Pretoria - Tshwane Metro Police Department chief Steve Ngobeni is unlikely to face disciplinary action from the municipal council or city manager and namesake Jason Ngobeni for failing to declare that he had a criminal record.
He has a criminal record emanating from a speeding incident in Modimolle in Limpopo in 2012 a few months after he was appointed, as reported exclusively by the Pretoria News recently.
At an ordinary sitting of the council last week, a closed-door meeting was held to discuss whether or not his criminal record would have a bearing on the execution of his duties.
Ngobeni was caught speeding by traffic police in Modimolle on November 11, 2012. He was subsequently charged with breaking the Traffic Road Act and found guilty of exceeding the speed limit.
He pleaded guilty and received a fine of R3 000. The criminal record, which appears on the police system, was not declared.
After the closed meeting that lasted for an hour and a half there was no feedback from council speaker Morakane Mosupyoe-Letsholo.
The Pretoria News had it on good authority that a decision was made during the meeting not to act against Ngobeni. However, members of the council were instructed to keep this secret.
Because of opposition from other political parties, the ANC had to use its majority to conclude that Ngobeni should remain as head of the metro police.
The city would make a formal communication regarding the matter at a later stage. Councillors who were at the meeting were not keen to discuss the matter, citing the vow of silence, as instructed.
However, it has been confirmed that council members from opposition parties were against the decision to exonerate the police chief.
Those who wanted Ngobeni to be vindicated argued that the crime happened after he was appointed as police chief. They stated there was no way he would have declared the crime at the time of the appointment since it had not yet happened.
On the other hand, those who countered the argument could not draw a distinction between the crime committed after or before he was employment.
Other members of the council told the Pretoria News that the unexpected caucus was never proposed at the committee meeting where motions to council were usually tabled. The matter was apparently brought to the council by the municipal manager. The disciplinary code states that “any allegation of misconduct against a senior manager must be brought to the attention of the municipal council”.
Pretoria News