Rahima Essop 

JOHANNESBURG – Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa on Sunday called on South Africans to have faith in the criminal justice system, in light of the controversy surrounding crime intelligence head Richard Mdluli and the suspension of top prosecutor Glynnis Breytenbach.

Mdluli was reinstated earlier this year after fraud, corruption and murder charges against him were dropped. He was suspended when the criminal charges were instituted.

There are now growing calls for a full investigation into his conduct, the charges raised against him and why they were dropped.

The withdrawal of charges against Mdluli and the suspension of prosecutor Breytenbach, who was calling for an investigation into the top cop, have fuelled claims that he is being protected at the highest level.

The City Press newspaper reported on Sunday that Mdluli wrote to President Jacob Zuma in November pledging to support him in his campaign to be re-elected as African National Congress (ANC) leader.

“There is no cover-up, there would be no success in covering-up,” assured Mthethwa.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) Diane Kohler Barnard said she will ask Parliament’s Police Portfolio Committee this week to hold a special hearing into the matter.

“This debacle has significant implications for the credibility of the police and for national security.”

She said the committee can summon any person to give evidence.

(Edited by Clare Matthes)