Defiant Ntlemeza will turn to the courts to keep Hawks job
Former Hawks boss General Berning Ntlemeza will not hesitate to turn to the courts in case anyone tries to stop him from reporting for duty on Monday.
His legal representative, Comfort Ngidi, said his client is a law abiding citizen.
“If there is any problem or if anyone tries to stop him from doing his duties, he will ask for the court to help him,” Ngidi said.
Meanwhile, the office of Police Minister Fikile Mbalula has indicated that Ntlemeza has already returned some of the resources he was using in his position as Hawks head.
Hawks spokesperson Hangwani Mulaudzi said Ntlemeza indicated that he was on leave until Monday.
“Everything is back to normal. We’ll have a series of meetings and when we’re ready we will be able to give feedback on the way forward,” Mulaudzi said.
However, spokesperson for the police ministry Vuyo Mhaga said Ntlemeza is not on leave and that he is not working for the Hawks anymore.
“He is not part of us anymore,” he emphasised.
Ngidi told The Citizen that his client is still a police officer and that he would go back to work on Monday.
Ngidi said he was instructed to file an appeal with the Supreme Court of Appeal.
“While this process is on, it automatically sets aside the recent court order,” Ngidi said, despite the fact that the high court specifically said that the appeal would not be enough to prevent Ntlemeza’s removal.
He said his client also remains a police officer and that the necessary laws and policies should be followed.
The North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria last week ruled that Ntlemeza’s appointment was unlawful and irregular.
A day later, Mbalula appointed Lieutenant-General Yolisa Matakata as the new acting head of the Hawks and instructed acting national police commissioner Lieutenant-General Kgomotso Phahlane to collect all property of the Hawks from Ntlemeza.
The minister told media Ntlemeza had been removed from his position as the head of the Hawks by the high court, a decision that he had not opposed.
The disgraced Hawks boss, however, believes only parliament can remove him, and he does not care what the courts or the minister think.
Meanwhile, the DA will once again submit questions to parliament. DA MP Zak Mbhele said Ntlemeza was meant to have left his job but was reportedly on leave until next week.
“The DA will submit parliamentary questions to ascertain what benefits, if any, he received, or is to receive, from 12 April 2017 onwards,” said Mbhele.
He also cautioned that should Ntlemeza attempt to interfere with the running of the Hawks, the DA would lay criminal charges against him for defeating the ends of justice. “Following a court order last week, Ntlemeza is no longer the head of the Hawks, nor is he employed by the Saps,” insisted Mbhele.