Top cop employed despite disapproval over controversies

HAWKS head Berning Ntlemeza, who was roped in as the specialised police unit’s acting head after its previous commander, Anwa Dramat, was controversially suspended by Police Minister Nathi Nhleko in December 2014, was appointed permanently to the post in September last year.

This was despite disapproval from opposition parties because of controversies around him. Ntlemeza joined the police service in the then Transkei in 1981 before climbing through the ranks as an investigator.

He has served as an area commander for detective services in Northern Gauteng and as provincial commander for investigations in Gauteng and Eastern Cape. Ntlemeza is also a former deputy provincial commissioner for Eastern Cape and Limpopo – serving in the detectives section, crime detection services, policing and crime intelligence.

Ntlemeza’s appointment to head the elite crime-busting unit saw him being linked to several controversies including his ties with former crime intelligence head Richard Mdluli.

The high court described Ntlemeza as dishonest and lacking integrity after he allegedly withheld an Ipid report and a docket that was in his possession on former Gauteng Hawks head Shadrack Sibiya, whom he had suspended. He suspended Sibiya pending a probe into his role in the illegal rendition of four Zimbabweans. – Siviwe Feketha