Cloud over Hawks boss

Judge’s comments ignored as Ntlemeza appointed

THE controversy around the Hawks continues as former acting head Major-General Mthandazo Ntlemeza has been appointed in the post permanently, despite a high court judge’s view that he was “biased and dishonest”.

Police Minister Nathi Nhleko announced the appointment yesterday, citing Ntlemeza’s 34 years in the police and his qualifications as the deciding factors.

Ntlemeza had been acting in the post since Anwa Dramat was suspended in December and subsequently resigned.

Ntlemeza’s appointment as acting head was also not without controversy as he was hired, fired and then quietly rehired two days later, after a court found his appointment to be invalid.

Ntlemeza has spent many of his 34 years in the police service as a detective and was successful in areas involving hi- jacking, vehicle theft and ATM bombings.

“I never wore a uniform in my career until the rank of brigadier. Detective is in my blood,” he said yesterday.

“I think in the whole of South Africa, when you measure detectives now, I’ll be No 1 or No 2.

“Mostly, the deputy police commissioners leading investigations are from my hands – they were trained by me.”

While Nhleko was quick to point out gains Ntlemeza had made in the acting position, such as filling key posts, there is a cloud hanging over the new head of the Hawks.

Following his appointment as acting head, Ntlemeza suspended Gauteng Hawks boss Shadrack Sibiya following allegations that he had been involved in the illegal renditions of Zimbabweans.

But Pretoria High Court Judge Elias Ma- tojane said that in his bid to oppose a ruling that Sibiya be reinstated, Ntlemeza had repeatedly lied.

Yesterday, Nhleko said the statements by the judge were “just comments” and not rulings.

He said Ntlemeza’s conduct had also not been subjected to any scrutiny in open court.

“He [the judge] starts by saying: ‘I am of the view’, so it is a view. If it is an order, he will say so,” Nhleko said.

“In any case, the very same judgment has been taken on appeal.”

In a statement to the interviewing panel, which consisted of three ministers and a deputy minister, Ntlemeza addressed the issue of Matojane’s judgment, saying: “All these accusations were unfounded and baseless.

“Judge Motojane did not even give me an opportunity to deal with the accusations nor did he give my legal representatives an opportunity to address him on the accusations.”

Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) head Robert McBride had also questioned Ntlemeza’s appointment in the acting position, saying it pointed to political interference, but Nhleko yesterday denied any political interference.

“Absolutely not. If crime has got to be fought, what political considerations are there to make?” he asked.

‘ If crime has got to be fought, what political considerations are there to make?