Mbeki to act against Selebi?

President Thabo Mbeki is about to act against National Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi, the Cape Argus reported on Tuesday.

It was believed Mbeki was about to order an inquiry into allegations that Selebi, also the head of interpol, had links with crime syndicates, the paper said.

Mbeki's spokesperson Mukoni Ratshitanga is accompanying the President to the current UN General Assembly in New York, and declined to comment, referring enquiries to government communications head Themba Maseko.

However, Maseko was not immediately available for comment on Tuesday afternoon.

Citing independent sources, the Argus said the inquiry into the claims against Selebi would be Mbeki's second major step following the suspension on Monday of National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) head Vusi Pikoli.

Apparently, the third step would be a probe into private companies owned by apartheid-era security operators contracted by the police and Scorpions to do investigations.

A source told the Argus Mbeki was keen to clear the air about Selebi, whom he had been seen to be protecting since the allegations arose.

Selebi had denied having links to shadowy individuals who, in turn, had been linked to murdered businessman Brett Kebble.

The Argus said it understood that a file, compiled by a private security company on behalf of the Scorpions, was to be handed over to acting National Director of Public Prosecutions Mokotedi Mpshe - who took over from Pikoli.

Mpshe would then take a decision whether there was a prima facie case against Selebi, and, if there was, a full independent investigation would be ordered.

The probe would be headed by a judge, because both the police and Scorpions would be unacceptable - given that Selebi headed the police and the Scorpions' credibility was in question following Pikoli's suspension.

According to the sources, Mbeki acted against Pikoli because of his failure to control the Scorpions, the Argus said.

Source: News 24.com