Reuters AlertNet Lite - S.Africa minister unaware of police boss warrant

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S.Africa minister unaware of police boss warrant

28 Sep 2007 17:49:23 GMT
Source: Reuters

JOHANNESBURG, Sept 28 (Reuters) - South Africa's safety and security minister said on Friday he was not aware of an arrest warrant which public broadcaster SABC reported was issued for National Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi.

"I am in the dark with respect to ... the warrant. The president is out of the country. He's coming back and I'm sure he's going to call us into a meeting," Charles Nqakula said in remarks broadcast on television.

The SABC reported on Thursday that National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) head Vusi Pikoli secured the warrant last Thursday before he was suspended by President Thabo Mbeki. Selebi's spokeswoman has said she was not aware of it.

The NPA has declined to comment on the SABC report.

The government has said Mbeki suspended Pikoli because of a "breakdown" in his relationship with the country's justice minister, who Nqakula said was also in the dark about the reported warrant against Selebi.

Selebi, who has been harshly criticised for failing to reduce one of the world's highest crime rates, is also the president of the international police organisation Interpol.

A government spokesman said on Tuesday that Selebi might be investigated over allegations of ties to crime syndicates.

Mbeki and his cabinet have previously backed the police chief despite calls for his resignation and sacking.

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Last updated:Fri Sep 28 17:49:29 2007