Police union welcomes court ruling lifting KZN top cop's suspension

Ngobeni was suspended in May this year, for allegedly having an improper business relationship with controversial Durban businessman, Thoshan Panday.

It was alleged that Panday paid for Ngobeni's husband's birthday bash six years ago, whilst the businessman was facing fraud charges.

The union's Richard Mambolo said Acting National Commissioner Khomotso Phahlane did not have the authority to institute a board of inquiry into Ngobeni's fitness to hold office.

"We feel that there should be that length to ensure that such acts do not happen again, and of course the Acting National Commissioner commissioner cannot be the one flouting the very same procedures that they of course want everybody else to be mandated to.

"We think that this is an abuse of authority and of course the lack of following proper procedures must just come to an end," he said.

Meanwhile, the DA's Shadow Minister of Police Zakhele Mbhele said while they respected the court's ruling, the party was disappointed by what they claimed was a delay in the accountability process to verify Ngobeni's alleged guilt.

"It is disappointing that there is going to be this delay in the accountability process to verify whether she does in fact stand guilty of the charges against her. But we hope that the legal team of the SAPS - directed by the Acting Police Commissioner - can have a much tighter process to ensure that these technicalities do not get in the way of a more substantive issue," he said.