According to the report, this was approved at the council’s recent monthly meeting. However, the appointment is subject to his security clearance.
This is not going down well with DA and Freedom Front Plus parties, as they were reported to have loudly opposed the move.
Msimang was charged with murder after a shooting incident at his Bryanston home early last year, a few months before the city’s recruitment process for the job began.
He was selected for the post and was due to start in December last year, but the city withdrew the offer when the murder charges were laid against him.
Msimang’s lawyer at the time said his client had acted in self-defence after the man had broken into his home.
Msimang was cleared for another shooting incident when, in 2007, he allegedly shot dead a man he claimed was trying to hijack him.
No actions were taken against Msimang by the Ekurhuleni council during police investigations, but according to Sam Modiba, spokesperson for Ekurhuleni metro, Msimang was granted special leave after he requested that he be given some time off to attend to this matter.
The council said it was satisfied with the report Msimang gave about the incident.
The DA and FF Plus have, however, questioned the decision by the ANC-led council to appoint Msimang.
DA spokesman on Public Safety, Darren Bergman, was quoted as saying: “Even if he has been cleared, how can he be approved for a high-profile job with this baggage and serious accusations – twice?
“Msimang does not have a good track record in his current position as head of police in Ekurhuleni. No reasons have been given to us, or to the public, why charges were dropped. This appears to have been done behind closed doors. His reputation is tainted. The position is an important one.”
