Times Of Swaziland: Police commander tells magistrate to back-off

Police commander tells magistrate to back-off
================================================================================
 MBONGENI NDLELA on 02/10/2008 00:00:00


PIGG’S PEAK – The Station Commander here has told Magistrate Leo Dlamini to
"back off" his police station matters.
This is contained in a memo written to the magistrate by the commander in
relation to an interim Peace Binding Order between him and one of the founders
of the police union Khanyakwezwe Mhlanga.
The squabble between the two comes after Dlamini recently ordered the Station
Commander Charles Ndlovu to file an answering affidavit regarding the alleged
abuse and assault charges leveled against him (Ndlovu) by the Secretary General
of the unregistered police union (SWAPU) Khanyakwezwe Mhlanga.
Mhlanga had filed an affidavit reporting his boss’s behaviour during a recent
attack where the latter forcefully threw him out of his house for police duties
at a time he claimed to be ill.
In response, Mhlanga called the magistrate to help calm down the nasty
situation, as the commander had threatened to fire teargas canisters into the
house.
All this happened in full view of Mhlanga’s wife and other police officers.
However, Dlamini told Mhlanga to file an affidavit about the whole scenario.
On August 20, 2008 Mhlanga filed the affidavit.
It is said the magistrate also ordered Ndlovu to file his responding affidavit.
This however did not go down well with the commander.
A letter, dated September 25, was written by the commander to the magistrate
where he threatened and further ordered the magistrate to put aside the matter.
"Mr Dlamini if you want to be a station commander just submit your application
to the commissioner of police for consideration but for now back off from police
issues and take care of your duties as a magistrate," reads part of the letter.
attitude
"I wish to point out to you that I am not happy at all about your attitude
towards me as on 19/09/08 you verbally attacked me for no apparent reason by
saying you give instructions to police officers and I tell them something
different and I wonder who are you to say this as I am the only officer who is
the station commander here in Pigg’s Peak," continued the letter.
The commander further told the magistrate not to interfere with police while
they are on duty.
He said the magistrate had a tendency of detailing police cars to do his errands
without the knowledge of the station commander.
Dlamini has not adhered to the ‘order’ and said he would continue with the
matter.