Pretoria - The South African Police Service (SAPS) has confirmed that it has terminated the employment contract of Colonel Marthinus Botha.
The termination of the contract, which was due to end on 30 June 2015, follows possible misconduct in relation to the handling of a case opened by the National Prosecuting Authority, SAPS spokesperson Lieutenant General Solomon Makgale said on Wednesday.
“After obtaining information about the unauthorised and irregular involvement of Colonel Botha with regards to the issuing of a summons against Advocate Nomgcobo Jiba, the Deputy National Director of Public Prosecutions, we requested him to provide a statement about his role.
“It was clear from the statement he provided that he had secretly met with NPA officials to discuss the case and took instructions from them about the summons without informing the investigating officer and his commander Major General Norman Taioe.
“SAPS management is very disappointed that during the investigation of the case against Advocate Jiba, Colonel Botha conducted himself in an unprofessional manner.
“His conduct not only blatantly undermined his superiors but it also had the potential of jeopardising the investigation. This act has irreparably damaged the relationship between Colonel Botha and the SAPS,” said Makgale.
Makgale said Botha was aware that Taioe was the investigating officer in the case and his commander.
“However, he apparently chose to disregard General Taioe and kept him in the dark about his meetings with the NPA and the resultant outcome of these discussions - that a summons be served on Advocate Jiba. During these clandestine meetings with the NPA, Colonel Botha was not in possession of the case docket.”
Botha, who had retired from the SAPS more than two years ago, was contracted to assist the Detective Service Division, given his many years of experience as an investigator of serious and violent crimes.
Makgale said Botha had added a lot of value to the SAPS's investigative capacity, particularly in assisting SAPS management during the Oscar Pistorius trial, as well as dealing with blue light robberies in Gauteng and investigations into rhino poaching as the acting head of the National Investigation Unit (NINU) under Lieutenant General Vinesh Moonoo.
“It is therefore sad that he and the SAPS had to part ways in this manner. His last day in the office was on 28 April 2015. Management of the SAPS would like to thank him for his contributions and wish him well in his future endeavours.” – SAnews.gov.za
