“He has been suspended. We won’t discuss details. It is a purely internal matter,” said Brigadier Phuti Setati.
He referred all Hawks media inquiries to the SA Police Service media centre.
Setati would not comment on a report in Beeld newspaper that Polela’s suspension was the direct result of his tweet in October about kwaito star Molemo “Jub Jub” Maarohanye, after he was convicted of murder.
Polela later apologised for the remark, also via Twitter: “My tweet about Jub Jub on Tuesday nite [sic] was in poor taste. I profoundly regret posting [it] and hereby retract it. Je suis desole [I’m sorry].”
Shortly after the initial tweets, fast food franchise Nando’s ran an advert poking fun at him.
“Next time you’re thinking about tweeting, do yourself (and your followers) a favour and come to Nando’s instead. Unlike your jokes, our flame-grilled Peri-Peri chicken is always tasteful.”
On Tuesday, a Twitter user asked Polela why he was not commenting on the latest Hawks’ raid.
“I’m writing exams from the 19th. At home studying and trying not to care about what’s happening in the universe,” he replied.
