A senior crime intelligence officer, Maj-Gen Nozipho Madondo, was denied top-secret security clearance, despite an internal SAPS investigation finding no prima facie disciplinary case against her.
An affidavit by SAPS chief risk officer Maj-Gen Charinty Matlou shows that Madondo was denied the top-secret security clearance required to work in Crime Intelligence on more than one occasion.
Madondo was charged with fraud and corruption alongside crime intelligence head general Dumisani Khuamlo and Brigadier Dineo Mokwele over the latter’s appointment as head of Technical Support Services in Crime Intelligence. The charges were this week withdrawn by the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (Idac).
In the brief, Matlou said the adverse vetting outcome remained operative regardless of the disciplinary finding by retired Western Cape police commissioner Lt-Gen Thembisile Patekile.
The recorded finding was blunt. “No clearance due to repetitive dishonesty amounting to criminal conduct or act,” said the security vetting panel.
The finding was contained in a security-vetting record of about 190 pages that National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola declassified for use in an Investigating Directorate Against Corruption criminal investigation involving Madondo.
Matlou said she had studied an affidavit by Lt-Col MS Banda and the attached vetting documents. She said the file contained three affidavits submitted by Madondo to Crime Intelligence vetting officials.
“In these affidavits, Madondo admitted to committing criminal offences, which exposes the SAPS to reputational damage and portrays a lack of integrity and honesty amongst others,” Matlou said.
The affidavit does not identify the alleged offences. It records Madondo’s answer to Matlou’s interpretation of the affidavits.
Madondo was one of the senior officers arrested with Crime Intelligence head Lt-Gen Dumisani Khumalo over Brig Dineo Mokwele’s appointment. HR relied on their being cleared to recommend that their temporary transfers be lifted.
Matlou said Madondo’s rank and position made top-secret clearance mandatory.
“By virtue of Madondo’s rank as a major general and employment as a member of the senior management service of the SAPS Division Crime Intelligence, she should have possessed a ‘Top Secret’ security clearance,” she said.
Matlou’ said alowing Madondo back into the division would restore her access to people connected to the investigation.
“Her access being granted to the said environment increases the likelihood of witnesses being influenced or intimidated,” Matlou said.
SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe declined to comment.
- Maj-Gen Nozipho Madondo was repeatedly denied top-secret security clearance required for her role in Crime Intelligence, despite an internal SAPS investigation finding no disciplinary case against her.
- Madondo was charged with fraud and corruption alongside Crime Intelligence head Lt-Gen Dumisani Khumalo and Brigadier Dineo Mokwele, but the charges were withdrawn by the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption.
- The security vetting panel cited "repetitive dishonesty amounting to criminal conduct" as the reason for denial of clearance, based on Madondo’s own affidavits admitting to criminal offenses.
- National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola declassified a 190-page security vetting record for the corruption investigation involving Madondo.
- SAPS chief risk officer Maj-Gen Charinty Matlou warned that restoring Madondo’s access could risk witness intimidation and reputational damage to SAPS.
