Possible showdown: Mbalula vs Ntlemeza
POLICE Minister Fikile Mbalula and former head of the Hawks Lieutenant-General Berning Ntlemeza could be headed for a showdown if the latter shows up to work today.
Ntlemeza threatened to report for duty in the Pretoria offices he headed up to last week when Mbalula and the high court showed him the door.
Spokesperson for the Hawks Hangwani Mulaudzi yesterday refused to comment and referred enquiries to the Ministry.
Mbalula’s spokesperson Vuyo Mhaga said they did not want to speculate on what Ntlemeza will do.
This followed the decision of the full bench of the high court last Thursday to effectively shut the door on Ntlemeza after it rejected his appeal.
Ntlemeza has indicated that he will approach the Supreme Court of Appeal.
But Mbalula made it clear that there was no room to defy court rulings. He has since appointed Ntlemeza’s former deputy Yolisa Matakata as the acting head of the Hawks.
Chairperson of the police’s portfolio committee Francois Beukman said the focus of the Hawks must be to fight organised crime and corruption in the country.
Ntlemeza has been embroiled in court battles with NGOs after the Helen Suzman Foundation and Freedom Under Law challenged his appointment in the high court.
This followed the judgment of March last year that Ntlemeza was not fit to head the unit.
The judgment questioned his abilities and integrity leading to the NGOs to approach the court to axe him. Mbalula said after he was appointed Minister of Police at the end of last month he would not be running to the courts.
He wanted the Hawks to focus on the fight against organised crime and corruption.
IT WAS good to see how quickly and decisively new Police Minister Fikile Mbalula acted to provide muscle to a Pretoria High Court pronouncement that Berning Ntlemeza should immediately be removed as head of the Hawks.
It was a perfect start for the minister. But now he faces a far more difficult challenge.
It centres on whether presidential hopeful Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma qualifies for VIP protection, courtesy of South African taxpayers.
Although no one has officially thrown their hat into the presidential race, it is no secret that Dlamini Zuma is a strong contender, seemingly with the backing of President Jacob Zuma, whose term of office ends in 2019, as well as other powerful groupings within the ANC, including the women’s league and the youth league.
Over the past few days Dlamini Zuma has found herself in a political minefield, which may well be decided where so many political disputes tend to be decided these days: in the courts.
South Africa is not a safe place at the best of times – and so, about two weeks ago, when it was reported that at least four heavily armed men tried to enter a boutique hotel in Houghton, in upmarket Johannesburg, few would have batted an eyelid – except for one thing.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), Dlamini Zuma was staying in this very hotel – and that the attempt by the men to enter the premises was, in fact, an attempt on her life.
Acting quickly, the SAPS decided that Dlamini Zuma warranted VIP protection.
But it is at this point that things have become murky. Only the police at the highest level, and someone who had an appointment with Dlamini Zuma, seemed to be aware of the threat to her life.
No one in the hotel appears to be aware of what allegedly happened – not the local police, not the security at the hotel and not the receptionist.
Opposition parties believe that Dlamini Zuma has been given VIP protection for devious reasons. They want Mbalula to investigate.
In the interests of justice and fair play, we believe the minister should launch a probe into what exactly happened. And he should do so quickly.
South Africans will be watching his response carefully.