City Press reports that former national police commissioner Khehla Sitole is believed to have asked President Cyril Ramaphosa to intervene in his battle to get his exit payout from the SA Police Service (SAPS).
Sitole, who left the SAPS in February, was appointed in November 2017 on a five-year contract which was due to expire in November this year. According to several sources privy to the settlement between Sitole and Ramaphosa, the two agreed that the former police chief would receive his salary and benefits until the end of his contract as a condition for the early termination of his employment. However, according to sources, Sitole has received nothing from the SAPS and has allegedly been sent from pillar to post when he enquired about his payout. “That was before he found out that the [Police] Minister [Bheki Cele] had given a directive that he shouldn’t receive any money he did not work for from the police service,” said one security cluster source. Another source said: “He [Cele] has insisted on meeting with Sitole but the old man [Sitole] is angry and doesn’t want anything to do with Cele.” The non-payment has allegedly fuelled animosity between Sitole and Cele, with the former commissioner escalating the issue with the president, informing him that part of the settlement has not been fulfilled. Cele’s spokesperson Lirandzu Themba said: “As stated before, Minister Cele is not privy to the discussions between the president and the former national commissioner.” Themba did not comment on the allegations that Cele had blocked Sitole’s payout. According to sources close to Sitole, the former top cop was considering taking legal action for breach of agreement should he not receive the payment from the SAPS. Before his settlement with Ramaphosa, Sitole faced an inquiry into his fitness to hold office, following a request by Cele.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Abram Mashego at City Press (subscriber access only)
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