National Commissioner of the South African police Service (SAPS) General Fannie Masemola has noted with concern, recent social media posts questioning the citizenship and suitability of senior staff members.
This comes as personal information of SAPS members, as well as speculation regarding the citizenship and suitability for office of the division commissioner for HR management have been circulating on social media and on some mainstream media platforms.
According to General Masemola, these social media posts seek to vilify members of the SAPS Human Resource Management Division.
This after social media posts claimed the department of home affairs confirmed that “Lesotho-born Lieutenant Lineo Ntshiea is a foreigner who recently filed for RSA citizenship and RSA Smartcard. Her TSA smart application, however, was denied this she is currently using a green ID card.”
Masemola placed it on record that an internal departmental investigation sanctioned by the national commissioner and an independent investigation conducted by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) found no adverse findings against Lieutenant-General Lineo Ntshiea, who is an HR manager of the police service, who was accused of being a foreigner.
He said that the investigation discovered, among other things, that the senior officer, who had top-secret security clearance, is a South African citizen who was born in Welkom, and that matter was handled by the Department of Home Affairs.
“Lieutenant-General Lineo Ntshiea is also in possession of qualifications which were verified and confirmed as authentic by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA),” he said.
“The National Commissioner has also noted with concern the circulation of personal information concerning the Identity Document (ID) copies of members within the service who are alleged to be non-South Africans. Preliminary investigations have already commenced and so far, one member, Constable Issa was found to have obtained South African citizenship and permanent residency.”
Masemola said the false information was being shared by those who have been dismissed from the SAPS for misconduct.
Source: The Citizen, IOL, Times Live, The South African, image from Twitter: @lorettadans