Suspended KwaZulu-Natal Hawks boss Johan Booysen said he was driven by the desire to expose the rot in the criminal justice system.
|||Durban - Suspended KwaZulu-Natal Hawks boss Major General Johan Booysen had no second thoughts about writing, and publishing, his tell-all book, Blood On Their Hands, exercising his constitutional right to freedom of expression.
Written by journalist and author Jessica Pitchford, Booysen said he was driven by the desire to expose the rot in the criminal justice system. “I have no regrets”, he said.
Booysen is set to retire in 10 months and has been offered a number of opportunities. He is considering his options.
There has been no word from the police on whether his suspension will be lifted now that the deputy head of the National Prosecuting Authority, Nomgcobo Jiba, was struck off the roll of advocates this week.
Jiba authorised racketeering charges against Booysen be reinstated twice, but she was overruled by the courts.
She was also criminally charged for lying about evidence before her when she decided to charge Booysen, but the case against her was withdrawn.
Booysen has had a long-running legal battle with Jiba and he provided a statement in support of her being struck off the roll.
He said he was relieved by the decision and that she should never be allowed into a courtroom again.
“She’s a liar and been exposed for the dishonest person she is. She should never be allowed to practise again. Because of her lies and complicity, people have suffered.
“She was also complicit in having Gerrie Nel arrested. When challenged she made a false statement,” said Booysen.
The explosive book came at a time when charges against Durban businessman Thoshan Panday and police officer Colonel Navin Madhoe were reinstated. Both are mentioned in Booysen’s book. The corruption charges relate to allegations that the pair tried to bribe Booysen by offering him R2-million to backdate a report on an investigation into accommodation tenders worth R60m.
Booysen said the timing of the NPA’s decision and his book’s release was coincidental.
Booysen, who has more than three decades of experience in the police, said despite all his challenges, he had hope for South Africa.
“No matter what, I am still proudly South African and proud to be a policeman.
“Even though corruption exists, I am glad that we have an independent judiciary in this country. The confidence that I have in our courts makes me optimistic about our future.”
He said the case that had affected him the most was the Chatsworth Throb nightclub tragedy, in which 13 youngsters were trampled to death and 44 injured when a tear gas canister was released in November 2000.
“This was the case that affected me most on all levels. The striking images of seeing the bodies of 13 children lying dead on the floor is one that I won’t forget - and the parents were waiting outside to find out if their children are okay and we had to break the news to them.”
National spokesperson Major General Vuyisile Ngesi said the SAPS would not comment on Booysen’s book.
Jiba could not be reached for comment.
nabeelah.shaikh@inl.co.za
Sunday Tribune