The Presidency has spoken out on "unfounded allegations about President Jacob Zuma's so-called relationship with Lt-Gen Richard Mdluli" of the South African Police Service (SAPS).

It said some commentators and reports continue to make several accusations against the President with regard to Mdluli.

On media insinuations that Zuma wanted to appoint Mdluli as National Police Commissioner, the Presidency said General Bheki Cele remained the National Police Commissioner, adding that Zuma had not announced any intention of appointing a new commissioner.

In addition it said: "Recently, a media house went to the extent of publishing that the President had in December attended a party to celebrate Lt Gen Mdluli's acquittal, and that he had telephoned the Inspector General of Intelligence, interfering with the investigation of Lt Gen Mdluli. Both were complete fabrications."

The Presidency also pointed out that Zuma has never received a letter from Mdluli.

"The media has alleged that Mdluli gave the President a letter accusing four top police officers of a conspiracy against him. The President has never received such a letter. Neither has the Presidency," the Presidency said in a statement.

The Presidency also noted that last year, some sections of the media went to great lengths, "authoritatively linking" Zuma to personalities who were implicated in the police lease agreements and created links that did not exist.

"We wish to urge the media to be cautious and stick to the facts when reporting such matters," the statement read.

It noted that Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa had announced the steps that he was taking to attend to the matter relating to Mdluli.

Meanwhile, Mthethwa has revealed the members of the task team who will investigate allegations contained in a letter written by Mdluli.

The task team will be led by the Chief State Law Adviser Enver Daniels and will include Lieutenant-General Abel Mxolisi Shilubane from SANDF, Stan Noosi from State Security and head of SAPS legal services Lieutenant-General Julius Molefe.

The team has already met and is expected to complete the investigation within a month.

During his Budget Vote on Wednesday, Mthethwa noted that the letter in question seemed to have political connotations and had caused tensions within SAPS management.

"It alludes to some conspiracy theory, and names suspended national police commissioner, [General Bheki] Cele, head of Hawks Lieutenant General Anwa Dramat, operational services head, Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya and Gauteng provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Mzwandile Petros as ganging up against him," the Police Ministry noted.

Mthethwa said he had instituted a task team to investigate these allegations because they were so serious as to suggest the meddling of policing functions in politics.

He also announced that Mdluli would be shifted from his position as head of Crime Intelligence.

Mdluli will now serve under the Deputy National Commissioner, Lieutenant General Fani Masemola, who is responsible for operations, said SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Lindela Mashigo.

The Police Ministry also elaborated on the terms of reference for the task team, which includes collating the information, including the letter as well as consultation with all the affected people mentioned in the letter, provide in-depth analysis and thereafter compile a report.

The report will also give clear recommendations on the way forward.

Mthethwa called on society to give the task team time to carry out this process without any undue interference.