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Cape Town – A former bodyguard of President Jacob Zuma who was accused of submitting a fake matric certificate to the South African Police Service (SAPS) has been appointed as the acting head of crime intelligence.
In a statement on Wednesday, Police spokesperson Vishnu Naidoo said King Bhoyi Ngcobo brings to the position a "wealth of policing experience". Ngcobo was previously Head of VIP Protection Services and was one of President Jacob Zuma's 'most trusted bodyguards'.
Naidoo said Ngcobo has served the South African police for over twenty years.
"Crime intelligence is a critical environment that needs a leader that is hard working, experienced, with good leadership qualities and is a person of good standing. Major General Ngcobo fits these requirements perfectly," Naidoo said.
Major-General Pat Mokushane was fired as acting head of crime intelligence on Monday, apparently because he did not have security clearance and that he was being investigated for running his own business from work.
In February, City Press reported that Ngcobo was promoted to Head of VIP Protection Services, despite not having the required NQF Level 6.
Ngcobo submitted a matric certificate which many within the SAPS alleged was fake. City Press documents revealed that during the screening process, warrant officer MK Mate refused to tick the box indicating whether Ngcobo had passed matric and possessed the necessary qualifications.
Instead, Mate wrote: "Panel to see".
At the time, Police spokesperson Brigadier Sally de Beer told City Press that the matter is being dealt with internally and that the "department is not prepared to converse via the media".
Matric
In a statement, De Beer said "contrary to the malicious media reports", Ngcobo did not falsify his matric certificate.
She said SAPS referred the matter to the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) for verification, which confirmed that Major General Ngcobo’s matric qualification was valid.
Ngcobo is a former crime intelligence officer. In 2009, he became the team leader for Zuma’s presidential protection services.
He was later promoted to section head of VIP protection before being appointed the national head in July 2016.
He was among those Zuma praised in a speech last October at the funeral of one of his other bodyguards, known as Mashimane, the Mail & Guardian reported.
Zuma named Ngcobo as one of the "echo group" of his protectors, who had resisted pressure from "plotters" to inform on him during his time in the political wilderness.
According to the Mail & Guardian, Zuma reportedly said his bodyguards showed "deep knowledge of politics”, refusing “to give information about my movements when their superiors wanted it".
