Riaz Saloojee, the head of the Western Cape office of the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD), has been fired.
This was confirmed on Wednesday by Steve Mabona, the national spokesperson for the police watchdog body.
"Riaz Saloojee was relieved of his duties on June 17."
The dismissal followed a disciplinary hearing called a year ago after Saloojee allegedly breached the ICD's media policy by a making a disparaging remark about the police's handling of the Sasha-Leigh Crook case.
On Wednesday Saloojee's lawyer, Jason Whyte, said he would fight the dismissal, because it was unfair. "We are currently investigating bringing an urgent Labour Court interdict to have my client re-instated."
Saloojee has had running battles with ICD executive director Karen McKenzie for almost two years and has been alternatively suspended, barred from his office and listed for transfer to Mpumalanga.
Until his dismissal last week, Saloojee had successfully challenged every sanction the ICD had placed upon him. Last June he was suspended after the disciplinary committee's finding.
In February the Labour Court ordered the ICD to re-instate him.
The court's judge noted that McKenzie and the ICD had acted in bad faith in suspending Saloojee.
Despite his dismissal, Saloojee was called to give evidence before the parliamentary portfolio committee on safety and security on Wednesday.
He said the organisation was in a dismal state, and called for the appointment of staff who would be in touch with communities.
His dismissal was also cited by a colleague, Gauteng office chief Alfredeen Jenneker, as the sort of intimidation that had become commonplace in the ICD.
She told the committee that employees had been instructed by the national office to spy on colleagues.
She said it was "not a coincidence" that Saloojee had been approached about an impending demotion "following the visit of the portfolio committee to his office on May 25".
It is understood that it was during this visit that the now dismissed Western Cape ICD chief provided the committee with a significant body of information, which may have angered his bosses.
