The department of home affairs announced on Monday that Director General Mkuseli Apleni has been suspended.

Without elaborating on the reasons, a short statement issued by the department said Apleni had been placed on “precautionary suspension” with immediate effect.

“The Home Affairs Minister, Professor Hlengiwe Mkhize, announced that the department’s Director-General, Mr Mkuseli Apleni, has been placed on precautionary suspension as of today, 18 September 2017,” according to a statement attributed to Mkhize’s spokesperson Mpume Madlala.