
He recently lost his wife Maleke Hlathi as a result of Covid-19.
Seasoned police spokesman Brigadier Leonard Hlathi is no longer the Mpumalanga police spokesperson.
Colonel Donald Mdhluli is taking over from him.
Hlathi has now been transferred to head up the police service as the new district police deputy commissioner in Nkangala.
He will be responsible for visible policing, stationed in Middelburg starting 1 September 2021.
ALSO SEE: Leonard Hlathi graduates with a master’s degree
Hlathi has been a provincial police spokesperson since 1995.
He joined the police organization as a driver of Mpumalanga’s first police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Malete, who is now retired.
Hlathi said he hasn’t yet started on his new job as a district deputy police commander as he is still recovering from the pain caused by the death of his 58-year-old wife, Maleke Elizabeth Hlathi, who passed away on 31 July 2021.
ALSO SEE: Maleke Hlathi dies at 58 from Covid
“I will be back at work when I shall have regained my strength,” he said in a message to journalists sent via WhatsApp this week.
“May I take this opportunity to thank all of you guys for the support you gave me.
“I am what I am today because of the different roles you all played in building me and my career in this field. I am sure that you will continue to offer the necessary support to the next provincial head as I bow down from that platform with immediate effect,” Hlathi said.
(edited by MLM)
Send tip-offs to editor@013.co.za