KEY POINTS
- Former Western Cape crime intelligence head Maj-Gen Mzwandile Tiyo has been summoned to face charges of defeating the ends of justice related to the alleged theft of his state-issued firearm and other items.
- Tiyo’s legal team claims his dismissal was part of a conspiracy, while he has lodged a complaint against police portfolio committee chair Ian Cameron for defamation and abuse of office.
- The case highlights ongoing tensions within the SAPS, with allegations of political interference and misconduct overshadowing efforts to address crime in the Western Cape.
Former Western Cape crime intelligence head, Maj-Gen Mzwandile Tiyo, has been asked to present himself to the police on Friday to face charges of defeating the ends of justice.
The charges stem from allegations surrounding the theft of his state-issued firearm, laptop, iPad, and cellphones under controversial circumstances.
Tiyo, who was fired for serious misconduct in January, has denied the allegations and is fighting for reinstatement.
Tiyo’s dismissal marked the second time in five months that he was removed from his position. His lawyer, Ian Levitt, has described the disciplinary process as a “conspiracy” orchestrated by top crime intelligence officials to oust him. “We have seen the consequences of political interference in the operations of SAPS before, and these charges will suffer the same fate. As it was exposed before, so it will be exposed again,” Levitt said.
The case against Tiyo alleges that he failed to report the theft of his state-issued firearm and other items, which were stolen from his car.
It is further claimed that he incited a vigilante group, Amarhuzo, to assault suspects and directed his team to break into a house in Bellville to retrieve the stolen items. Tiyo has denied these allegations, stating that his vehicle was broken into near a shop in Mbekweni township, where he was refurbishing a newly purchased house.
According to Timeslive, Tiyo’s legal team has also lodged a complaint with Parliament Speaker Thoko Didiza against Ian Cameron, chairperson of the police portfolio committee. The complaint accuses Cameron of harboring a personal vendetta against Tiyo and using his position to defame him. “Cameron has used his position as well as his influence as a public representative to deliberately victimize and defame me,” Tiyo said in an affidavit.
Cameron has been vocal on social media, alleging that Tiyo lost his service pistol at a tavern in Mbekweni and recovered it with the help of underworld figures. “The same Gen Tiyo that tried to silence me with his lawyers when I shared how he lost his gun at a tavern in Mbekweni and recovered it with underworld figures and tactics. General, you should know by now the truth always prevails,” Cameron posted on Twitter/X.
Ongoing legal battle
Tiyo’s lawyers have appealed to national police commissioner Gen Fannie Masemola for his reinstatement, arguing that the disciplinary process was flawed and politically motivated. They claim that the chair of the disciplinary process, Maj-Gen Jabulani Khumalo, ignored a letter from Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, which stated that the allegations against Tiyo should be addressed through a normal disciplinary process.
Meanwhile, the investigating officer in Tiyo’s case has also come under scrutiny after allegations surfaced that he lost his service pistol in East London. The police have remained silent on these allegations, refusing to respond to detailed questions from the media.
