Dramat can return to Hawks post, court rules

Nhleko pay the costs for the case.

The Helen Suzman Foundation approached the court after Dramat’s suspension in December, pending a probe into allegations that he was involved in the illegal rendition of four Zimbabweans in November 2010.

The foundation has argued that the timing of Dramat’s suspension was suspicious, a claim that was supported by the DA.

They argued that the law stated that the head of the Hawks could be suspended only following a parliamentary process.

The party’s police spokeswoman Dianne Kohler Barnard said: “It has been the DA’s contention that the police minister broke the law when he suspended Dramat.

“Again, this has been an extraordinary victory for democracy. It is and has been extremely curious that Dramat was suspended after he asked that the Nkandla files be given to him under the wing of the Hawks. The appointment of an acting head was deemed wrong and set aside. ”

She said on Thursday that Nhleko would appear before the parliamentary portfolio committee on policing, and would have to explain why he suspended Dramat.

“He will now have to answer for what he did. The acting head of the Hawks has gone and bulldozed his way through shifting personnel, shunting people left, right and centre. Frankly, I don’t believe he had the right to do that.”

Nhleko should not be allowed to break the law without any consequence.

“The committee must decide if he is fit for office fol- lowing this judgment,” KohlerBarnard said.

Helen Suzman Foundation director Francis Antonie said his organisation was happy about the ruling.

“It confirms our belief in the courts and the rule of law. This issue has been resolved in the courts and we must continue our fight against corrup- tion in this country, and the Hawks are central to that fight, and they must have a permanent head who has the respect of his staff and also the country.”

● Police Minister Nkosinathi Nhleko will appeal the High Court’s ruling that Dramat's suspension was invalid, his lawyer said yesterday.

“I have drafted the papers and I've sent them to... (be) signed and certified,” William Mokhari told Sapa yesterday.

“They should be able to be served today (Friday).”