking of compliance, when the office of the president issued notice of the suspension of Katlholo last year, it was revealed that the decision to suspend Katlholo was necessitated by the fact that in the course of his official duties, he had misconducted himself and exhibited behaviour that is incompatible with the conduct of a public officer.
Before his suspension Katlholo stood his ground against the country's spy agency Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) and refused to release classified investigation files, accusing the unit of expanding its footprint to the internal affairs of the DCEC, which subsequently experienced an unprecedented leakage of investigation files. The suspended DG at the time said he had a strong belief that the DIS purposely wanted to destabilise or micromanage his agency.
This followed an incident where DIS raided Katlholo’s office in his absence. Katlholo was out of the country in Kigali, Rwanda on duty. Former Senior Assistant Director, legal services at DCEC Andria German’s office was also sealed off as part of the investigations.