Parts of the testimony of Revo Spies, the erstwhile deputy chief of the Ekurhuleni metropolitan police department (EMPD), have attracted a R100-million lawsuit from Calvin and Family Security Services (CFS), over his allegations that the company’s vehicles were illegally fitted with blue lights.
Spies, who took early retirement from the city in January, told the Madlanga commission, probing allegations of misdemeanours in the high echelons of the police service and metro police, particularly the EMPD, that one of CFS’s vehicles was illegally fitted with blue lights.
Spies, who had already left the service when the incident was discovered, told the commission that his former colleagues at the city had informed him about it.
CFS has taken umbrage at this, saying this amounts to nothing but defamatory “gossip” about the company and its director, Calvin Mathibeli.
To this end, CFS has challenged Spies to prove the allegations and launched proceedings for an R100-million lawsuit against him. In the letter, seen by Sunday World, the company wrote to Spies on November 14, demanding that he provide evidence for his allegations.
CFS asks Spies, who now works for the City of Tshwane, to provide the registration details of the vehicle in question, the full name of the driver allegedly operating the vehicle at the time, and the case number or enquiry number associated with the alleged incident.
The letter goes on to ask Spies to provide the 13-digit impoundment number for the vehicle, as required by law in instances where a vehicle is found to be unlawfully fitted with emergency lights.
“For clarity and record purposes, it is important to note that the terms of reference for the Madlanga commission include investigating allegations that organized criminal syndicates have infiltrated or exerted undue influence over key institutions of the criminal justice system, including law enforcement, prosecution, intelligence, the judiciary and corrections, and whether there has been political interference or corruption in investigations, prosecutions and the administration of justice,” the letter reads.
“Bearing this in mind, we therefore request that you clarify… whether Calvin and Family Security participated in any such activities or have been implicated in any investigation under this scope? If so, kindly specify which activities or allegations those are and on what factual basis they were made. Further substantiate the same with tangible proof.”
Spies did not respond within the five-day deadline.
CFS on Friday then proceeded to write to the commission, stating its displeasure at the untested allegations made against it, which it said had caused great harm to its business reputation.
“It is with great concern that Mr Spies, as a witness under oath, has provided false and damning information regarding our client and has subsequently failed to prove and/or substantiate such allegations.
“The false allegations made by Mr Spies have resulted in our client suffering reputational damage and loss of client trust, which will have negative financial implications. We hereby request the commission to investigate the allegations made by Spies, as it is unacceptable for a witness to lie under oath to our client’s detriment and in contravention of the purpose of the commission.”
The security firm also moved to issue a summons to Spies, demanding he pay it R100-million for defamation and reputational harm.
Spies made the CFS allegations in a bid to show the commission that the abuse of blue lights in the city was widespread, following similar allegations against suspected underworld boss Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s company.
Spies told Sunday World, “I didn’t get the letter you are referring to. Maybe it landed in my spam email folder. As for the company suing me for what I told the Madlanga commission, I want to state that they should refer that to the commission.
“If they are suing me, they are threatening a witness of the commission. I can’t be threatened by Calvin and Family because I [made] that statement at the Madlanga commission.”
